I started this blog using the Texas adventure as the head line and now I am stuck with it even though we are pretty much finished with Texas and all its devices. So we will continue for continuity and deal with the confusion later.
On board the Southwest Chief after spending a long afternoon in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Lounge. No where near as much fun as last morning in the lobby of the Double tree hotel! For the first hour or so I was it! The only person taking advantage of the free coffee, chocolate chip cookies and TV coverage of the olympics. I basically fooled around with my I-pad and I-phone, drew a bit and stared into space. But it was relatively quiet, peaceful and a darn sight better than sitting in the great hall with the coach people. When it came time to board we were told where to go an what platform it was going to be, and again no train! But it came soon and it was not late this go around. Boarding was orderly and mostly swift. Interesting, for the first time, they actually asked to see some form of identification, preferably a passport! ( got to use it again!) And we will be fed dinner albeit later than usual, like 7:00PM, very continental. My Accomodations are a bit more modern than on the Sunset limited, don’t show the wear and most everything works pretty well. ( Of course the big thing this run is to see if I can get my bed made up, and not try to sleep on the bench like a couple of nights ago. I think my back is still paying big time for that adventure!) Right at the moment we are stopped on a siding at Fullerton waiting for a freight train to pass. Of course, this is mostly the reason for lack of on-time performance for Amtrak- freight trains get the right of way. ( Now I have seen everything, a pine tree used as a disguise for a cell-tower!) I will say it again, the palm trees in Southern California look fake! And come to find out they are not native to California but were imported years ago as a promotional stunt! Another sight not seen any where else an old oil well still pumping in the middle of a residential neighborhood, how would you like to have that for a neighbor?
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