Going To Paris

February 27, 2026 7 PM Outside of Winammuca If you pay for sleeping accommodations on the California Zephyr (I have a roomette — which is an appropriate name for this space), your meals are included. The European Plan if my memory of my trips to Bermuda is accurate. There is one hitch in the service — you have to dine with others at your table unless you are a party of four.  The introvert in me tried to convince myself that I wouldn’t be hungry for dinner.  After far too muc

February 27, 2026 Somewhere west of Colfax, California

Factually 27, 2026 Saw a lot of agriculture around Sacramento UC Davis is the state ag school. Davis itself looked nice — known as the bicycle capitol of the US. Observation car is pretty loud this morning. A large group of 60+ year olds unable to control their volume. It’s like they assume everyone is here to party! I’m guessing by the coolers people have brought on — and their clothes — a number of people are headed to Reno. Yikes. Coming into Sacramento I caught a glim

1040 AM February 27, 2026 I guess we are in the California Central Valley. Flat with lots of cropland. Saw IC Davis which is the ag school of the state. Davis is apparently the bicycle capitol of the US. Observation car is full now. A loud group of 60+ year olds; the kind of group that doesn’t appreciate that their loudness is rude to those of us enjoying the scenery. We are headed toward snowcapped mountains — I think in the Lake Tahoe area. Google Maps has me thinking

California Zephyr Leaving the Bay Area February 27, 2026 The most beautiful train stations in the U.S. are architectural masterpieces, with Grand Central Terminal (NYC), Union Station (Washington, D.C.), and Los Angeles Union Station leading as iconic examples. These historic hubs feature stunning Beaux-Arts and Art Deco designs, including grand waiting rooms, massive vaults, and detailed craftsmanship, serving as both busy transit centers and stunning landmarks.  Top Most B

On The Coast Starlight February 26, 2026 The Coast Starlight is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States between Seattle and Los Angeles via Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area . The train, which has operated continuously since Amtrak's formation in 1971, was the first to offer direct service between Seattle and Los Angeles. Its name is a combination of two prior Southern Pacific (SP) trains, the Coast Daylight and

Emeryville, California February 26, 2026 Yes, the Amtrak California Zephyr runs along major portions of the historic Transcontinental Railroad route. Specifically, between Sacramento, California, and Winnemucca, Nevada, the modern train follows the original 19th-century route through the Donner Pass. Key details about the route include: Historical Path: The journey from the Bay Area to Nevada follows the historic Central Pacific Railroad line. Modern Route: The train travels

I keep thinking about my breathing — “you can’t breathe a past breath or a future breath, you can only breathe a current breath.” That’s relevant because my train is at least 90 minutes late getting to Emeryville tonight. I’m expecting to get to my hotel by 1145 PM — in the morning my train leaves at 825 AM. All I can think about is how I won’t sleep well tonight, and I will be tired all day tomorrow. That’s called catastrophizing. I have a knack for that sometimes. I gue