Friday night I said so-long to the 2nd and final phase of my training. I had a great road-instructor and learned a lot about real truck-driving. And I've already accumulated 3000 miles of Sac-Reno runs. Now comes the final road test. Damn it. I forgot to get a pic of the truck!
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I was going to shut this BLOG down. But very late Fall of '06, I decided to move-back to CA. I wasn't sure what I was going to do career-wise. After a brief stay at Mom's, I rented a place in Sacramento and it's still "home." I was working for a wholesaler when I found the Schneider training program. I signed-on, had to quit my job, and take the chance! The training was in SoCal and required a 2-week stay. A great experience thus far. I graduated with 9 other classmates and begin my driving almost immediately. The training yard and hotel were located near one famous portion of Route66 and I was able to get a few shots.
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ROUTE 66, aka, "Foothill Blvd", Rancho Cucamonga, CA. It's twice as wide as it was in it's heyday!
ROUTE 66-Rancho Cucamonga,CA. Hardly a semblance of it's former self. Now mostly lined with glitzy L.A. style, big-box, shopping malls and too many people, driving too fast!
With all the logistics of a long move in place, I was ready! The 3rd week of Oct found a loaded Penske moving-truck, my Mom, my salt-water fish, a new map along with an adventurous spirit, ready for a two-day drive back to California. Usually trips like this can be described as "hell", but mostly everything went very smooth. A slight delay that Monday night waiting for the excited lady who bought my new VESPA scooter to arrive and take it away. With the title signed, I left the keys for my land-lady. So long for now, Seattle.
In light of our late departure, my buddy Steve outside of Portland, graciously said we could stay the night and 3hrs later we arrived at his farm-house east of Portland. Portland is perfect for a one-day "hell" ride back to the Bay Area. If it wasn't for the s-l-o-w breakfast diner experience, we could have gained 60-70 miles! Steve is a real commercial farmer. His family has been in the business for ages, and he's "the boss" of the farm and everything related to it's operation. His crops go to stores such as COSTCO and SAFEWAY and others, as well as overseas. And he speaks Spanish fluently. Sort of throws some people off, given he's Italian by blood! And Steve, my Mom was very impressed with your remodel, especially the kitchen!
We made good time and 10mpg. I keep a good pace, but stop when I feel like it. I-5 can be beautiful, and the constant big truck traffic reminds a driver how vital this strip of asphalt is to the commerce of several states. It's much busier now than the recent past.
Arriving into the driveway at 8:30pm, the second days trip was 10.5hrs. Not bad. I drove a leisurely 3.5hrs from Seattle to Portland area the 1st day.
5-days later, I wait on the platform in Sacramento for the midnight departure of Amtrak's "Coast Starlight." I had been checking it's progress earlier in the day, as it's known typically to run VERY late. BNSF and UP had been doing track maintenance all summer in Oregon, and this severely delayed this schedule. I met a few seasoned "Amtrakers" and they said the maintenance had been completed and the train was now on-time and running faster on the rails. Good to hear all of this, as "plan B" was to ditch the train and head for the airport if it had been severely delayed.
Amtrak is not a "romantic" travel experience, but it is an experience! The coaches on our train were mfg'd in 1980. The look is very dated in this rolling-stock, as if you are back in, well, 1980! The service?..."Perfunctory" is the nicest term I can use. "Surly" is probably a more appropriate one! All but one restroom I used, the latch actually secured the door. Twice I was walked-in on by traveller..."oh, excuse me". Yes, I'm there with my zipper open! I did "dine." I figured breakfast to be safe and it was...A nice and hot omellete with so-so coffee, 9 bucks. I had to experience it. Amtrak seats "european" style. You end-up seated with strangers, as they don't have space to give everyone a table of their own. I happen to be seated with a retired school-teacher women. It was good conversation, and I never saw her again. She must have been in a sleeper, as the sleeping coaches are segregated from the rest of the train by the dining car. And food is included if you get a room. I asked an attendant to show me a empty room and she obliged. About what I expected. CRAMPED, but at least you can sleep. This one had no bath or shower, so it was shared, but only with others in similar sleepers. I might have slept 3hrs max. Although quiet and mostly smooth, there is considerable rocking in the coaches...and no "clickity-clackity" as you might expect due to "ribbon rails" being the norm. As is the case for ALL Amtrak runs, it leases right-of-way from the big railroad freight movers such as BNSF and UP. This means abruptly and at anytime, the train will halt and sit for long periods sometimes while freight gets priority. After training in Europe a bit, I find our service here pathetic at best. I think we could do better and frankly should scrap Amtrak and start all-over with dedicated high-speed train service throught out the USA...but that's entirely another topic for discussion. Overall it was a good train trip, about what I expected after listening to others disappointing experiences with Amtrak. And one thing, Amtrak really doesn't make a profit necessarily, it's subsidised by our Gov't.
After getting my car and meeting a few friends for drinks, I had to get some sleep. I was TIRED the next night after little sleep and a mid-evening arrival in Seattle.
This drive back was more interesting. I drove south along I-5 but detoured over to hwy 26 in Oregon, over Mt Hood and into Redmond/Bend OR. I've done part of this drive before, but it had been awhile and I heard of the development of central-Oregon and it's booming housing...even though there's few jobs. Early morning, I checked out of my motel and headed to Prineville and Bend, OR. Bend sure has grown and not for the better. Many Californians and others are "escaping" and buying homes and land there, but it seemed sort of crazy to me. TRAFFIC was heavy through Bend town even with the bypass. As usual, I picked-up a real-estate mag to get an idea of housing prices. WOW, no bargains here. I might as well try and buy a place in Seattle...and I'm not kidding! Average looking listings were $300k and most higher. I just can't understand it...but, there is a BMW and AUDI dealer now, that must be it! As much as I like the area, I just wasn't enamoured of Bend now. Maybe I'll stop longer next time, but I was glad to hit the last stoplight out of there....
Now Crater Lake is entirely another story. WOW. SPECTACULAR. SUPERNATURAL. I'm not much for hype, but it's seriously nice! Go there! Go there! Did I say to go there! The few pics I posted, tell the story. I like all sorts of travel, but Americans (in my opinion) seem to feel they have to fly thousands of miles away to have "a good time" when we have so much here in the US. Experience it! ODOT had constant "flaggers" slowing traffic to fix, what, I wasn't sure, so it was slow until hitting I-5 south again in Northern CA. Hwy 97 through central Oregon is very scenic, but can be congested even this time of year...Retirees in rediculously large motorhomes, logging trucks, ODOT etc. etc. can make trip-time unpredictable.
And my trusty VW made the trip without any problems. It's a very good "road-car". Would you expect less from something made in Germany!? (hey, I like U.S. cars too.)
Another adventure. I hope all of you enjoy the pics. It's better to go and take your own!
"Three-Sisters" from rural Redmond, OR. I could have rushed and did the trip in 14hrs. But why! And the Motel6 is quite "posh" here. Microwave, fridge, "spa" and a computer in the lobby.