OXN/SEA #14 The Coast Starlight. Well we're seven days out of BOS and a day behind due to the folks at UP. We leave our Best Western Motel in ONT and head (belatedly) to OXN. It's been a long time since I've driven in sourhern CA and I've either forgotten how bad it is or there a lot more drivers on the roads or both... The plan is to take the Foothill Freeway to the Ventura Freeway on thence to OXN. Somehow I miss the turnoff and take an unplanned tour of beautiful downtown Pasadena. Finally find my onto the Ventura Freeway and play "Sunset Limited", i.e. stop/start/stop/start. A little after noon we arrive at our Best Western Motel in OXN. First item of business is to find a laundry and wash our weeks worth of clothing. That takes the better part of the afternoon. We have dinner at an Outback restaurant. Sunday we have to buy a few things to replenish our supplies and before we know it, it's time for the train. Before I drop the car off, I make a run to the station to leave the bride and the baggage. I ask the agent if the Starlight is on time and he says it is. I drop the car off and the folks at Hertz take me to the station. OXN is a pretty busy place. It's a combination bus and train station. A few minutes before the Starlight is due, Monique an Amtrak employee takes us and our baggage on an electric cart w-a-y down the staion to the spot where our sleeper will stop. The Coast Strlight pulls in at noon. Five minutes later in our sleeper (E/1430) and on our way to SEA. Paul is our sleeping car attendant. There is a back-up in the Diner for lunch so we leave our name and wait to be called. By two we hadn't heard anything so we went to the Diner and found a couple of empty tables. Debbie is the Dining Car Steward. She and her staff will make this portion of our trip quite enjoyable. They're all professional and have a sense of humor...a rare combination. This trip along the CA coast is breath taking. Last year we came south and due to delays rode along the Pacific coast at sunset, a scene well worth the delay. The crowd on this train must be rowdier than that on the Sunset. In addition to the "no smoking" announcement there was one about it being a federal offense to be found smoking "the funny stuff". As we were ascending the horse shoe curves from SLO to PRB there was a chap on a mountain bicycle riding along side the track. He kept pace with us for quite a while before finally falling back. When I mentioned it to Paul our sleeping car attendant he said I missed the chap who "mooned" us as we passed him by the beach. We had dinner with Joel and Norma from ANA, CA. They, too, are taking the Empire Builder east. Joel and Norma were married, are devorced and are now living together. (BTW they're in their 70's). TODAY IS MONDAY, JUNE 20TH. OUR 41ST ANNIVERSARY. I awoke early and was captivated by the scenery. We're traveling along the Sacramento River. It's beautiful, but at this early hour it is extremely beautiful. Mount Shasta is the crown and the Sacramento River is the necklace. I got some great stills of Mt. Shasta, one of which I've blown up to 8X10, framed and hung in the family room. The lakes in the Cascades are absolutely gorgeous. After lunch I absent mindedly left my DVD camcorder on the table. Just as we got back to our room, Bonnie made an announcement: "oh, Rodger, I think you forgot something". Red faced I returned to Diner to retrieve the camera and was roundly cheered. I got even redder. We're running about four and half hours late. Earlier in the day, we mentioned to Debbie that today was our anniversary. Tonight at dinner, they ran out of Key Lime Pie; but Debbie saved two for us. Very thoughful! An mechanical aside: The toilets have not been working all day. Paul says it's a product of the altitude and the design of the system. Hmm. We finally arrived at Sea just before midnight. Thanked Pual, Debbie and all her crew for their great service. Took a hair razing cab ride to hour Hampton Inn Suites Hotel. From the balcony of our two room suite we have an unubstucted view of the Space Needle. Took a couple of pictures with the full moon just to the right of the tower. Unfortunately we'll be here only one night. The "suite" is two rooms and a kitchen. The bedroom has a fire place. (They were good enough to up-grade us...we wouldn't have booked a room like this). Next leg: SEA/CHI #8 The Empire Builder
Posted by JDE (Member # 2817) on :
Would like to read your impressions of the Empire Builder trip. Really enjoyed the other legs. Thanks.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :