I have been out of touch because I started to the Gathering with a geology/geography-focused two week road trip a friend proposed, Sacramento to Vancouver BC via Yosemite, down the Eastern Sierras (Mono Lake, Bristlecone Forest, Death Valley, etc.), Las Vegas and Red Rock, a loop around the southwest (Grand Canyon north and south, Bryce, Zion, Natural Bridges, Petrified Forest, Four Corners for the eclipse, Monument Valley, etc.), a couple of days of scenic highways toward the northwest, then interstates except for what is still available to cars of old US-30 along the Columbia River.
My brother and S-I-L arrived yesterday from LA on their second Coast Starlight trip, which they enjoyed very much. They met two railfans and several train virgins, enjoyed the parlor car, recommend the salmon and steak dinners, marveled at how much food came with the continental breakfast, liked traveling this way and will be doing more.
Today they figured how to pack my wheelchair, primarily by removing items. "You never wear socks, buy more when you get there if it is that cold." I agreed with all recommendations because they were doing the work, plus I hadn't heard about the weather out there yet. Guess too much sunshine turned off my brain. They did give me back one warm skirt and a windbreaker but no jacket or longjohns. They decided they needed my maps more than I did and my train schedule was tucked in there, but they did give me scanner, GPS, camera and laptop, so I can survive anything.
After a nice lunch at Ivar's they dropped me off at the beautifully restored Seattle King Street station, marveled that photos were fine (Linda is one of those who has been told to stop at LAUS), and started on their road trip back south in my car. And now I'm nicely settled on the Empire Builder behind a single locomotive, #91, well cared for by my SCA Sissy. The salmon was just how I like it, soft inside and crisp outside, hot throughout. The rice was okay, the vegetables were (for once) not overcooked and soggy but didn't taste any better than the squishy variety. The tiramisu was good. I'm not sure what it really was, we prepare it differently in California.
My brother and S-I-L arrived yesterday from LA on their second Coast Starlight trip, which they enjoyed very much. They met two railfans and several train virgins, enjoyed the parlor car, recommend the salmon and steak dinners, marveled at how much food came with the continental breakfast, liked traveling this way and will be doing more.
Today they figured how to pack my wheelchair, primarily by removing items. "You never wear socks, buy more when you get there if it is that cold." I agreed with all recommendations because they were doing the work, plus I hadn't heard about the weather out there yet. Guess too much sunshine turned off my brain. They did give me back one warm skirt and a windbreaker but no jacket or longjohns. They decided they needed my maps more than I did and my train schedule was tucked in there, but they did give me scanner, GPS, camera and laptop, so I can survive anything.
After a nice lunch at Ivar's they dropped me off at the beautifully restored Seattle King Street station, marveled that photos were fine (Linda is one of those who has been told to stop at LAUS), and started on their road trip back south in my car. And now I'm nicely settled on the Empire Builder behind a single locomotive, #91, well cared for by my SCA Sissy. The salmon was just how I like it, soft inside and crisp outside, hot throughout. The rice was okay, the vegetables were (for once) not overcooked and soggy but didn't taste any better than the squishy variety. The tiramisu was good. I'm not sure what it really was, we prepare it differently in California.
