March 6, 2009 On Amtrak—Salt Lake City to Fresno

I wake up around 6:00am. It is starting to get light outside. I did not sleep well. Seemed like I was changing positions about once every 45 minutes. Glad I had two seats by myself. Sherri’s horse-collar pillow helped. But I think having the seat flatter would have helped more. Observing other passengers, they probably had the same experience. Except for my neighbor who seems to have learned how to sleep on a train after three nights. No pain-no gain.

My neighbor is from Stockton—but originally attended Roosevelt High in Fresno. He also went to Modesto JC and then to Fresno State. I started talking to him because I saw the Fresno State championship T Shirt he was wearing. We would talk about various things, the scenery, life, … Nothing special, just a good companion on this trip. Oh yeah, he still comes down to Fresno to play in the Clovis Band with his former director at Roosevelt who is in his 80’s.

All black from Salt Lake City to close to Winnemucca, NV. But even once it grew light, I cannot say the part of Nevada we saw was exciting—maybe a few clouds.

Once past Reno, we start following the Truckee River. We rise up into the mountains, where it has just snowed. The conductor has warned us we may be losing our single seating as the Amtrak buses may be shuffling passengers to the am one of the favored, either that or the big rush did not happen. But we have been told Truckee has 12 more people. But these people never materialized and I had my own seat all the way through.

The snowy mountains around Truckee and westward are elegant with their covering of fresh snow. The train tracks weaves around the ravines, the ridges, climbing up to a tunnel which goes under the crest of the Sierra’s. Snow goes all the way down until we hit Colfax.

The train seems to move slowly during the days and fast at night. Is this to give us a chance to look around? Or is it just my imagination. I think that Amtrak tried to have their trains go across the more visually appealing mountains and canyons during the day and the flat salt flats and desert at night. So by nature the trains do not go as fast in the mountains.

I am on the last two hours of the Zephyr. We left Colfax a few minutes ago and will get to Sacramento by about 3:00. I think I am ready to leave the train—even if it is for another train. But it has been a good trip. Seeing the Rockies from a different perspective. Seeing the Sierra’s not from a driver’s seat.

Got to Sacramento early. Went over and had a Quizino’s sub—a Baja Chicken for the record. Enjoyed some real food. Then walked down to Old Sacramento where I got several ideas for new business cards—Remind Me Again Why I AM Here? I am Having a Senior Moment; … I get on the train at 4:55pm and head off to Fresno—should get in around 8:05. Its nice to be on the home leg.