8/17/2014 My mother and I left the Vagabond Inn in Ukiah and went south on US 101 to a McDonald's in Cloverdale. After breakfast we drove south to Geyersville where we took CA Highway 126 east to Calistoga where my mother's directions to the Southern Pacific station were perfectly correct. There were passenger cars in front of it filled with shops.
The line of passenger cars in Calistoga.
Western Pacific baggage-railway post office car 202 built by American Car and Foundry in 1915.
Western Pacific baggage-railway post office car 201 built by American Car and Foundry in 1915.
Western Pacific baggage car 126 built by Pressed Steel in 1924.
Western Pacific coach 314 built by Pullman in 1923.
Western Pacific coach 316 built by Pullman in 1923.
Santa Fe coach 3136 built by Pullman in 1929 as Santa Fe 3109. It was air-conditioned in 1937 and re-numbered 3136. In 1967, it was converted to company service as 198665 then to Recreation Car 196807. Calistoga Depot Associates purchased the car in 1958 to be part of a railroad-theme commercial shopping area. The vestibule was remodelled to the appearance of an observation car and the car was painted as Southern Pacific and named "Golden Brook".
A view of these passenger cars.
The Calistoga Southern Pacific station built in 1868, which last saw passenger service in 1929 as California State Highway 29 provided a more direct automobile link through Napa Valley instead, and freight service ceased in 1969.
From here we drove down CA Highway 29 to the Sutter Home Winery where my mother picked up some gifts for next Christmas. We then stayed on CA Highway 29 to CA Highway 12, to Interstate 80 then south on Interstate 680 to US 101 to Gilroy. Our room was not ready yet so we went to Denny's and had lunch, after which I had one more stop to make.
Caltrain sets laying over for the weekend. We returned to the Super 8, received our room and I wrote the California Western trip story from yesterday before we went to the Black Bear Diner where I had Tri-Tip then returned to the motel for the night.
8/18/2014 We departed Gilroy and headed over Heckler Pass on CA Highway 152 which we took to CA Highway 1 and drove south to Moss Landing, where we parked and paid for our last big event of this trip.
Elkhorn Slough Safari 8/18/2014Great for all ages. Enjoy playful sea otters, curious harbor seals, sea lions and hundreds of birds. World class wildlife viewing and photography on calm waters aboard the comfort of a pontoon boat. Reservations are required at (831) 633-5555.
We waited for the Elkhorn Slough Safari van to arrive.
The Safari Van. We signed a release and a passenger manifest then everyonel walked to the dock to board the boat. Our Captian was Yohn Gidson and our naturalist was Melanie.
The Elkhorn Slough Safari boat. We all were given life vests binoculars could be rented for $2.00. We then started our tour of Elkhorn Slough.
Views of Moss Landing Harbor.
We left the dock and started our tour.
We went by the boats.
Our first wildlife we saw were California Sea Lions on the boat docks in Moss Landing Harbor.
Views of Moss Landing Harbor.
More California sea lions on the docks.
A fishing boat.
More sea lions.
Two views of the Moss Landing Power Plant which is a natural gas powered electricity generation plant, located at the midpoint of Monterey Bay. The plant's large stacks are landmarks, visible throughout the Monterey Bay Area.
Birds on the dock.
A harbor seal.
Pelicans on the Moss Harbor breakwater.
The outlet to the Pacific Ocean.
Birds flying in formation.
Another view of the outlet to the Pacific Ocean.
More birds on the rocks.
Sea otters in the Moss Landing Harbor.
California sSea lions on the boat docks.
We went under the California Highway 1 bridge and into Elkhorn Slough.
Birds on a pole.
Harbor seals lay on the shore.
A harbor seal out of the water.
Bird on the shore.
Views of jellyfish.
Views of Elkhorn Slough with a sea otter in the bottom view.
Harbor seals on the banks of the slough.
| Click here for the last part of the story |