Well, this is the second attempt to post here. :( ~ The first post was lost because the wifi on the train got lost.
I'm writing this from the train, The "Coast Starlight". Russ can tell you the correct way to pronounce that - with a breathy emphasis on "starlight". lol. We've been on this train for a short while last year as we traveled to Portland. But this time, we're seeing so much more of this route.
This trip is a leftover from our last summer's trip. There was one leg of our train travel that we didn't take, because we used a rental car instead. They offered us a refund, minus 20% or full refund in the form of a voucher. That was our choice so that brings us to this mini trip to Seattle.
It started back on Monday, when we drove down in a one-way rental car to Burbank. First stop was in Bakersfield for a quick hello and to get/give hugs to Russ' parents. Then, because it was almost dinner time, we went to Russ' favorite Mexican restaurant: La Tapitia. It's become our whole family's favorite Mexican restaurant too.
We were so glad to find out the "Grapevine" was open. Earlier in the day and the whole weekend before we left, it was closed due to snow. For those not from California, the Grapevine is the freeway drive over the mountains that separate the farmlands and oilfields from Southern California. So we made it to Burbank in decent timing.
Russ' brother's family lives in Burbank and they also live closer to the place we were going to catch the train. They graciously allowed us to stay the night even though they just started back to school and work. We have 3 weeks vacation for FUSD, which allows us to use this 3rd week for fun. We always love visiting with Don's family and although it was short, it was great to see them.
So at 12:15 we were able to hop on the train at Van Nuys, CA, and start our journey. We chose this location because one of the things that the Coast Starlight is known for, is, the ride along the Pacific Ocean Coast. Around Oahi is when the ocean side started to come into view, and then we had it until we reached Pismo Beach, where the train turned inward toward Paso Robles. You would think I've never seen the beach before with all the pictures I took of it.
We had dinner on the train, as all meals are included in the sleeping car packages. They are really delicious, not at all what I would have expected in such a small kitchen, AND on a swaying, moving, shaking and jerking platform. We were tired, so we had them make up our beds and turned in for the evening. Chris took the top bunk for me, and Jonathan took the top with Russ and each of us had our little dvd players to share a movie or dvd.
The next day, we woke up to find snow outside our window and minutes later, Mt. Shasta came into view. I had forgotten to charge my battery for the camera, so the only shots we got from this was from the flip camera.
From that point on, the scenery got whiter and whiter and by the time we got to Klammath Falls, it was on the trees, and the blanket of snow was over the whole landscape. It always seems so peaceful and calm and fresh and new when the newly fallen snow blankets the ground. Later, I found out that the snow didn't just fall last night, but it was so cold that the snow ices over and stays on the trees, lines, and of course,the ground. Russ commented that this is the way he likes to experience snow; "with a barrior between the snow and me, and me not having to drive through it." Having spent some of my life in snowy weather, now that I'm an adult, I'd have to agree with him. However I also like to visit the snow as long as I don't have to live there.
Now I'll try to post pictures with this ... the wifi comes in and out, but maybe, now that we reached Eugene, OR., we might have more consistant coverage!
No comments:
Post a Comment