Around the World II

Day 25 - Sun 25 Apr 2004

San Francisco

Up early after not sleeping too well - out of my room by 7:30 and checked out of the hotel super quick!

While sitting at the bus stop waiting for the coach to the railway station I was chatting to a street guy who said that he was from New Orleans, but he didn't seem to know that it was called the Big Easy. He disappeared quickly when a more promising source of cash came by.

The bus arrived on time, and got me to Emeryville on time despite all the doom and gloom on the TV last night about the Bay Bridge. The train was about a half hour late leaving, but we're hacking along now.

San Francisco stretches a long way, but we're past that now and into rolling hills and low lying wet lands with ducks!

The bad news is that the train is quite empty there are eight empty berths in the bit I'm in. There's a different feel to this train from the one I took across Canada last year.

It's interesting that I've covered some of the things that Fogg and Pallin did in Around the World in 80 Days - Singapore, HK, The Peninsula and the train across America.

We've started the climb into the hills - the fields here have rocks around the edge, just like in the west of Ireland. In the distance there are mountains with clouds boiling off them. Here the sky is blue and clear - Hmmm, hang on that 'cloud' could be snow.

There's something strange about the American character - everywhere else, when I say I'm traveling around the world people want to know where I've been and what I've seen. But here, in the 'states no-one is interested.

High in the Serria's

We're right up in the hills now, with pine trees all around, and quick views of hills and valleys. There is snow all around as well, high in the Serria's. Trees have been shaped and bent in half by the snow - building the railway through here must have been hell.

I managed to walk up and down the platform at Reno - It seems that they are going to build a tunnel for the train, because everytime a freight train go through the town is cut in half! It's going to cost $400 million!

A change of scenery - we're now in a desolate scrub lined desert with low hills. Had supper and headed for bed - managed to see Salt Lake City at 04:30am, if only from the comfort of my bed!