Bob sits in our large bedroom
We enjoyed our European train trips so much that we couldn't resist the temptation to take an overnight scenic ride up the Western side of California into Oregon. Even better, Bryan and Donna decided this would be a good weekend excursion for them - they flew up and back because of time pressures but spent the weekend with us. We reserved a bedroom - such luxury! - on the Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Portland.
Once again, we found that our Pasadena apartment is ideally
located for travel. We took the Metro which stops within our apartment complex, reaching Union Station in downtown Los Angeles in forty-five minutes. Amtrak trains have a special entrance inside Union Station. We presented our tickets and were ushered into the waiting room.
Bob sits in our large bedroom
Our fellow travelers were a wide assortment, from toddlers to people even older than us, of all shapes and sizes. Many of them, we came to learn, were regular train travelers. We were called to track-side about 15 minutes before our scheduled departure. Walking along the train towards our sleeping car, we passed the observation car and dining car. These cars were all two-level, with the passengers walking between cars along the upper level for meals or exercise.
Our spacious compartment consisted of a wide bench seat which became our bed, a sink and a coat closet. A small bathroom completed the space. We chose not to try the built-in shower! We had just finished settling in when a railroad employee came by and introduced himself, demonstrating how he would assemble our bed later that evening.
We had a grand time looking out the windows as we rolled through the California landscape. We passed through Vandenburg Air Force Base and looked at missile silos used for space launches. We saw lots of beautiful shoreline before turning north and heading up the coast past Guadelupe and into the Salinas Valley. Most of the time our cell phones enabled us to find our location using Google Maps.
Within the downtown Chinese Garden
Our sleeping accommodations included meals in the dining car and they were delicious. Our first meal included mussels, fat and garlicky and beautifully cooked. There were plenty of good choices on the menu, but the desserts were the best: notably cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake.
We selected our preferred time for meals and when our time group was announced proceeded to the dining car where we shared a table for four with another couple, different for each meal. We had interesting conversations and learned more about those who are trying to ride on every Amtrak train.
We slept through a lot of mountainous forests between Redding and Eugene; progress was slow along the tightly winding track.
Arriving in Portland we found Bryan and Donna ready to begin sightseeing, so we started with a journey through the city in their rental car as we gazed at the different neighborhoods. Bryan and Donna treated us to a beautiful river cruise and luncheon. During the next two days we enjoyed visits to two spectacular gardens, one Chinese and one Japanese. We introduced them to Powell's City of Books, where we spread out to enjoy the miles of bookshelves containing works on every conceivable subject. We also drove up the Columbia River to the Pendleton Factory Store, where we found some nice woolen articles of clothing.
Koi in the Japanese Garden
By then, it was time for them to return to Alameda. We spent our final day in Portland riding light rail trains in several directions, still finding new neighborhoods and interesting-looking architecture.
In the middle of the last century the American people fell in love with motor touring through our vast country, while Europeans kept improving their tight network of railways. These days American railroaders concentrate on long-haul cargo, while Europeans focus on intercity passenger trips. Our Amtrak trip was beautiful but very slow, and we decided to fly back to Los Angeles, arriving an entire day earlier.