Leaving Eugene for California and then Chicago

1-4-17     I woke up several times early morning seeing what I thought was sunshine or a brightness of some type coming through the blinds and dome part of the upper window. As it turns out this brightness was light being reflected off the snow that was falling. For anyone who doesn’t know, Eugene Oregon is in a valley and they are not used to weather too much below the 30’s and definitely aren’t used to snow. I got up at my normal time and found maybe 3 inches of snow on the ground. I turned on the news and found that almost everything was shutdown from the snowfall, I find it funny. As it turns out the whole area only has 4 snowplows and they don’t use salt.

A few hours after the snowfall. Believe it
or not this snowfall shutdown schools and
public offices.

Fortunately, by the time we left for the Sam’s house for the train station, the snow was melting and everyone was driving very civil. Our train was over an hour late due to weather issues up near Portland. The trains running late seems to be a re-occurring theme this trip. Karen and I made the best of our time and enjoyed $2.50 well drinks and $1.50 PBR’s at a bar next to the train station. Time passed quickly and soon we were on the train bound for Sacramento California. This short over night trip we booked business class and saved a few bucks, you know me. This was the first time we road the rails without a sleeper car and probably the last. Our porter was great but we had one gentleman who may have missed his meds and this started to show itself at about 2 in the morning when most people are sleeping. I had words with the guy and “Thank God” he left and went to the observation car. It still was not a restful sleep and on top of it the train was running hours late due to deep snow and track issues around Klamath Oregon.

California is beautiful

Nice to see and feel the sun.

Snow in the mountains of California

Train plowing snow in the mountains of
California

The higher the elevation the deeper the
snow became. Shot somewhere near Reno I think.

Less snow but very scenic

Gorgeous Utah

1-5-17     Morning came and by that time the train was running 3 hours late, we were beginning to worry about making the California Zephyr back to Chicago. The Amtrak gods were smiling on us and we arrived in plenty of time to soak up and enjoy some California sun while we waited. We were overjoyed to make it into room #4 on car #631 and get settled. About 2 hours later we were called to lunch which led to a nap in our quarters shortly thereafter.

The trip out of California and into the mountains was gorgeous. The mountain area between Yosemite and Reno has been pounded with snow and the landscape provided great views. This snow also slowed the trains progress which is really no problem, we’re fortunate to have no schedule.

Karen and I had early showers, dinner of steak and chicken then made it an early night, at least Karen did. I watched a movie and watched the scenery go by in the light of a partial moon. Everything appeared beautiful trapped in shadows that left me guessing to make out the dark features of the area. I went to sleep shortly after midnight and slept great. From what I could tell by Karen’s breathing she slept even better.

Many people told us the California Zephyr
route was very scenic. 

Random herd of sheep and goats

Frozen Colorado River

1-6-17     The morning announcements came at 7AM and woke us up to the snow covered Provo Utah area and minus 1 degree temperature. The sun was just coming up brightening the tops of the mountains and bluffs. Soon we were off to breakfast. Our porter told Karen that the showers are frozen but they’re working on thawing them out.

The process of thawing the showers was never successful so my hair is starting to look as though I’m greasing it. My next shower will just feel all that much better. The trip continues to be enjoyable and interesting, as the days sun goes down I no longer can watch the landscapes go by so I’ve taken up people watching. Here’s a couple of observations that I find note worthy.

1. Still amazed at the number of people who continue to smoke.
2. The Amish and Metonites like their tobacco products and vaping.
3. Downtown Denver 10:30pm coyotes creeping around the Rockies stadium, only feet away from us and the train.
4. I know this shouldn’t be noteworthy but every family we’ve noticed onboard has had very well behaved children.
5. Nobody has talked politics this trip.
6. I give the homeless a lot of credit. We watched these people sleeping outside in the zero degree weather. I know I’d be freezing, not sure how they do it.

Amish out vaping

Denver's Union station on a cold night.

One thing that I’ve always loved on any of our trips is meeting people. All of them I find interesting. Some I look forward to saying “Goodbye” others I want to spend days chatting with them about their lives and beliefs. The winning couple this trip is John and Joan from Davis California. They are in their late 50’s and retired from high paying Silicon Valley jobs. John is originally from China and describes himself as the young child running in the garbage dump from the beginning of Slum Dog Millionaire. He stated that he and his parents fled China when he was young. They lived in a slum next to a garbage dump at the end of an airport runway. He said he remembers as a child telling his father that one day he would be flying and airplane like the ones he watched everyday. 

That day came for him as he would fly himself each day to Silicon Valley. Everyday loving where he worked and how he lived. He decided to leave work for a year after his first grandchild was born. He suffered a bit from post work depression but made the decisio

n to never go back. At first he found it very difficult leaving a job that payed him more money each year than he ever thought he would make in his life. He didn’t tell us exactly what he does but stated that he had a talent that was very sought after in the valley. John gave me a “high five” when Karen and I told our story of leaving work and selling almost everything we owned and living a Gypsy lifestyle. John and Joan are still working on the downsizing, Joan’s ready, John’s trying to wrap his head around selling their ranch and animals. 

I find meeting people like this, sharing breakfast, lunch or dinner with them and telling life stories to be very enjoyable. I’ve learned that many of us share the same desires in life especially as we age. Spend our time as we like, seems to be mostly with family and friends. Don’t wait too long. We don’t want or need much, just to be comfortable and experience life to the fullest while we can. In the words that my father’s doctor told him “ None of us know when our last day on earth is so live life the best you can.” Doctor Fischer makes a lot of sense. Hopefully Karen and I can continue to follow the path we’ve started enjoying each day as it comes.

Shot of the train making way near Provo Utah.