Pre-Customs inspection took longer as the agents were late but were expeditious in performance of their duties so all passengers could board. I visited the Bistro car for dinner and listened to tunes until departure time, which was on schedule, but we were delayed at the Fraser River draw bridge. First, a sightseeing paddle boat passed, followed fifteen minutes later by a barge with tug boats working hard on both ends. At Blaine, Customs boarded and I was asked just one question. The filme was one I always wanted to see but never did until now - "101 Dalmatians". We arrived in Seattle a mere three minutes late.
Seattle 4/20/01Upon arrival, it was a nightmare traffic problem as the Anaheim Angels-Seattle Mariners baseball game had just let out and all the streets around the depot were bumper-to-bumper. I managed to hail a cab and finally made it to the Kings Inn, but it cost me three times the normal fare. I checked in and by showing my Amtrak tickets, received the Amtrak rate that all but made up for the cab fare. I slept soundly for a good eight hours then went to Ralph's for more over-the-counter cold remedies. I taxied back to near the station where I was dropped off near some of the damage from last month's 6.8 magniude Nisqually earthquake then walked the last two blocks to King Street Station.
Coast Starlight 11 4/21/01
I boarded the Coast Starlight and had Room 3, which again was on the right side of the train. It would be nice if Amtrak could turn all the sleeping cars so that Room 3 was always on the right going north and the left going south. I was not feeling all that well so made up my bed and slept to past Kelso-Longview then went to the Pacific Parlour Car and asked the attendant if he would play my new Queen Greatest Flix III and I enjoyed a private showing to Portland.
South of Salem, a hot box detector went off so one of our cars had to be inspected which took twenty minutes. We met the northbound Coast Starlight before the next detector gave us an all-clear. I had the seared steak for dinner and turtle cake for dessert before I enjoyed the climb over Cascade Summit prior to watching "Space Cowboys" in the Parlour Car Theater. The film ended just as we arrived at Klamath Falls, which allowed for a walk in the fresh cold air which I needed. I made my bed and crawled into it as we departed on time.
4/22/01 During the night, the Starlight became the Starlate. I awoke in Roseville, which was not on our route anymore and it turned out that CTC failure and congestion led to us being routed the old way. I had a breakfast of French Toast between Roseville and Sacramento, which gave me an opportunity for a good brisk walk there. We were delayed both here and at Martinez by baggage transfer to the San Joaquin train then further delays occurred in the West Oakland coachyards where three Road Railers were removed and the private car "Northern View" and an Express Trak Car were added to the rear. I watched my "Emerson Lake and Palmer Welcome Back" DVD at another private showing before napping from Fremont to halfway up the Salinas Valley. All this sleep really helped me fight this flu.
Since we were well over three hours late, the expected bad news arrived over the public address system. I would be bussed to Santa Ana and passengers for the Sunset Limited would be bussed from San Luis Obispo to Ontario in order to make their train. I would take a short hour bus ride over one of five hours any day. A passenger told me that he had been bussed from San Antonio to El Paso due to a flash flood and I shared that I had been bussed from Tucson to Los Angeles due to a freight train derailment. We both agreed that we do not like the bus.
I enjoyed the first dinner seating with a seared steak and turtle cake again and felt as though I was on the Sunset Limited as I left the Pacific Parlour Car. I was in sleeping car "Florida", the gap is no sleeper "Alabama", the next sleeping car "Mississippi", the gap is no sleeper "Louisiana" then into my car "Texas" with Room 3 deep in its heart. I enjoyed the bright sunlight as the we descended Cuesta Grade then with all the Sunset Limited passengers leaving, there was an extended stop in San Luis Obispo where I called home and left a message for my mother notifying her that we were three hours late and I would take a taxi home. After we departed, I watched "Finding Forrester to Santa Barbara, where were delayed by a northbound freight train. After that, I napped the rest of the way to Los Angeles, arriving there at 12:03 A.M.
4/23/2001 I walked over to the bus for the ride to Santa Ana and a taxi home to my own bed, ending this Rocky Mountaineer adventure.
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