From the Ocean to the Mountains
The trip north from LA has been a blur. I am closing in on Portland, OR, and it feels like I just left LA. I slept much of yesterday, trying to get my body back up to par from the previous night’s escapade. I was delighted to find that my cubicle, er, roomette, was on the ocean side of the train. For a period of time in the Southern California, the train runs right next to the beach. I mean, right next to the beach. You could often step right off the train and into the Pacific Ocean. Also, we saw several dolphins swimming along the coastline, and lots of people enjoying the sand and surf.
This train has a sleeping car only lounge called the “Pacific Parlour.” I have really enjoyed having this car along for this journey. The Parlour car, an original ATSF Hi-Level car built in the 60’s or so, has been delightfully restored and has some excellent cushioned chairs as well as meal service. It’s been nice to have a calm relaxing meal in the Parlour rather than in the hustle and bustle of the normal dining car.
Before I knew it, we were passing through San Jose in the late evening, and I don’t remember anything past Oakland. I awoke with the sun at 5:30ish right near Mt. Shasta in northern California. I’m now in “familiar” territory. I’ve ridden this part of the journey on the Amtrekkin’ trip in November, 2006. Back then, the Coast Starlight was running about 3 hours late, and at dawn we were traveling around Lake Shasta. Not to be seen this time, we were long past this lake this morning.
Before too long, we started climbing the Cascades, passing an area where a massive mud-slide closed the UP railroad for nearly 4 months back in January. I had read much about it, as I was sure hoping that the repairs would be done before I left on my trip. I didn’t appreciate the steepness of the terrain until passing through. The train passes up and back down some significant mountain valleys and then into Eugene, OR, along Lookout Point Lake and a branch of the Willamette River.
The Sunset Limited and the Coast Starlight have been full-in fact, this Coast Starlight is completely sold out. I think that it is great for Amtrak, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed the space available back in November, 2006, as it was a lot easier to move around and spread out. The full coaches, I am sure, don’t allow for much R&R. Thank goodness for sleeping cars!
On the Sunset, I had the wonderful chance to meet a professional photographer who was traveling with her son to LA and then onto Japan. They live in rural Texas, away from most things, but were traveling to LA to meet up with family and then travel to Japan to be with their grandmother, who was performing over there. While she was in LA, she was going to meet up with Diane Keaton, as she had just finished a coffee-table book on Southwestern architecture for her. She did most of the photography for the work. It was fascinating! Her son discovered my GPS and laptop, and we spent a lot of time watching the maps go by and looking at how far we had to go.
I have also enjoyed the people of Amtrak on this trip. I can say that I have met some wonderfully hard-working and dedicated employees that have really made it easier and much more fun to be on board. On the Sunset, the lead service attendant (dining car manager), Keisha, did a fabulous job working dinner out of New Orleans all by herself, and handled a full train and other delays with a no-nonsense smile. This is probably the hardest job to do on an Amtrak train, and she was doing it to the best level. And I even found out that it was her first trip! Way to go, Keisha! On the Starlight, my car attendant Louie has kept everyone laughing, and the Parlour car attendant, Nanette, has made the experience delightful. Thanks to all!
I am in Seattle now. Two more days and I will be in Glacier National Park!
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