September 9, 2025, marks 175 years since California became a state. With that celebration in mind, I was eager to travel once again to the Golden State and spend time with my great college friends, Tyler and Roy. In their company, I knew it would be a jolly time, like walking on sunshine in soaking up SoCal vibes in all their varied array.
Wednesday, July 9
It was sunny after a brief shower in Oak Park in the afternoon when I departed my homebase around 1:25 PM CDT. I got in the car of fellow parishioner Brian and he drove me to Chicago Union Station. I arrived a few minutes before 2 PM. Soon afterward, the boarding call came for train #3, the westbound Southwest Chief. I got in a snaking line in the boarding area, and then got to my seat onboard. By Amtrak's clock, the train departed right on time at 2:25 PM CDT, although it was something like 2:24:45 PM on my mobile device's clock.
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| I posed by the Southwest Chief imagery in the corridor leading from the Clinton Street entrance before boarding. I thank the passerby who stopped to photograph me. |
(Please note that the vast majority of my vacation was in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) from Friday until Monday. Times on those days are PDT. During my days of train travel, times are specified by time zone.)
I immediately began enjoying the scenes out the window as the Chicago skyline appeared behind us as we headed into the Lower West Side, and then into the western suburbs with elegant downtown areas along the tracks, including places where I enjoy biking such as Riverside and Western Springs. Then the Chicago Metro Area gave way to the farm fields with plenty of soy and corn.
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| Here's the Chicago skyline as the train headed south out of Union Station. |
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| Crossing the Des Plaines River at Riverside |
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| Above and below are farm fields |
Around 5 PM, the train exited Illinois and crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and quickly reached the Fort Madison station stop, which was the first opportunity to step off for fresh air for a few minutes. Within the hour, the train crossed the Des Moines River and entered Missouri. As nightfall advanced, I marveled at the moonrise.
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| To the center left is the bridge the train used to cross the Mississippi River |
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| View of the Mississippi River from the Iowa side looking over to Illinois in the background |
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| Crossing the Des Moines River from Iowa (on the right) to Missouri (on the left) |
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| Sunset in Missouri |
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| Above and below are views of the moonrise over Missouri |
The train reached the Kansas City station by 10 PM. While on the platform for another fresh air stop, I had a great view of the nearly full moon.
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| The full moon appears near the center of this photo of the Kansas City skyline. |
Thursday, July 10
I awoke around 6 AM CDT, past Garden City. Around this time, I began enjoying the sunrise--please see photo below.
Within the hour, we entered the Mountain Time Zone in Hamilton County, KS, and then we entered Colorado, marked by a Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign along US 50 that paralled the tracks at a distance.
The train arrived at La Junta shortly after 7 AM MDT, and we had another fresh air stop, which was a great chance for me to step out into Colorado. As the train continued its journey, the mountains rose up in the distance, and then we traveled through the mountains.
Shortly after entering New Mexico, we entered the Raton Tunnel. Then came another fresh air stop at Raton, where the Scout groups departed. Continuing along, we passed through mountain highlands with red rocks and also wide open plains.
Around 5 PM, we reached Albuquerque, which was a servicing stop. I had plenty of time to walk a block to the Silver Street Market and get dinner and other groceries. We were in the thick of desert summer heat, with a temperature display on a building that registered 100--please see photo below.
For dinner, I got chicken tenders with mashed potatoes, and a squash medley, along with fresh-cut watermelon and a piece of Tres Leches cake--please see photos below.
I enjoyed dinner in the lounge car as the train turned west and traveled through desert with cliff rock formations, paralleling I-40 and Historic Route 66, which put me in the mood to watch cars.
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| Crossing over I-40 |
I stepped off for fresh air at Gallup as the sun was setting--please see photo below.
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| Here's the sunset at Gallup, with the last car of the train appearing to the left. |
A short while later, we entered Arizona. Upon reaching Flagstaff around 10 PM MST, I stepped off for fresh air again, and then made my way to the lounge car to go asleep.
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| Here's the full moon over the last car of the train. |
Friday, July 11
I woke up to celebrate entering the Golden Gate of California at the Colorado River in the wee hours.
A little while later after the stop at Needles, I watched the sunrise over the Mojave Desert. At Barstow, we had a brief fresh air stop around 5:45 AM PDT. I stepped off the train, along with another passenger who was from Japan and riding the train across the US for the first time.
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| At the Barstow train station |
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| The view from the train past the Barstow station |
The sun got higher and brighter as we approached Los Angeles. The train arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at about 9:30 AM.
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| I saw this view of the skyline of Los Angeles as the train nears Los Angeles Union Station. |
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| A fellow passenger photographed me on the platform at Los Angeles Union Station to mark the conclusion of another long-haul through ride for me on the entirety of the Southwest Chief route. |
As I walked toward the Alameda Street exit, I saw a piano that was open and available for anyone to play. I sat down and reached down into my memory to play "America, the Beautiful" as best as I could.
Next, I went to visit Los Angeles City Hall, which has an observatory deck at the 26th floor with fantastic views of Los Angeles and the surrounding area.
Down on floor 3, there was a special display for the Olympics, past and future, in Los Angeles--please see photo below.
Subsequently, I attended 12:10 Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. After Mass, I got a quick lunch of two tacos at the Cathedral's Cafe Galero. I lingered there for a while.
Then I walked to the Historic Broadway Station to board the A Line train, which was about an hourlong ride to Long Beach. Tyler picked me up there and we went to walk along the beach. (I also got some more stamps ahead of the impending price increase.)
By 6:30, we were at a nearby parish for a young adult faith formation evening with a group Tyler recently connected with.
We were at his apartment complex by 10 PM, and we walked from there a short distance to 7-11 for me to pick up groceries and enjoy a Slurpee for 7-11 day.
I was awake a little bit after 7 AM. I went on a short walk to nearby St. Mary of the Sea Parish for 8 AM Mass for the Feast of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, whose story resonates with me. After Mass, I had a light breakfast. Then I enjoyed recreation time, riding for a few minutes on Tyler's bike along the trail near the beach, and then I went into the Pacific Ocean waters for a few minutes.
Shortly after 10 AM, Tyler and I headed to downtown Los Angeles. We met up with Roy and started ambling around in Little Tokyo. First, we went to the Asuza Street Prayer Tower, which continues to support the efforts of the early 20th Century Revival that occurred there.
Then we had lunch at Kouraky, the oldest Ramen restaurant in the US still in operation. Interestingly, it brought meals to customers using a cat robot, though mine came to me from a person server.
Once we finished lunch, we strolled leisurely through the nearby pedestrian mall, browsing shops, like a place that had shelves filled with cassette tapes and even sold an 8-track tape. We also stopped at a couple of sweet shops, including Vita Cane, which sold drinks made from freshly squeezed sugar cane.
Then we walked back to where Tyler had parked his car and headed in a westerly direction to the Getty Center. We spent about 2-3 hours there admiring the amazing views from its hilltop-like perch and goign inside the galleries to view the incredible collections of artwork.
By 6:30, we began making our way to San Jacinto. We stopped for dinner at In-N-Out, a classic California chain. I got a burger with fries and a vanilla milkshake. At just about 10:36, we arrived at the Miller home in San Jacinto.
The next morning, Roy, Tyler, and I departed shortly after 7:30 for the Miller family church, Bridgepoint in Moreno Valley for the 8:00 liturgy.
Afterwards, we went to Riverside to attend 10:30 Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Right after Mass, we had tacos from a stand set up on the grounds of the church.
Then we went shopping at two different grocery stores, Superior in Moreno Valley and Vallarta in Hemet.
We then returned to the Miller home to drop off the groceries. While Roy got busy cooking a feast, Tyler and I went to Perris to visit the Southern California Railway Museum, which had a variety of railcar equipment on display.
We were back at the Miller home shortly before 5 PM. I spent time with Mom and Dad via videocall, and then brought out my computer for them to greet the Millers.
Around 6 PM, the feast was ready, with taco meat, fish, shrimp, rice, beans, and other sides. I enjoyed making surf-and-turf tacos. Rogenique's sisters came, and her brother-in-law.
Later, I went out for a walk in the neighborhood in the warm evening. When I returned, I visited with Tyler, Roy, and Rogenique.
I awoke shortly before 8 AM. After prayer time, I caught part of the Loopcast, which I enjoy listening to regularly. Then I had breakfast, read spiritually, and walked around the neighborhood in the bright morning sunshine.
By 12 noon, Tyler, Roy, and I were on the way in the Rogenique-mobile to sightsee. We looked at the historic depot in Hemet before getting lunch at the nearby Downtown Deli. I got a turkey wrap with a passion fruit drink. Then we wandered around the block before going a short distance north to visit the San Jacinto Public Library. After our visit there, we wandered around downtown San Jacinto. Then we made a brief stop by St. Anthony Roman Catholic Parish.
Subsequently, we went to the Maze Rock, which is a rock preserved with ancient petroglyphs. It was a nice short walk from where we parked through a nature area to see the rock.
We were back at the Miller home around 4 PM, and we had leftovers from yesterday's feast for dinner. Then we got in Tyler's car and we headed to the San Bernardino train station. On the way there, I was on the lookout for a roadside produce stand, and I was delighted when I saw one where I could buy fresh California oranges to take back with me.
When we got to Redlands, we ambled around in the Gerrard's Grocery Store. After a quick stop nearby at the A.K. Smiley Library, Lincoln memorial, and post office, we headed to the San Bernardino train station. The eastbound Southwest Chief was slightly delayed, which gave me further opportunity to bring closure to a wonderful California stay with my friends. At 7:18 PM, the train arrived.
As the train headed north toward Victorville, I saw amazing views of the sunset over the arid landscape headed toward the Mojave Desert.
I lingered in the observatory/lounge car for some time, with a group of teenage volleyball players livening the atmosphere as they made their way to a tournament.
By the time we reached Barstow, it was dark, but befitting its desert location and the date in July, it was in the 90s when I stepped off for fresh air and one final time to walk on California ground.
Near 12 AM midnight PDT, the train stopped at Needles, and within the hour, had crossed east over the Colorado River into Arizona and I bid farewell to California.
Tuesday, July 15
I got up to get fresh air on teh platform during the stop at Flagstaff, around 4 AM MST, at which point the volleyball team departed the train. As the train journeyed east of Winslow, an amzing sunrise emerged over the desert landscape, which was in the vicintiy of Petrified Forest National Park.
At Gallup, NM, shortly after 8 AM MDT, I stepped off for fresh air and to bask in the morning sunshine.
When the train reached Albuquerque around 11 AM MDT, I got off and headed to the Silver Street Market for lunch and other groceries. I got beef and beef burritos for my lunch. It was very warm, but not yet hot outside.
I enjoyed my lunch as the train traveled through the arid landscape of northern New Mexico. It got much more quiet, as many passengers had left by time we reached Albuquerque. At Lamy, we had the chance for a brief fresh air stop. When the train arrived at Raton, a huge Scouts group of nearly 120, boarded, and the atmosphere got even more lively.
Soon after the train left Raton, I went to the observatory car to eat my dinner, and struck up conversation with some of the scout leaders. I lingered there a while enjoying the views as the train traveled through Colorado, first winding among the mountains near I-25 and then into the high plains past Trinidad. There were some great sky views with clouds and the sunset. Much of the daylight had diminished by the time we reached La Junta, which was another fresh air stop.
Soon after the train entered Kansas, we entered the Central Time Zone, and as it was close to 11 PM, I went to sleep.
Wednesday, July 16
I awoke around 6 AM as the sunrise was in its early stage over the fields of eastern Kansas. Shortly after 7:30, I went to the dining car to treat myself to breakfast: I had Railroad French toast with berries and cream, along with milk.
In Kansas City, around 9 AM, I stepped off the train for a few minutes for fresh air. Then I staked out a spot in the observatory car and waited a while to get great views of the Missouri River when the train crossed it east of Kansas City.
I stepped off for fresh air again at Fort Madison, IA, and took in the splendid views of the Mississippi River and Illinois on the other side.
Just west of Princeton, the train stopped in a holding pattern for over an hour because inclement weather in Chicagoland meant all train traffic had to stick to one track.
The stormy weather had passed by the time we reached Chicagoland. I enjoyed sharing the views of places familiar to me with the person seated next to me as we passed through the suburbs and into Chicago. Our arrival at Chicago Union Station came just after 7 PM.
Matt was waiting outside the station to pick me up and bring me back to Oak Park. Upon reaching homebase, the moment I had been waiting for arrived when I opened one of those bags of oranges and handed one to Matt, the first of several people back home who got a share in the oranges.
A few days before I departed for this trip was the celebration of US Independence. The following weekend, someone asked me about my celebration and I said it was patriotic and I looked forward to following up on it by traveling across the country to California.
The United States of America encompasses a vast breadth of landforms, people, and cultures. I left the driving to others for a week and I could soak it all in, starting with the train ride, watching the progression of landscapes from farm fields to the Plains to the Rockies to the Southwest deserts.
After such a scenic journey, reaching California felt glamorous because the progress of my journey led to the place with quite a reputation as a vacation spot. It's amazing how much even just Southern California encompasses. It was a highlight to take in views of the Los Angeles Metro Area from the top of Los Angeles City Hall and the Getty Center. Down at street level, I enjoyed ambling around in Little Tokyo, a great example of a vibrant ethnic neighborhood in the heart of a great American city.
Then I got to see a side of California that's away from the hustle and bustle in the Inland Empire as I ambled around Hemet, Riverside, and San Jacinto with Roy and Tyler. I was intrigued to see cow farms and corn fields in southern California, much like is commonplace in the central US. Even more so, I could experience SoCal through my friends who live there by spending time at their homes. It really dawned on me as I walked around in the neighborhood of the Miller home on Sunday evening. Roy and Rogenique acquired their home just after my first SoCal visit, and this was my first time going there, which made this trip special, not to mention my first time meeting their daughter Rhema.
Indeed, there was a touch of glamor to this vacation. Just days before departing, when I watched the Capitol Fourth concert, I was taken by the song "Walking on sunshine" and it's a fitting song as I reflect on this trip. There was plenty of physical sunshine from the moment the sun rose over the Mojave Desert. Then came the sunshine of all I got to see. And certainly there was sunshine in the joy of spending time with my friends in their communities. I give thanks for how I continue to be connected with them as the years continue and their lives expand, like with Roy's growing family.
Indeed, I expanded my SoCal experience from previous visits, even as I revisit what's so enjoyable. The first time I was in SoCal 5 years ago, I stopped at a roadside produce stand to buy real California oranges. For this trip, I was eager to get my hands on more of those oranges. After eating this latest batch, I've become more convinced they're the best oranges on Earth. It even reminds me of a line from an episode of I Love Lucy, when Fred gets the idea of buying an orange grove in Pomona. When Lucy and Ricky counter he doesn't know anything about growing oranges, without missing a beat, he says, "The oranges know what to do."
Even if returning home was wistful, I was so glad those oranges provided something for me to look forward to, not to mention the train journey and writing this blog post. It was special to see family, friends, neighbors, and parishioners in the days after my return and offer them a gift from the 10 pounds of oranges, to spread that sunshine and marvel at all that comes forth from the land of the USA.
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| While waiting for the eastbound Southwest Chief to arrive at San Bernardino, I posed with my two 5-pound bags of real California oranges. So far as I can remember, Tyler photographed me in this pose. |
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