Thursday July 23 - Saturday July 25 (Glenwood Springs to Tacoma)

Thursday
Today would have been my mum's 95th birthday. RIP mum!

Last day in Colorado today and it is a beauty, very warm. I had a good night's sleep and finally managed to get through and order a taxi for 11 am, check out time! I decided on a taxi as the Ride Glenwood bus did not stop close to the Amtrak station. I packed my bags and then filled a couple of small bags with ice for the cooler bag I bought for my provisions.

The taxi driver was very pleasant and she took my bags through to check in for me. At check in I found I could check my bag right through to Tacoma. The very pleasant young man also told me that if the train was very late I could get off at Sacramento and wait for the Starlight train there. I need to talk to the conductor on the train about this as they will have to get my bag out for me.

This guy was so very helpful, he told me I could leave bags with the ticket office so I took my cooler bag to the lady there, she was also very pleasant. The young man checked everything was in order and I asked him how to get to the Post Office, he gave me very good directions.

As I wandered along the platform to the exit I needed I asked another person if she could recommend a breakfast place. She recommended the "Daily Bread" and gave me directions as well, it was not very far and on the way to the Post Office. Again, the people were very pleasant and helpful. I sat outside in the shade and had a scrumptious breakfast, French toast, berry coulis and added bacon to it. I also had tea with the meal and they even provided extra hot water! I enjoyed my meal and sitting watching the world go by.

I then went on to the PO and posted my letter after quite a wait, but nothing spoiling as the train is running about two and a half hours late at present. I wandered round the area and noticed a woman looking into her car at a beautiful chocolate lab, she was getting him some water, he sure looked to be a wonderful dog. She told me he is English, lol!! 

Then, it was time for a coffee and I found a place opposite the station, River Blend Coffee House. It was nice and shady on this side of the road so was very pleasant. I have to say it was a very good latte! 

The lady running the place came out to water the potted flowers so I asked her what time they closed, 2 pm was the response so I said I would come in for another coffee just before they closed. Just before 2 pm, she appeared with a coffee for me at no charge, what wonderful service!

I found a WiFi service, xfinity, that offered a complimentary hour, so I used it. I decided to buy another hour but of course they are not interested in visitors as the web site would only accept United States or Canada. I rang them and asked very respectfully if they could think outside the square a bit and maybe work out that people from outside those two countries might just want to use their service, lol!


It was very warm, 86 degrees, thank goodness I had found a shady spot. I wandered over to the station about 3 pm, collected the bag being held for me and sat outside in the shade.

Farewell Glenwood Springs, not sure if I will be this way again but it has been a blast! A few last photos from the station, kayaks on the Colorado, what a setting. Also, a look back at the wonderful coffee shop.

The train left the station 2 hours and 45 minutes late. Unless something bizarre happens I will still be in plenty of time for my connection to the Coast Starlight at Emeryville. The car attendant, Janelle, is a sweetie, she has a lovely sense of humour.

The journey passed through some rugged countryside and we followed the Colorado River for parts of it. The Ruby Canyon is one of the many the Colorado has carved out, it has the most beautiful shades of red and orange. With such a clear evening, there was a beautiful sunset over Utah, later the moon and stars were visible.

Friday
I only had about an hour and a half sleep so hope I can catch up tonight, lol! Another gorgeous day, warm with plenty of sunshine. After breakfast, I sat in my room, sorted my AT&T data plan out and just relaxed, lol, not much else to do on a train!

I was in an upstairs room in the last car on the train so it was a wee walk to the dining car. The car attendant looked after us very well, taking our names to put them on the waiting list for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is the only meal with reservations.

The conductor gave us updated arrival times after every time we had to stop, either for trains or track work. The train had made up some time but as we neared Sacramento there was unexpected work on the tracks so that delayed us again. Eventually we arrived in Emeryville one hour and twenty minutes late.


It was a long trek from the last car to the station, lol, and it was quite warm. I found a seat and sorted some gear out, then I went to the restroom. I chatted to a lady who was catching an Amtrak California train and then purchased a coffee plus a sandwich for dinner.

It was a long wait from 5.25 pm until 10.25 pm when the Starlight pulled in, half an hour late. To fill in time I caught up on some games, chatted to people on FB as well as a lady going to Eugene, OR, she was eventually moving to a place on the coast to live in Florence.

Finally, it was time to move it was much cooler by this time, almost pleasant! On this train I was again downstairs. Our Car Attendant is called Robin and she welcomed us aboard. I had been chatting with this guy and his daughter, who lives locally, and he is in the same car, he is going on to Vancouver and then taking the cross Canada train. After the long day I decided I needed a shower and, boy, was it good. It was one of the best showers I have had in ages, nice and hot, and I felt so much better after it. It is quite something to shower on a moving train, lol!!

Saturday
On my way to Tacoma and another visit with Cheryl, Jim, Mandy and Serenity - it felt very good to be visiting them again. I had a good night's sleep and felt that my batteries were definitely recharged, yay!! Another beautiful day weather wise, the cloud did build up as we moved north.

Sat up in the Parlour car where there is WiFi, bit of a joke as it is so slow I cannot even get my mail downloaded, lol! Chatted to a couple of people about cruises as she was off on an Alaskan Cruise and he is a cruiser, off on a two week Alaskan Cruise. He is quite interesting, covered in Tattoos and owns a Tattoo shop. 

The Parlour car also offers meals and I had a light lunch there. I relaxed in the Parlour car, reading and enjoying the scenery. 

We passed through lots of forest and lakes then we dropped down towards Eugene before stopping at Portland which was a fresh air stop.


The lady going on the cruise, her name is Heidi, came by and we chatted again. We then had dinner together and it was very enjoyable, the ribs were delicious. We had to wait quite a time for the ribs to come as the kitchen was very busy with the Dining Room as well. This meant I only ate half my dessert (ice cream) as we were approaching Tacoma!! So off I went to pick up my gear and get ready to de-train. We were only about five minutes late so Cheryl and Jim were on the platform to meet me. It was photo time and one of the conductors popped out to join in, lol!!

It did not take Mandy and Serenity too long to remember me and after unpacking I had a welcome cup of tea! It was good to sit and relax in a non-moving environment, lol!! I did look up about the fires at Glacier National Park  but they seem to be some way from where I am staying. It might affect the trip I have booked but I will wait until I get there to see what is happening.

Sunday
I had a really good night's sleep so felt somewhat refreshed. It is cooler today and it is supposed to rain but it has also been sunny. 

I had a lazy day and after breakfast spent some time catching up with my blog. I had written notes on my IPad and mailed them to myself to paste them into the blog. Then it was a case of downloading pictures off my camera and inserting them. I also managed a few photos of Serenity and  Mandy and in between whiles.