This is the first part of my big train trip to visit family and friends in New England over the holidays.
11/17 – Bend to Sacramento
It was a chilly evening and already dark, so I went into Hawthorne Station (Bend's intermodal transportation center) to wait for the High DesertPoint shuttle bus, which showed up right on time. I was the fourth and last passenger to board the bus ( a very nice hi-top van). In spite of falling snow, the drive to Chemult was quick and uneventful. The driver took us to the truck stop across from the platform so we could walk around and wait where it was warm.
Unlike other times I've been on this route, the driver didn't have it arranged for the train conductor to call him, so we went over to the station about the time the train was due (even though we knew it was probably going to be a little late), and sat in the van till the lights came up on the platform. Then we hauled our bags up the ramp in an inch of fresh snow. The train showed up within five minutes. The sleeper door closest to the Pacific Parlour Car was open. Since it's a short platform, the Conductor instructed the three sleeper passengers to board, and everyone else to wait so they could spot the train for coach. We put our stuff in our roomettes, and went right to the diner as instructed. It was late, so I didn't want to eat a heavy meal. I had the crab/shrimp cakes (which were tasty, though like many others I would have preferred the salmon), and skipped salad and dessert.
Our attendant, Dan, works hard and he works smart. The luggage rack was completely full, and I have a big roller bag with me because it's a long trip, so he hauled my bag upstairs and put it in the empty roomette opposite mine. It's the first time anyone has done that for me, and it was wonderful to have all my stuff so handy! Dan kept the car immaculate (including cleaning the toilets and emptying the trash overnight). He woke us up with a half-hour warning into Sac'to, and then we got a slow order and it ended up being over an hour.
My friend Danelle, who works for the California government, was waiting to take me out to breakfast! I checked my big bag, and we drove to the Fox and Goose, an English-pub sort of place that serves three meals. I opted for a veggie scramble that had spinach, broccoli and goat cheese in it, with potatoes on the side and wheat toast with marmalade. Delicious, but way more food than I needed! I did take a walk before coming back to the station, so that made me feel a little better. Waiting now for the California Zephyr, which went down over 20 minutes right from the start this morning. Oh, well, I don't care as long as we get to the other end in time for my connection to the Card!
11/17 – Bend to Sacramento
It was a chilly evening and already dark, so I went into Hawthorne Station (Bend's intermodal transportation center) to wait for the High DesertPoint shuttle bus, which showed up right on time. I was the fourth and last passenger to board the bus ( a very nice hi-top van). In spite of falling snow, the drive to Chemult was quick and uneventful. The driver took us to the truck stop across from the platform so we could walk around and wait where it was warm.
Unlike other times I've been on this route, the driver didn't have it arranged for the train conductor to call him, so we went over to the station about the time the train was due (even though we knew it was probably going to be a little late), and sat in the van till the lights came up on the platform. Then we hauled our bags up the ramp in an inch of fresh snow. The train showed up within five minutes. The sleeper door closest to the Pacific Parlour Car was open. Since it's a short platform, the Conductor instructed the three sleeper passengers to board, and everyone else to wait so they could spot the train for coach. We put our stuff in our roomettes, and went right to the diner as instructed. It was late, so I didn't want to eat a heavy meal. I had the crab/shrimp cakes (which were tasty, though like many others I would have preferred the salmon), and skipped salad and dessert.
Our attendant, Dan, works hard and he works smart. The luggage rack was completely full, and I have a big roller bag with me because it's a long trip, so he hauled my bag upstairs and put it in the empty roomette opposite mine. It's the first time anyone has done that for me, and it was wonderful to have all my stuff so handy! Dan kept the car immaculate (including cleaning the toilets and emptying the trash overnight). He woke us up with a half-hour warning into Sac'to, and then we got a slow order and it ended up being over an hour.
My friend Danelle, who works for the California government, was waiting to take me out to breakfast! I checked my big bag, and we drove to the Fox and Goose, an English-pub sort of place that serves three meals. I opted for a veggie scramble that had spinach, broccoli and goat cheese in it, with potatoes on the side and wheat toast with marmalade. Delicious, but way more food than I needed! I did take a walk before coming back to the station, so that made me feel a little better. Waiting now for the California Zephyr, which went down over 20 minutes right from the start this morning. Oh, well, I don't care as long as we get to the other end in time for my connection to the Card!