The state of California has always had a special glow in the American imagination, embodied so well in the song, "California, Here I Come!"
I had my chance to experience those words with true meaning a few weeks ago when I traveled west, eager to visit my good college friend Roy once again. Last time, I visited him in Oregon, and this time, I journeyed to southern California. Certainly, my trip to visit him was so wonderful, and there was so much more I gained from my vacation.
After pandemic limitations precluded two previous attempts at a trip to see him during 2020, I was glad that my third attempt finally materialized.
So with a measure of excitement, I got in my parents' family vehicle and Dad took me to Chicago Union Station on the afternoon of Sunday, September 27, 2020.
This trip would give me the chance to reconnect with a family vacation we had 16 years ago, in summer 2004, which was between my 7th and 8th grade school years. We rode Amtrak's Southwest Chief route to Lamy, NM, and from there made our way to Santa Fe and then Pagosa Springs, CO. This time, I would ride the Southwest Chief further west to visit Roy in southern California, with a stop in Flagstaff to visit the Grand Canyon.
The above photo shows a bench with train artwork at the Amtrak station in Raton, NM, along the Southwest Chief route. Please note, all photos in this blog post are mine, except where noted.
After waiting at Union Station for about half an hour, I heard the boarding call for Amtrak train #3, the westbound Southwest Chief at 2:35 PM. I walked to gate 14 and boarded the train. Right on time at 2:50 PM CDT, I felt the lurch that signaled the train was on its way west. I felt like belting out the lyrics of that song, "California, here I come!"
(Please note that all times stated in this post are local to their particular time zone. I try to denote time zones when I transitioned between different zones.)
We made pretty good time traveling through the suburbs of Chicago, which is route that provides great sights to see, and then northern Illinois farm country. We had a slight delay crossing the Mississippi River into Iowa. Right after the crossing, the train stopped at Fort Madison, which was a fresh air stop for passengers continuing onward. I got off and walked around a bit before we continued. Further fresh air stops came at Kansas City between 10-11 PM, where we had a longer layover, and then, after midnight, in Topeka.
Following our stop at Garden City, as we headed through western Kansas, I beheld the sunrise, which you can see in the photo below.
I went to the lounge car to photograph it, and enjoyed the company of some fellow passengers there as we crossed into Colorado, when I excitedly messaged one of my Denver area cousins.
It was amazing to soak in the scenery of southeastern Colorado, and then northern New Mexico, including the tunnel at Raton Pass followed by the flat drylands of northern New Mexico along I-25, and then red rocks of the mountainous highlands leading to Lamy. During this time, I started listening to an audiobook version of the complete text of the Lincoln-Douglas debate speeches.
After reconnecting with that family trip 16 years ago as I looked out at the Lamy station, new scenes opened up to me as we continued toward Albuquerque. We were a bit delayed, arriving into Albuquerque at 6 PM MDT. It was there that we had a lengthier layover while the train received servicing. I walked around the station area, and even browsed the offerings of the artist vendors.
Because of a freight train wreck on the tracks ahead of us, we didn't leave until 8 PM MDT, with the passengers passing the time with grocery shopping nearby and even listening to music out on the platform with a very pleasant evening. It was a relief to finally get moving, even though I knew I would arrive at my destination for the night much later than scheduled.
And then, at 11:10 PM MDT, I entered the state of Arizona for the first time in my life, along the I-40 corridor near Lupton, AZ. Finally, I reached my destination for the night, Flagstaff, AZ. At about 12:30 AM MST, I stepped off the train and placed my foot on the platform at the station, my first step in Arizona, which is in the photo below.
After waiting for the train to depart, I crossed the railroad crossing and went to my AirBnb lodgings for the night.
I awoke shortly after 7 AM MST. Just after 8 AM, I was on my way back to the Amtrak station. Around 8:20, a tour van from Sedona-based Great Ventures arrived, and I hopped onboard for my day tour of the Grand Canyon.
I was in a group with four others, led by our wonderful guide, Sheldon, who offered great commentary about everything we saw, even as we drove through Flagstaff. After driving through Flagstaff, we got on US 180, and drove in a northwesterly direction. We passed through ponderosa pine forests and then into more open spaces with shrub plants, as we changed elevation. At one point, we stopped to view the San Francisco Peaks, and nestled among them is Humphrey's Peak, the highest point of elevation in the state of Arizona.
Above, Sheldon photographed me with the San Francisco Peaks behind me. The tallest peak in the center is Humphrey's Peak.
Shortly after 10 AM, We made a brief stop in Tusayan at the IMAX Theater and Visitors' Center for souvenirs and use of the washrooms. Then, we officially entered Grand Canyon National Park.
Sheldon took us to a total of 8 different spots where we could view the canyon. The first stop was Mather Point.
Sheldon took this photo of me posing at the sign by the parking lot at Mather Point, right before we went to view the Grand Canyon itself.
The pandemic has limited the huge throngs of visitors that normally go there, but the upside is that it was so uncrowded we could enjoy the view.
And what a sight it was when I took my first gaze out at the Grand Canyon. My Mom told me before departing for this trip that photos can't do it justice. As I looked out, I felt like words couldn't fully convey the scene before me, immense in size and in wonder.
We stopped at Yavapai Point for more views, and then went to lunch at the Maswik Lodge, around 11:30 AM. The food offerings were somewhat limited, but there were still some good options available. I got lasagna, and then ended up with items from others' lunches that were more than they could consume.
Next, we went to the Grand Canyon Village. Sheldon gave us 40 minutes to roam the area freely. He suggested visiting some of the historic structures there, including the El Tovar Hotel, the Verskamp Visitors' Center, and the Hopi House, now a store of Native American artwork. And there were plenty more great views there.
Then we headed toward the East Rim, which is on the south side of the rim, but along the road leading to the East Entrance, where we stopped at several more spots, all the while on the lookout for wildlife, like deer. We went as far east as Navajo Point. We got great views of the Colorado River, and at one spot, we could see the rapids, although I could see the rapids' movement better when I used my binoculars. Sheldon gave us plenty of commentary on the nature, the history of those entrepreneurs who got in the tourist industry there, and the different options for exploring the Grand Canyon.
In the center of the photo above is the Colorado River, the bluish ribbon. Below is another view of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.
The final stop was at Duck Point, in the photo directly below, for a formation that can look like a duck, Darth Vader, or maybe something else, depending on how one looks at it.
From what I remember, the above photo show the view of Navajo Point from Duck Point.
As I looked out at Duck Point, I noticed, near the top of the other side of the rim, a cross, which appears in the center of the above photo.
Around 4 PM, we stopped at the Grand Hotel in Tusayan for a washroom break. Sheldon then read a reflective piece about the Grand Canyon that helped us as a group take stock of the experience we had just had. As he read, one woman in the group teared up from the emotional power of the Grand Canyon.
There was definitely something soul-stirring about visiting the Grand Canyon and marveling at an extraordinary scene of nature. My visit there made me think back to a Wilderness REtreat I went on in college to Shades State Park in Indiana. Our retreat leader, at the start of our time together, mentioned that the Hebrew word for wilderness, midebar, translates into English as "place without words". That idea came to mind as I beheld the wonder of the Grand Canyon. It's difficult to an extent to describe the Grand Canyon--it just exists in its majestic glory. Perhaps it some ways it speaks to how God just is, indescribable beyond our ability to use words, yet we can still behold the reality of Who He is stirring in our hearts.
The Grand Canyon is one of the true national treasures of the United States, and I hope all Americans see it at some point in their lives.
We headed south on AZ Route 64. Sheldon decided we would head straight south on AZ 64 to get views from a different route. We followed it straight south to Williams, and there, got on I-40, bound east for Flagstaff.
It was just after 6 PM when Sheldon dropped me off at the Flagstaff Amtrak station. I called my Mom to thank her for the message she sent me for National Sons' Day. When I hung up, a woman nearby, whose name I later learned was Carla, called out to me, and having heard my conversation, in which I mentioned heading to California, she asked me how much the ticket would cost, since she was there to book passage for that evening's train west. Gratefully receiving my response, she then offered to watch my luggage while I went to find dinner.
The above photo shows the view looking east on Historic US Route 66 in downtown Flagstaff, with the moon rising in the early evening sky.
I went to MartAnne's, a Mexican place about a block away, along Flagstaff's stretch of Route 66, where I got posole. It was a bit spicier than what I'm used to from my Grandma's posole, and had a greenish color, but it was tasty, with lots of nice hominy and chunks of pork. It came with some salad garnish, rice, beans, and torillas. I brought it back to the station and enjoyed it.
As I waited for the train, I watched the last half of the presidential debate, and then admired the moon and the stars in the dark sky above, while also chatting with other passengers awaiting the train.
Around 8:45 PM MST, the train arrived. I got onboard, and got settled, carrying profound memories of my first visit to Arizona.
After winding myself down, I slept for a little bit, but then got myself up a few minutes after the stop in Kingman. Then, around 12:30 AM PDT, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, I passed through that "Golden Gate" in the form of a railroad bridge over the Colorado River, and, for the first time in 13 years, entered the state of California, my first time in southern California. A few minutes later, the train arrived in Needles. As we continued onward, I gazed out at the dark night, and could see shrubs abounding in the desert.
Around 3 AM, the train stopped in Barstow, a fresh air stop. I stepped off onto California ground, and walked around, looking at the historic Casa del Desierto, a Harvey House location, which is in the photo below, and the railroad cars on display nearby. It was quite mild at Barstow.
About 2 1/2 hours later, the train reached San Bernardino around 5:30 AM PDT. I detrained, and walked toward the elevated pedestrian walkway over the train tracks to access the front of the station, chatting with Carla on the way. I decided to take the elevator up with her, on account of my luggage, and I watched the train depart, bound for Los Angeles. When the doors opened at the upper level, Roy was there waiting for me--what a good friend to wake up so early to pick me up.
The three of us chatted as we made our way to the other elevator, and then down to the front of the station. I knew I was in vacation country when I saw the stands of palm trees, even in the predawn darkness.
We got in Roy's car and headed for Redlands. He took me to Prospect Park, which has been a place where he's gone to reflect often, like when he was first in the process of moving there. We made our way up a hilly walk, and found a spot to watch the emerging light of day, and take in the views, as seen in the two photos below. There were many people out and about exercising in the early dawn hours, taking advantage of the time before the heat of the day.
Then we went to Gerrard's, a grocery store to buy some items for breakfast, which included banana-flavored milk and chicken-waffle sandwiches. We brought all that back to his apartment, and enjoyed breakfast together on his patio.
After I rested, and then some, we left for our day outing to Pasadena. By this point, the sun was at full blast, and the temperature was well on its way to topping 100 degrees.
We stopped at a shopping center where Roy bought a cooler at Target, and then we looked around in a specialty items store with items from around the world.
Then we headed west to Pasadena, and it sure was an interesting experience riding on Southern California freeways, even in the High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Our first stop in Pasadena there was the original Trader Joe's store--in the two photos directly below--which the company opened on August 25, 1967. I enjoyed buying some of my usual favorites in a significant place. Both of us also bought lunch.
Then we drove to see Pasadena City Hall, a very elegant building, which is in the photo below. We found a shady spot to enjoy our Trader Joe's lunch.
Then we walked around Pasadena for a while, looking at shops, and then getting some Chinese-style tea.
Roy took the above picture of my pose by my own last name.
Roy took the above photo of me posing by a Historic US Route 66 sign along Colorado Boulevard in downtown Pasadena.
On our way back to Roy's apartment, we stopped at a Filippino store in Rancho Cucamonga. Upon arriving back in Redlands, we found a spot near the Santa Ana River to view the sunset, and we walked west along the dry riverbed to watch it. When we turned back around to return to his car, we saw the moon rise over the mountains in the distance.
Above is the sunset colors looking west along Riverview Drive by the Santa Ana River and below is the moonrise looking east along the same corridor.
We arrived back at his apartment around 7 PM. While Roy got rice prepared, I went into the apartment complex's pool.
The next morning, Thursday, October 1, after breakfast and some relaxation time at Roy's apartment, we left for Moreno Valley to pick up his then-fiance (now-wife), Rogenique. While I had interacted with her numerous times via Zoom gatherings, it was special to meet Rogenique in person. Her family was delighted to meet me, too, as I've become "famous" in their eyes since Roy impersonates me to them.
From there, we drove to Huntington Beach, to meet up with our mutual college friend Tyler, who moved there back in July. His apartment complex is across the street from the Pacific Ocean beach. His dating friend Leslie was there. After having just seen them both back in July during a visit to the Madison, WI, area, where they just moved from, it was great to visit with them again.
Our fivesome walked to lunch at nearby Chronic Tacos. As I viewed the menu, one item caught my eye as something totally SoCal: a Surf and Turf burrito with steak and shrimp. It was pretty tasty.
We returned to Tyler's apartment and hung out for a while. Around 5 PM, I got suited up, and then we all went to the beach. I waded into the cool waters of the Pacific as waves of varying size lapped over and around me.
Above and below are photos of me in the Pacific Ocean. I don't remember who in our friends group took these.
Valparaiso University (VU) lives on in our friendship, as you might notice on my hand signals. Either Leslie or Rogenique took the above photograph, with Tyler to the left of me and Roy to the right. Below is a selfie I took of our group: from left to right is Leslie, Tyler, me, Rogenique, and Roy.
By 6 PM, we were on our way to dinner, at a place called Pacific Hideaway. It was nestled in a hotel, and after dinner, we lingered for a few minutes around one of the multiple fire pits there. Then we went to get specialty tea drinks at a place on Walnut Street, and then lingered out in the evening for a while along Main Street, before going back to hang out at Tyler's apartment, which included a geography guessing game.
Above is the scene of the sunset along Pacific Coast Highway as we walked to dinner. Below is a view of 5th Street from the balcony of the Pacific Hideaway Restaurant. As an aside, one of the odd things about Huntington Beach was seeing Halloween decorations on houses with palm trees in front of them.
The next day, Friday, October 2, Roy and I left around 10 AM or so for San Diego. Our first stop was lunch at Aladdin, a Middle Eastern restaurant, with lots of good food. I particularly liked having some dishes with lamb meat.
Next, we visited the Mount Soledad Veterans' Memorial. It was perched on a height of land, with spectacular views of the San Diego area in all directions. The memorial is a fitting monument in coastal California, with cities whose origins go back to missions founded by St. Junipero Serra as a way to magnify God.
Looking inland from Mount Soledad
Looking north along the Pacific coast
Looking west out into the Pacific Ocean
Looking inland toward the urban area of San Diego
Subsequently, we visited La Jolla. We went to the La Jolla Cove Beach, which has a sea cave. After venturing through the cove, we got a spot where we could view sea lions, and watch the crashing waves. We continued walking along the beach, and saw many more sea lions sunning themselves.
The Beach at La Jolla Cave
Here's the view on the other end of the cove.
This photo zooms in on the rock in the photo above it that shows some sea lions at rest.
Another view from the other end of the cove, looking out toward the shoreline.
The entrance to the cove
Sea lions lounging on the rocks at Point La Jolla, a short walk from the cove
The view of the Pacific shoreline walking further along in a southerly direction from Point La Jolla
Roy then took me to Windansea Beach, which has great personal significance: Back in February, he brought Rogenique there, along with her family and other friends, and proposed to her. It was wonderful sitting there for a few minutes admiring the ocean and the waves.
Roy proposed to Rogenique in the shelter that appears near the center of this photo, at Windansea Beach.
Then it was time to head to San Diego Bay for our boat cruise onboard the Spirit of San Diego, with a scheduled departure time at 4:30.
Here I am posing by the boat, in this photo that Roy took. (Roy took all photos onboard in which I appear.)
The cruise first went into the south part of the bay. The guide told us about Coronado Island, the military ships, and the other commercial ships docked in the bay.
Above is one of the many military ships docked in the San Diego Bay.
Above is a view of the bridge headed to Coronado Island.
Above is a stack of Dole containers, which the tour guide said was a shipment of fruit most likely from South America.
Way off in the distance, past the south end of the bay were some low mountains, which you can see in the photo below behind me, and as I looked at them, for the first time in my life, I looked at Mexico.
The boat returned to the dock and then we set out toward the north, and rounded the north end of Coronado Island toward the outlet into the Pacific Ocean, with more narration of the places along the bay.
Above is the view of the San Diego Skyline as the Spirit of San Diego pulls out of its dock into San Diego Bay.
Here are some sea lions resting on some type of flat surface boards in the water of North San Diego Bay looking toward the land of Point Loma.
Above, the Pacific Ocean appears behind me to the left, and the end of Point Loma, where Cabrillo National Monument is located.
Above are some military ships docked near the north end of Coronado Island.
As we headed back toward dock, we had amazing views of the sunset over San Diego Bay, like in this photo.
Once we got back to the dock, we walked over to Seaport Village to find dinner, and ended up at a Mexican place, one of the few restaurants still open. Then we browsed some shops, and walked further south along the shoreline of the bay.
By 8:30 or so, we were on our way back to Redlands.
The next day, Saturday, October 3, I spent some time lounging around at Roy's apartment, and wrote a bunch of postcards. Roy left to pick up Rogenique, and then Tyler arrived. Around 11 AM or so, we left to visit downtown Redlands. We went inside an art gallery, and then walked through Umbrella Alley.
Above and below are scenes in downtown Redlands along State Street.
The orange figures prominently into the logo of Redlands, as shown in these photos above and below.
Directly above is the Umbrella Alley.
Next, we went to the Richards house in Moreno Valley to pick up Rogenique's sister Faith. On the way there, we stopped at a produce stand where I bought a 5-pound bag of organic California oranges to take home. After our stop, we went to Riverside.
We spent a good chunk of time meandering around the Mission Inn, a historic, elegant hotel, where Roy and Rogenique made plans for a post-wedding dinner and then their honeymoon.
Above is the outside of the Mission Inn. Below is a view of the interior, by the Presidential Lounge.
Above is a view of a courtyard area of the Mission Inn.
Around 3 PM, we got lunch at the Food Lab, which is basically a food court, as shown in the photo below.
On our way back to Moreno Valley, we stopped at a commercial area called University Village to get boba tea at the Boba Cafe.
After dropping off Rogenique and Faith, Roy, Tyler, and I returned to Roy's apartment. After a few minutes there, we went to St. Anthony Parish in San Bernardino for 6 PM Spanish Mass. In accordance with California regulations, Mass was held outside in the parish courtyard under a tent, which seemed fitting with the Jewish celebration of Sukkot at hand. Since we were near the start of October, there was a Respect Life focus at Mass, including a prepared homily from the Diocese of San Bernardino. And it was such a fine, warm evening to be outside for Mass.
Above is the outdoor tent area where Mass was held. Below is the St. Anthony Church building.
Mass finished shortly before 7 PM. We three chatted in Spanish as we got back into Roy's car and headed toward the train station. We stopped at Superior Grocers first so I could get something to take with me to eat on the train.
Then we headed to the station. After going inside the building, we went to the pedestrian overpass over to the Amtrak platform. I called home, and Dad picked up, and we three chatted with him.
Above is teh view of the San Bernadino Amtrak/Metrolink train station from the pedestrian overpass. Below is a photo of me posing ready ot board the train--either Tyler or Roy took it.
Around 7:50 or so, Amtrak train #4, the eastbound Southwest Chief, arrived. I bid farewell to Tyler and Roy, before boarding, with tons of great memories of a wonderful visit to southern California, and excitement for what I would see and experience on the way home.
Once I got settled, I dug into my dinner, the turkey carnitas meat I got at Superior Grocers, and put it in a bread roll. When the train reached Barstow around 9 PM, I stepped off for fresh air, for one last time to walk around on California ground, while also admiring the moon.
Above is a view of the almost-full moon from the observation/lounge care, most likely somewhere east of Barstow, as the train headed toward Needles.
Between 12 and 1 AM PDT, on Sunday, October 4, after the stop in Needles, the train crossed the Colorado River and I bade farewell to California as we headed into Arizona.
I awoke at the stops in Kingman, Flagstaff, and Winslow. After Winslow, I noticed the faintest glimmers of daylight emerge, and I decided to stay awake and watch the sunrise over the eastern Arizona desert, which included passage through Petrified Forest National Park. The three photos below show sunrise scenes from eastern Arizona, in between the stops in Winslow and Gallup.
Around 8 AM MDT, we crossed into New Mexico, and shortly thereafter, we reached Gallup, whose Amtrak station is in the photo below, where I got off for fresh air.
After a few minutes, the conductor let out a long, shrill, "All aboard" call, as he then explained it, to be heard at the other end of the platform. I remarked that I wished I had recorded it.
After about 2 1/2 hours of traveling through the western New Mexico desert along the I-40/Historic US 66 corridor, which is in the four photos above, we reached Albuquerque at 10:50 AM MDT. We had an hourlong layover. I got off the train and walked around a little in downtown Albuquerque, especially to get photos at Central Avenue, the alignment of Historic US 66 in downtown Albuquerque, which is in the two photos below.
Above is looking east, and below is looking west from the intersection of Central Avenue and 1st Street.
I also went to photograph the train from the Lead Avenue overpass, as shown below.
The station appears to the left.
Then I went shopping at the Silver Street Market for my lunch and dinner. As I browsed the hot food/deli area, a woman there asked if she could assist me, and then she recommended a hot meal option, which I chose: meatloaf with fried zucchini. I also got some fried chicken. I was very pleased with the presence of that store close to the train station and what it offered.
Around 11:50, the train departed Albuquerque. The next stop was Lamy. Because we were making good time, the train crew decided to give passengers the opportunity to have a fresh air stop there. As we pulled in, people waved to us who were eating their meals in the outdoor seating area adjacent to the restaurant at the station. Stepping off was another chance to reconnect with the trip that took me there 16 years ago.
Above are photos in a family photo album that were taken at the Amtrak station in Lamy, NM, on July 29, 2004, probably taken by Mom or Dad. I am posing on the outside of the train in the top one. The bottom one shows the train stopped and pointed toward Albuquerque.
A fellow passenger took the above photo of me at the Lamy Amtrak Station on October 4, 2020.
From there, it was up into the red-rocked mountainous areas before coming back down to flat, dry plains in northern New Mexico along I-25.
Above and below are the mountainous areas between Lamy and Las Vegas, NM.
Above is a view of the engine of the westbound Southwest Chief train, which we passed between Lamy and Las Vegas. Below is a view of the landscape between Las Vegas and Raton along I-25.
I joined with my friends' Bible study group as we reached Raton, where I got off for fresh air, and then my phone signal dropped as we headed toward the Raton Pass tunnel.
Above is the sign just outside the north entrance of the Raton Pass Tunnel.
I got some great views of the sunset past Trinidad, which is in the photo below, at which point I opened up my fried chicken from Albuquerque for dinner.
It was pretty much night by the time we reached La Junta, around 7 PM MDT or so, where we had a layover of about 20 minutes, during which time I walked around in town to get photos, called to check in with Mom, and then, because I was inspired, played "America, the Beautiful" out on the platform.
Above is a mural in La Junta for the Southwest Chief train route. Below is a display on the local Elks building showing Amtrak mileage.
Above is a view of the engines during the stop at La Junta, and below is an electronic sign on the platform at La Junta.
Within 2-3 hours, we left Colorado and entered Kansas, and then past Hamilton County, we entered the Central Time Zone, around 10:30 PM CDT, and then I went to sleep shortly thereafter.
It was still pretty dark when we reached Kansas City the next morning, on Monday, October 5. While we had an extended layover there, I stepped off the platform for fresh air and spent a while out there as the sun rose. Being there caused me to think of the song "Kansas City" in Oklahoma! I played the song, singing and dancing along on the platform.
Above is the view looking west on the platform at Kansas City Union Station, with the gibbous moon high above. Below is a view looking north at downtown Kansas City from the platform, with the Main Street bridge appearing to the right.
We had great views of the morning sun as we head east and north out of Kansas City, soon following and then crossing the Missouri River, as the urban area gave way to the farm fields on northern Missouri.
Above is a view traveling parallel to the south bank along the Missouri River, and below is the view when the train crossed the Missouri River on the Sibley Railroad Bridge, looking in an easterly direction.
Then came great views of the Des Moines River as we entered Iowa, which is in the photo below.
We had a quick stop at Fort Madison, abbreviated because, after the stop in La Plata, we had gotten significantly delayed behind a freight train that was instructed to move slowly. As we pulled out of the Fort Madison station, we passed by Fort Madison and had great views of the Mississippi River as we crossed into Illinois.
Fort Madison, with the Mississippi River appearing behind it
That sunshine sure looks marvelous gleaming on the waters of the Mississippi.
The bridge over the Mississippi River
Looking north as the train crosses the Mississippi River from Iowa into Illinois
Once crossed over, I went to the cafe car to buy lunch: a vegan bean-corn burger patty with grape juice. I listened to more of the Lincoln-Douglas debates as we rolled along through the northern Illinois farm fields.
Above is the view out the window of the door at the back of the train, looking in a westerly direction as we travel through northern Illinois.
This set of grain elevators with a corn cob on one of them is in Mendota, home of the Annual Sweet Corn Festival.
At about 3:30 PM CDT, we reached the Amtrak/Metra Station in Naperville, IL, where I detrained. Within one minute of walking out onto the platform, Mom and I met. Then we walked across a roadway to where she had parked the family vehicle, and we both got in and headed back to Oak Park.
Considering how many limitations have been posed throughout the course of this year, I'm glad that I was able to have such a wonderful trip. And there was so much I was able to still see and do, like the Grand Canyon, shopping at the original Trader Joe's store in Pasadena, a tour boat cruise in San Diego Bay, and frolicking in the Pacific Ocean.
I recognize there were multiple aspects of this trip that touched me deep within. Certainly, my friendship with Roy and Tyler is so strong, spanning the years, and continuing to give me the motivation to travel even more than 2000 miles to be physically present in a good, quality visit. Roy is certainly a kindred spirit friend, the type of person I can open up with on a deep level, and that makes any visit with him a special time. It was just like when I traveled to the Pacific Northwest 3 years ago to see Roy when he lived in Albany, OR. I am grateful for his hospitality in hosting me so eagerly, even taking time off from work so he could take me around and we could be together.
Roy truly embeds himself in any place where he has lived, and so visiting him in California gave me the chance to see places that are dear and near to his heart, like the park in Redlands where he often went while pondering the process of his move there. And, of course, I really got to the heart of his life meeting Rogenique and visiting with her. It was special to visit them about a month before their wedding.
I also think about how I got to reconnect with the trip I took on the Southwest Chief over 16 years ago, much like riding the Empire Builder to visit Roy 3 years ago reconnected me with the great train trip in summer 1997. I even reonnected with some places where I traveled during the May 2011 storm chase trip I took, much of which was in Kansas.
And this trip gave me the chance to build upon what I've already experienced. I returned to California for the first time in 13 years, and spent time in a different part of the state. I was able to connect in a small way with the land of my ancestors, Mexico, from the glimpse I got while riding the boat in San Diego Bay.
I was able to really enhance my trip by making the journey there as much a part of the experience as the destination. Indeed, I was delighted to finally have the opportunity to visit the state of Arizona. And certainly it was great during my first time in Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon. I am grateful to Sheldon for the fine job he did in helping me and the others in my group get so much out of our visit to the Grand Canyon, especially in the sheer sense of its wonder. And it was a pleasure to share such an experience with those in the group.
All throughout this trip, there was so much to behold in all the land of the places I passed through or stopped in. Riding the train helped me soak it all in, as we passed from farmlands in Illinois and Missouri into the vast plains of Kansas into Colorado, and then the varied mountainous terrain from Colorado onward. There was even something wondrous about the deserts, enhanced by the rising and setting sun, and even the southern California desert with its abundance of shrubbery in the dark night under a moonlit sky. A large portion of this trip also followed Historic US Route 66, which stirred something in me about a bygone era that speaks to a way of life focused on really appreciating and embracing what is in the land, much like train travel does. The "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" song came alive as I passed through Gallup, Winona, Flagstaff, Kingman, Barstow, and San Bernadino. The vast majority of the route was on the BNSF railarod tracks, which hearkens back to the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, vestiges of which are still present along the Southwest Chief route, like in the Harvey House buildings at Barstow and Needles.
BNSF engines at Raton, NM
Furthermore, I think about the fine people I met along the way, especially riding the rails, and how I could get to interact with them while passing the time, not to mention the fine grocery store, the Silver Street Market in Albuquerque. I left a positive review for it on Yelp, and the proprietor responded soon after with appreciation for my review. And then there was the produce vendor who sold me a 5-pound bag of oranges, in the photo below, who spoke about how he picked them himself. I was delighted to bring them back to Chicagoland, and I got many compliments about how delicious they were.
I set out on this journey knowing I was going to have enjoyable experiences, but that sensation I felt upon arriving in southern California took it up to a more intensely enjoyable level, truly feeling myself in vacation mood. First, it was induced in the predawn darkness with the sight of the palm trees. Then the intense heat put me in a mood evocative of summer, just like going to the Pacific Ocean did, and made this trip really feel like a vacation. Even the abbreviation "SoCal" really evokes that vacation mood. It was something to feel the sensation of "SoCal" in everything from riding on the freeways to the surf and turf burrito.
This mood stirred something in me while on my way back to Chicagoland: When we stopped in Albuquerque, a man boarded with his daughter, who appeared to be around the age of 8-10. She was wearing a shirt that, to the best of my memory, had a palm tree on it, and words like "Vacay Vibes". That shirt definitely speaks to what I felt on this trip, especially once I detained in San Bernadino, CA. I really got great vacation vibes.
I was glad to get those vibes in company with great friends.
And I was glad for how during trip, I got to appreciate more deeply, in new ways, this land I love, America, the Beautiful. On this trip, I truly got to discover more so how beautiful it is.
Chicago Union Station, whose great hall is in the photo above, was once again the starting point of another experience for me in America, the Beauitful.
Below is the departure info board at Chicago Union Station right before I boarded the train. You can see the Southwest Chief, train #3, listed at the top.
I got great vibes in SoCal, and those palm trees had much to do with it, like these ones in teh photo above lining New York Street in Redlands, where I stayed at Roy's apartment.
Above is a decorated bench at the Amtrak station in Raton, NM. America the Beautiful was on full display throughout my journey, manifest in the Western Spirit that rides high in the wide open spaces under a big sky full of sunshine.
