SIT BACK, RELAX, TAKE AMTRAK ALL THE WAY

“The insomniac’s period of sleep, whether she falls asleep or not, is like Charlotte’s eight-hour, nine-hour, ten-hour interstate bus ride. In that period she has no duties, no obligations, no responsibilities, no one to confront, because there is no one to confront. She has official permission from God to take care of nothing for the duration.” I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe 2004.

Travel to the upcoming Council of Chapter Presidents Annual Meeting scheduled for November 30 to December 2, 2007, San Luis Obispo, offers an opportunity for a whole lot more than a series of meetings and speakers.

There are those who say, “It’s not the destination, it’s the gettin’ there!”

Go to your local Amtrak station serving the Coast Starlight and before you know it you’ll be off on a rail adventure–view California from the huge picture windows of the lounge car, enjoy a light meal and refreshments at the snack bar, or experience the grandeur of a full course meal in the dining car. And all at 79 miles per hour on those long stretches of track.

If you’re in the far north of California, you might board at Redding at 2:21am, perhaps a new experience in itself. You’ll arrive in Sacramento in time for breakfast and a look at parts of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The train will roll into Oakland about mid-morning and San Jose a little before 10:00am, if the train is on time. Then it’ll be time to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the Santa Clara and Salinas Valleys, enjoy lunch in the dining car, and later climb and cross the coastal mountains and Cuesta Grade before arrival in San Luis Obispo in late afternoon.

Boarding at the Los Angeles Union Station can be full of nostalgia, a sure glimpse out of the past, as passengers move here and there through the gorgeous station and out to the platform. The greeting by the train crew is generally courteous and delivered with a smile. The high level coach cars offer about three times as much room as on an airliner. Before long the train makes its 10:15am departure, moving toward Van Nuys and into Simi Valley/Oxnard. At this point the beauty really kicks in as the train travels right along the coast to Santa Barbara. Later, the train will split from Highway 101 and move northwest right along the ocean, delivering one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The train moves along the Vandenberg Air Force Base boundry and then across the open spaces of the Central Coast area, with an arrival into San Luis Obispo just before 4:00pm.

A San Diego departure at about 6:00am will be necessary to make the Coast Starlight connection in Los Angeles later in the morning.

Those traveling along the San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo corridor will have more flexibility with Pacific Surfliner trains, using different train equipment but very comfortable all the same. But there’s nothing like a long-distance inter-city train, such as the Coast Starlight, to create a real rail adventure. Meeting and having casual conversation with people from out of state can be a real joy sometimes.

Upon arrival in San Luis Obispo Embassy Suites Hotel will provide a free pickup service to and from the Amtrak station, often times making the entire journey relaxing and care-free. Often times are the operative words; since Union Pacific owns the track and frequently gives Amtrak a lower priority for rail use, the trains can be late. But again, look on it as an adventure.

Amtrak offers a chance to do it differently for once. Take the train. See parts of California you just can’t see from the highway. Sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself!

Comments RSS