Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Coastal Adventure - Part 1

Introduction

Those of you who follow John's Island may have noticed the frequency of posts has slowed and you may have noticed me missing from comments on your blog. I've just completed traveling the West Coast and social media has been on the back burner. Considering how to put a post together to cover my travels resulted in something way too long. It would require scrolling for hours 💫 and I don't wish to put anyone through that. I've decided a series of posts is the best way forward, and this post is Part 1 of my Coastal Adventure.

The entire trip consisted of Seattle to Vancouver to San Francisco to San Diego to Los Angeles and back to Seattle.

Seattle to Vancouver BC by rail

Aboard AMTRAK Cascades

Where the journey started ... Seattle's King Street Station
[Click on images for a larger view.]

This classic, vintage station has been completely
remodeled in recent years.

Train #516 departed King St Station at 8:30 AM on Saturday, September 28, and was scheduled to arrive Pacific Central Station, Vancouver, BC, at 12:30 PM.

Pics along the way ...

As the train started to roll northbound, I snapped this picture
from my seat. It was 8:30AM, right on schedule.

Looking west from bridge over canal between
Puget Sound and Lake Union, a few miles
north of downtown Seattle.
(Close to famous Ballard Locks.)


Occasional curves allowed snaps of the forward
part of the train.

Logging is a big part of Pacific Northwest history.
However, not many of these lumber facilities are
still in operation. I enjoy seeing this kind of 
industrial activity along the way.

I like this kind of wide open countryside.
I'm guessing that's a farmer's home along the tree line.

I wonder what it's like to live so close to a major rail line.
Click for the large image and zoom in to see
the rocker on the front porch.

Southbound AMTRAK Cascades which passed us,
having departed Vancouver earlier in the morning.
The engine needs a wash and has had some rough scrapes.

Getting close to Bellingham. Some lucky folks have some
pretty magnificent homes with water views.


Getting close to Bellingham. If you are on this train,
you want to be seated on the left side for the scenic views.

Kayaking on Puget Sound

Looking into Bellingham Bay near the 
Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, WA

Famous "white rock" at White Rock, BC, Canada
The train rolls right by downtown White Rock,
just north of the US/Canadian border.

Pacific Central Station
Vancouver, BC
Final stop, taxi to hotel.
Arrival was late, but not more than an hour.

Today's destination ... Canada Place,
Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal
and Pan Pacific Hotel.

Comments are off until the final post of this series. Thank you for stopping by and keep an eye out for Coastal Adventure - Part 2: Vancouver to San Francisco, California.




Coastal Adventure - Part 1

Introduction Those of you who follow John's Island may have noticed the frequency of posts has slowed and you may have noticed me missin...