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<\/p>\nI had mixed feelings about taking this trip to California at this time of the year — the end of summer I’ve barely had any time to enjoy.\u00a0 But various little things drew me out to southern California now instead of mid-winter like I had originally planned.<\/p>\n
I traveled light, without my camera.\u00a0 So all photos on this trip were taken with my phone.\u00a0 Click on any photo for a larger version.<\/p>\n
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The trip started in La Junta in southern Colorado, leaving my mountain elevation of 8300 at 4:00 AM.\u00a0 I was surprised at the amount of traffic in the Denver area at that time.\u00a0 I don’t know why everybody was in such a frantic hurry to get to the jobs they hate before the crack of dawn on a Monday morning.\u00a0 The energy of the other drivers was so frantic that by the time I got to Colorado Springs, I witnessed a huge car accident in progress.\u00a0 I narrowly escaped hitting anybody or anything.\u00a0 If I hadn’t been fully focused on driving, I would have ended up in the pile of other cars.\u00a0 It wasn’t even 6:00 AM yet.<\/p>\n
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I was relieved to depart I-25 onto US Highway 50 in Pueblo.\u00a0 It was much more mellow and nobody was in a frantic hurry.<\/p>\n
I arrived in La Junta around 8:00 AM. The train station was deserted and the train was running about an hour late.\u00a0 I walked around downtown La Junta which was pretty quiet except for the road construction.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Waiting for the train at a nearly deserted station in La Junta, Colorado.<\/p><\/div>\n
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After my harrowing drive there, things were peaceful.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>The Southwest Chief, Amtrak train number 3, at La Junta station.<\/p><\/div>\n
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I was only one of two passengers to get on-board at La Junta.\u00a0 The people you see in the photo above had stepped off the train briefly for some air and solid land.\u00a0 Once the train pulled out, it was deserted again.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Short grass prairie of southern Colorado.<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>Raton station in New Mexico.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Again, most of the people you see in this photo are passengers on the train who have stepped off briefly for a break.\u00a0 I wanted to, but I was already being served lunch in the dining car.<\/p>\n
I was a disappointed to find that Amtrak has cut about 30% of the selections from the menu compared to two years ago when I took a long distance trip.\u00a0 I was told it was a cost cutting measure.\u00a0 So instead of about 6 or 7 choices for lunch or dinner, there were only 4.\u00a0 Not much to choose from. The food quality seemed lower as well — lower than Denny’s.\u00a0 For the price I was paying, it felt like a total rip off and will influence my decision to take a train trip again.\u00a0 The bean counters took something good and ruined it.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Getting the window to my room cleaned in Albuquerque.<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>When two trains pass each other at 80 MPH for a combined speed of 160 MPH (BNSF locomotive).<\/p><\/div>\n
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Montana has claim to being called the Big Sky State, but I think New Mexico would have to be second.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Evening rainbow<\/p><\/div>\n
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A day of staring out of the window was really needed after all of the work stress and lack of time off.\u00a0 I slept really well in my bed that night with the rocking of the train.<\/p>\n I woke just as it was starting to get light out.\u00a0 We had arrived in civilization. I couldn’t decide whether to sleep in and snooze or get dressed and hop outside the train at San Bernardino for some firm ground and fresh air.\u00a0 I ended up doing the latter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BNSF Freight yards outside of San Bernardino, California.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n San Bernardino station in the early dawn.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n It wasn’t long before arriving in Los Angeles to change trains.\u00a0 The Pacific Surfliner would take me south to Oceanside where my dad was meeting me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After meeting my dad at the station, we went to the beach for a walk.\u00a0 Cloudless blue sky, blue ocean, light brown sand, pelicans, and salty breeze.<\/p>\n The next installment, part 2, is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I had mixed feelings about taking this trip to California at this time of the year — the end of summer I’ve barely had any time to enjoy.\u00a0 But various little things drew me out to southern California now instead … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n