In seeking truth you have to get both sides of the story.

Walter Cronkite

Oh my gosh. I have an additional must do thing before you die. This train the “coastal starlight” is amazing. It is our last train finishing this little circumnavigation and it is great. I had seen pictures of it along the coast but reality is always different. About Ventura, California we arrived and cruised for hours along the coast. The Pacific Ocean was calm but even so, surfers, picnickers,walkers bikers all enjoying the day.

Great to see as we move north the variety of farming. During this trip we have had wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar cane, pecans, and then in California lots of green fields of who knows what, lettuce, strawberries, grapes, oranges, I suspect alfalfa. Lots of unknown as there are no signs along the way.

The Backing up a bit in time, to Los Angeles, we had thought it would be just a 3 hour layover and change trains from the “sunset limited” from Tucson to the coastal starlight. We arrived 1/2 hour early so 5 am and a 09:51 departure. Dropped our bags in lounge and I went for a walk. 2 days before the Los Angeles dodgers won the World Series, and they arrived home to celebrate. Seems there was to be a parade and people were arriving to begin festivities at 6 am. People arriving on trains and heading to dodger stadium.

And several parks in area with dia de Los mujertos tributes. Then oliveras street an old section of LA with numerous vendors, only a few open but very crowded with morning revellers wanting breakfast. Lots of good energy.

Back to the station and our last breakfast burrito. Onto the train enjoying the graffiti and travels north.

Our last night on board and had the usual gyrations, and stretches into awkward positions achieving a great night of sleep. Awoke in the dark, but figured sunrise would be soon, so gyrate from bunk down to the observation car. Mt Shasta soon appeared. Then into snow and tall rainy trees in Oregon.

What have I learned? What was best? Would I do it again? Good questions and without answers. I have answers but they only apply to this particular moment and not in half hour. Ask me then!