I'm taking advantage of the complimentary coffee and sitting off the train during our station stop. It is a beautiful sunny California morning.
As we depart, we cross the (of all things) the Sacramento River. Reminder: All pics are taken with the phone camera and often through thick car windows. Also, if you're short on time, the really beautiful scenery along the Pacific is a must see ... scroll way down for that.
Going to be first in line for breakfast ...
Getting closer to the coast ...
Emeryville is the connection point for San Francisco.
Like the patterns on sidewalk caused by sun reflecting off car's windows ...
These trees tell me I'm in SOUTHERN Cal.
Old Western Pacific caboose on display ...
Walls become canvas ...
Plenty of station stops allow time to step off the train and walk a bit ...
Fascinated by double fencing ...
Getting into the famous farming country ...
We don't often get into curves sharp enough to get a good view of the front of the train ...
More pretty scenery as we near San Luis Obispo ...
Along one of the sharpest curves along the entire line allows a good look back at the cars behind us ...
In San Luis Obispo ...
Grape growing country ...
More power to ya!
Finally, along the Pacific Ocean ...
Really beautiful scenery ...
Beauty of an old station in Santa Barbara ...
Some folks know a great spot for RVing ...
I recently read that lifeguards may make about $100K a year. Sweet job ...
The shadows are getting long and we're getting close to LA.
We arrived a few minutes early (about 8:40 PM) in Los Angeles' Union Station.
As always, thanks for looking and your comments are welcome and appreciated! Hope all of you have a great Memorial Day Weekend.
some of those agricultural scenes were just beautiful! and the colors in the coastal area. whew! you really do get to see a lot from a railfan perspective! i liked the wall graffiti pic too!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! A rail trip looks lovely and relaxing. I believe I'll sign up for that lifeguarding job, although I suspect that my certificaation may have lapsed. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe scenes are lovely.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of beautiful scenery! I believed you had fun traveling. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mr Netty thanX for the train ride it was a buzz lol lol love looking at your pics some remind me of australia in landscape esp the beach pics like south aus where i live Ok my stop I'll leave ya here :*) bye
ReplyDeleteJohn...I totally enjoyed my virtual vacation through your lens and post...Ahhhhhh!!! I feel rejuvenated!
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful post filled with terrific images, John. So many beautiful scenes to view during your rail adventure. I bet you oohed and aahed the whole ride. Love the farmed fields, Pacific ocean and Sacramento morning photographs. As always, a joy to visit your awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteSo came back and read this now a few times. Like the new post. Thanks John for sharing
ReplyDeleteI read the updates to your blog. I enjoyed the train ride. I went from Chicago to San Francisco once on the train as the airlines were on strike. In France I rode the train all the time. I rode it to go to high school daily, and it was a steam train at the time. I rode another to go to Paris to work. Now trains in France are super fast and it is very hard to take pictures. You would enjoy, if you did not take it yet, the train ride in the Yukon – it’s a small train going in beautiful country. When I was growing up we would go on vacation to Normandy with the train, and I could even take my bicycle with me. There is a train going from Atlanta to New Orleans, or the other way from Atlanta to Washington, DC – we talk about taking it, but have not so far, but it’s on the list. Thanks for coming to my blog and leaving comments.
ReplyDeleteI am well aware of the budget cuts that Amtrak has endured over the last several years. My impression is that the quality of rail travel has suffered quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteYet, your pictures look as though things are clean and well maintained. Did you have any problems on this trip? It is one I've always wanted to take but haven't because of the fear of a broken down, poorly functioning train.
Tell me I'm wrong!
What fun! Do not envy the sleeping quarters. My biggest problem was looking out the window all night long; I didn't want to miss a thing. (But I ended up really missing my sleep. ha)
ReplyDeleteHello John, I am a new visitor who stopped in from Vagabonde's blog. My husband (Grenville) is a BIG train fan and we are thinking about a long-distance ride, but unsure of a destination. There isn't any train service where we now live on the VA eastern shore. Reading this post made me feel as if we were on a train ride. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post as always - love all your scenic pics:)
ReplyDelete