The Great Train Ride - Sabbatical Days 4 & 5

I have stepped out of 2008 and into the 1940s as I walk through the ornate doors and into Union Station in Los Angeles. I have traveled all around the world but most of my travel is through sleek modern state-of-the-art facilities like the airport in Singapore. As cool and modern as facilities like that are, they don’t have the character and charm as this throwback to a bygone era! Walking in here has really got me excited from my trip up the coast and my journey back in time.

 

It would be stretching it to call the Sleeperette a room, but it is a major upgrade from any airline seat I have ever experienced. The fact that I have electrical outlets, can fold my seat out into a bed and a door to have privacy, put this ahead of even the best Business Class accommodations I have experienced on Singapore Airlines. The food is on par with airline food, I have had better and worse, but again, the fact I go to a dining car and am served like it is a restaurant, makes a big difference. Last night I went to sleep after watching John Carpenter’s the Thing on my laptop. Good movie by the way!

 

The first part of the trip was cool, but I was going along terrain I had traveled many times as the train followed pretty closely highway 101 through Southern Cal. When I woke up this morning though I had a view of Mt. Shasta and I am currently riding through a snowstorm (yes it is snowing in June here) in southern Oregon. The scenery is great!

 

One last observation is the clientele on board is pretty weird. Makes me wonder am I out of place or am I pretty weird as well????

 

Peace Out

 

Bill

~ by b44hanson on June 4, 2008.