San Joaquin Amtrak to Emeryville

It's thrilling. Thrilling like a child eagerly waiting for Santa Claus. I'm waiting for the train. I'm traveling with The Mister, my dear husband, Dennis. Our destination is Reno. I have desired a train trip over thee Sierra for several years, now, and we are finally taking it. If we were willing to ride the Amtrak bus part way (Stockton to Sacramento) we could have made it to Reno in one day. But, we did not want a bus ride ... train all the way. This means a two day trip: first leg of our trip is from Fresno, California to Emeryville, California.

Wylie picked us up at home and took us to the old Santa Fe Depot (recently refurbished by the city and declared a landmark) that is now the home of the Amtrak station. The weather was perfect, sunny yet cool. We sat outside near the tracks while waiting for our train. Hearing the train whistle off in the distance started that exciting anticipation. As the train pulled into the station I could feel the power of the engine in my chest ... a mighty powerful engine indeed, and loud.

a friendly volunteer at the old Santa Fe Depot in Fresno chats while we wait for our train

We boarded the train, headed straight up the stairs to the upper domed level. We found seats at a table, sharing the space with another passenger. The view was stellar. I have traveled up and down the Big Valley many times by car where the groves and orcchards of trees are above my head .... a bit like not seeing the forest for the trees. This time I am seeing the groves, orchards and vineyards from a birds eye view: the valley is indeed furtile and fruitful.

We were "entertained" by a gentleman two rows back who talked on his cell phone three hours straight. And, I mean straight. The young man on the other end (I deduced it was a young man from hearing this side of the talking) didn't say much because our side of the phone conversation was a loud, long running monologue. Cell yell at it's best. At least he had a pleasant voice, not some shrill scream-sounding voice. We were amused. He should have been a philosopher or a political pundit ... or a banker or broker ... but, he was being an advisor to a recently graduated young relative.

I called our hotel, the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge Hilton Garden Inn, as we approached the station. They sent a courtesy van to the station and we were soon checked into our room. After cocktails and dinner we have retired for the night to the Mirra chair (where I sit, now) and The Mister cozied into the "Garden Sleep System" bed ("a patented, self-adjusting technology to conform to your body" ... I am quoting, here). Soon, I will give it a try.

The Mister relaxes before we head downstairs to the lounge for cocktails and dinner

Tomorrow ... heading eastward to our state capitol, Sacramento, then up over the Sierra, and onto Reno. No, we're not gamblers or gamers ... we're going to a concert.

Decissions .... Decissions

I tend to stay up late ... really late ... into the wee hours of the morning. The Mister falls asleep around 8pm ... on the couch ... wandering up to bed around 9:30 or so. The Mister, like a good farmer and early-to-bed guy, awakens before sunrise. Once he is awake he cannot go back to sleep. I awaken around 7:30, just as The Mister is driving off to the theatre scene shop. While I can easily go right back to sleep, even after a shower (much to his demise), I get out of bed, grab a cuppa joe, sit in the sunny window and ponder my day. As the summer comes on, no sitting in a sunny window ... too hot! HA!

On the rare occasion I awake early enough to make breakfast while he showers. Today I awoke while he was dressing ... part of our conversation went something like this:

me: what the weather like today? (he watches The Weather Channel AND reads the daily newspaper every single day)
he: 99
me: I thought it seemed rather still outside (a sure sign of high temps this time of year)
he: very still... but, it's supposed to get down into the 80's next week
he: Friday is my last day
me: THIS Friday?
he: yeah ... I DID work all the Holidays
me: yes you DID ... !

I chuckled to myself because I have been asking when he was finished for the season. Typically it's the last day of school. Last week his answer was no different: June 12. This annoyed me because he worked hard thru all those times he was "supposed" to be off ... grrrr! Now, I am excited because our summer starts earlier than I had anticipated. I love having The Mister home.

As I list all of the things I'd like to do and the places I'd like to go I am reminded that my back is in a healing process. I must limit my activities and the extent to which, where and how I travel. The recent weekend road trip brought me home rather exhausted and aching. I must ... MUST ... allow the latest steroid epidural do it's job. This is a hard learning process for me since I have always ... had always ... been strong and capable and independent.

The Mister just called: The Lion King has a permanent installation in Vegas. I had checked into going to see Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood in concert at several venues including Vegas, but all that remain are nose bleed seats ... no thanks. So, I had written off a trip to Vegas. Since The Lion King is now a permanent installation I am wondering if I should pursue it for a summer event, or let it ride until later in the year. The Holidays? I wonder what next year's theatre season has in store? Will The Mister get the Holidays off or will he end up working them ... again ... sigh.

I DO know I will work on taking the train over the Sierra this summer. This is a trip I hae been talking about for a couple of summers, now. It's time to either DI IT or drop it from the list! The extent of the trip is what is up in the air. How far to go ... how long to stay where we go ... ??? Mid July we head to Tahoe for a short week (Wednesday to Monday) for Jon and Julie's wedding. Shortly after our Tahoe trip we fly with Woody and Kathie to Oshkosh for the AirVenture show. This year we are talking about flying into Canada for a few days.

So, considering what is already in store for the summer, perhaps it would be best if I stayed ... laid ... low for most of June and early July. I can always continue with home decorating I have started ... and continue reducing my craft supplies by 80%. But, it's summer ... travel is in the air.


Such a dilemma!