A most excellent adventure
Published on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 by John PierreRead More The Constant Curmudgeon
My recent round trip by Amtrak to Oakland, CA (with my fantastic sister, Dr. Priscilla Ebersole, who has authored many books on "geriatrics") was a great experience.
I've traveled many Amtrak routes and none compare to our West Coast's own Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles.
If you are traveling in one of the sleeping cars, the Parlor Car is available (the only one in the entire Amtrak system), for ultimate comfort with swivel easy chairs that rival anything in anyone's home, for viewing of the fantastic scenery on both sides of the train by just turning from side to side.
One thing I simply can't avoid mentioning is of a woman who joined in a conversation between me and a family from Pittsburgh.
She commented with a smile, "I know you. You're the Curmudgeon."
Small world. It turns out she lives in Lynnwood and is a regular reader of the Beacon. I have to admit I loved the recognition.
There is one particularly bad aspect to the trip. The train doesn't go to the SF Peninsula, which was our destination,
It stops in Oakland ... which means that we had to board the "BART" (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train which tunnels UNDER the entire SF Bay!
Under a hundred bazillion tons of water ready to squish us into piles of protoplasm at the slightest provocation. Aaarrrggggh!
On return trip day, after going under that whole "mailto:%23@&%5E%25"#@&^% bay for a second time, I ventured over to Jack London Square for a bite and a drink while waiting for the north bound train.
At an outdoor eatery, I got a chuckle out of three youngish women who sat at a neighboring table.
I didn't intend to eavesdrop but one of their chairs was back to back with mine and I couldn't help but hear one of them say, "Hold the food, bring the drinks."
It was just an innocent jovial comment but caught my attention. From bits and pieces of their conversation, I gathered they were teachers bent upon enjoying a "ladies night out" after a long school year.
As I left, I let them know that I was going to quote them in the Beacon ... much to their joy.
I asked and they acknowledged that they were indeed teachers. I'll betcha they enjoyed the rest of their evening.
One other intriguing contact on the train was with Col. George Brick who retired from the Marines and later became the Vice Dean of Academics and High School Principal at the New Mexico Military Institute which has the stated purpose of training many to prepare them for a four-year college.
While not their primary mission, their other claim to fame is that eight percent or more of their graduates go on to acceptance to West Point, the Navy Academy and similar military colleges for Marines, the Coast Guard, Air Force and others.
A memorable trip. I hope all of you at one time or another are afforded the opportunity to make it. You'll never regret the "All Aboard" on the Coast Starlight ... Amtrak's finest.
I've traveled many Amtrak routes and none compare to our West Coast's own Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles.
If you are traveling in one of the sleeping cars, the Parlor Car is available (the only one in the entire Amtrak system), for ultimate comfort with swivel easy chairs that rival anything in anyone's home, for viewing of the fantastic scenery on both sides of the train by just turning from side to side.
One thing I simply can't avoid mentioning is of a woman who joined in a conversation between me and a family from Pittsburgh.
She commented with a smile, "I know you. You're the Curmudgeon."
Small world. It turns out she lives in Lynnwood and is a regular reader of the Beacon. I have to admit I loved the recognition.
There is one particularly bad aspect to the trip. The train doesn't go to the SF Peninsula, which was our destination,
It stops in Oakland ... which means that we had to board the "BART" (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train which tunnels UNDER the entire SF Bay!
Under a hundred bazillion tons of water ready to squish us into piles of protoplasm at the slightest provocation. Aaarrrggggh!
On return trip day, after going under that whole "mailto:%23@&%5E%25"#@&^% bay for a second time, I ventured over to Jack London Square for a bite and a drink while waiting for the north bound train.
At an outdoor eatery, I got a chuckle out of three youngish women who sat at a neighboring table.
I didn't intend to eavesdrop but one of their chairs was back to back with mine and I couldn't help but hear one of them say, "Hold the food, bring the drinks."
It was just an innocent jovial comment but caught my attention. From bits and pieces of their conversation, I gathered they were teachers bent upon enjoying a "ladies night out" after a long school year.
As I left, I let them know that I was going to quote them in the Beacon ... much to their joy.
I asked and they acknowledged that they were indeed teachers. I'll betcha they enjoyed the rest of their evening.
One other intriguing contact on the train was with Col. George Brick who retired from the Marines and later became the Vice Dean of Academics and High School Principal at the New Mexico Military Institute which has the stated purpose of training many to prepare them for a four-year college.
While not their primary mission, their other claim to fame is that eight percent or more of their graduates go on to acceptance to West Point, the Navy Academy and similar military colleges for Marines, the Coast Guard, Air Force and others.
A memorable trip. I hope all of you at one time or another are afforded the opportunity to make it. You'll never regret the "All Aboard" on the Coast Starlight ... Amtrak's finest.