Day 3
I went to bed early last night, so getting an off and on sleep, you can say I've got 9 hours. Time for a shave, no problem, and now for the fun part, shower hour.
As you can see, it's a combined toilet and shower, and it's tight, and the shower hose is not long enough. But the good side, it's as hot as you want it. So after contorting in ways I've never done in years, I'm finally clean. I'm still debating on having one tomorrow morning or waiting until I get to the hotel in San Francisco, we shall see.
A change of clothes and I'm headed down to the dining car for breakfast. First thing, all the trains I've been on start breakfast at 6am. Not this one, as they start at 6:30 am. Also they start it on Mountain time, but because we are three hours late from last nights engine failure, were still on central time. Which means I got up way too early and I'm hungry. Anyway, as the sun rises they open the dining car. Today's special breakfast guests, is a guy and his chinese mail order bride. I kid you not. She really does not say a word the whole time and he even orders her for breakfast her. Hey, too each two there own. Anyway we talk and he and his bride are relocating from Washington, DC, to Northern California. A nice enough breakfast, this time I got the omelette stuffed with red peppers and cheddar cheese. It was good, but nothing special. They had them O'brien potatoes that I like. Good coffee and a couple of glasses of milk to wash it all down.
The couple leave early, and do not leave a tip! Hey, I know the meals are included, but have the decency to leave a tip, as our waiter does the breakfast, lunch and dinner service. Plus it makes me look bad, as how does the waiter know that I did not take it, a first time for everything. When the waiter returns, I let him know what happened and leave him a good tip from me. From the dining car I'm back to my room. Now, I can wait for my porter two remake the room, or I can do it myself. 2 minutes later you be my comfortable seat back. Hint, I just stuffed everything on the fold down bed above me (just like you see in the movies).
There's not much too see on the way to Denver, it's cattle country, and there's lot's of cattle. Most of those cattle are eating the old cornfields. There's lots of little calf's around as well. 3 hours later we pull into Denver. It's a good 45 minute stop, and all the smokers are out there. The train crew are really accommodating for smokers, at most stops they let you out so you can have a few puffs. There's no smoking on the train anywhere. Though I thought I could smell someone smoking weed around 3 am, either that or the train nailed a skunk, I go for number 1.
Now that we are leaving Denver and the real viewing begins. The advantage of having the big bedroom is you can leave the door open and pop over to the other side of the train to see things. Denver is also where the train crew start making announcements of points of interest for the passengers coming up.
If you don't want to catch the train I'm on, here's something else that leaves Denver on tours of the mountains. I'll leave it to you to find out the details.
Just outside of Denver we start climbing up to the mountains from the city using train switchbacks. For a train, it's a steep climb, the train really is not going over 20 mph. Which is fine as it is gives you lots of time to enjoy the climb. As we get closer to the top, first of many fun and interesting sights start happening. 27 tunnels in 30 minutes. First time in a train tunnel for me, and it is rather like you see in the movies, as your car goes dark. Do not worry as the hallway lights are still lit, and cell phone, and tablet .... The tunnels are actually numbered as you go in them, which I thought was cool and neat. After that we keep climbing and climbing.
Denver is really there somewhere as we keep going up and up.
Before I forget, unlike the east coast, cellphone service is spotty, well with me having T-mobile anyway. I used have a AT & T account, but really they made it hard to keep the account for the 3 to 4 weeks att I'm in the US a year, anyway, so T-Mobile it is.
Next is the Moffat tunnel, it's 6 miles long and takes the train around 10 minutes to go through. Just lots of blackness. The conductor tells passengers to stay in their cars. So why not do some binge tv series while in the tunnel. The funny part is, that I'm watching way less TV than I thought I would on the trip. Especially with all the scenery today, you just can not help but look out for the window and just watch the scenery go by for hours. The Moffat tunnel is also the Continental Divide, and unlike on Route 66, it's noticeable, the water is flowing east on the eastern side, and west on the western side.
What can I say about the above pic, but stunning. I think this is actually before the Moffet tunnel.
There's a chair under all those pillows, and my Surface Pro for doing the blog and watching downloaded tv series with.
Definitely the other side of the Moffet tunnel. It's snowing and a bit cold. A nice chalet for after skiing and all that other stuff I don't do.
The train is perfect for this kind of weather, just enjoy the drive. Somewhere in all this I did make it down to the dining car for lunch. Since I waited till last call, I had a table all to my self, yea!!
Considering the time of year, there could be much more snow here. Some people off to enjoy the skiing and of course our usual smokers out having a puff.
I don't even think Phil from Cleveland could get that 4 tracker stuck!
We must be half way through the trip, as there's our eastbound train heading to Chicago. That's the baggage car. I ended up there on one trip to the dining car, when I went the wrong way!
Since I'm never going to finish this trips blog, I'm going to stop here. Sometimes you want to enjoy the vacation without spending hours writing. That and no internet really did kill this trips blog. To be honest I couldn't update the blog until I got into San Francisco, and with only one full day there, I made the decision.
So till next trip,
Tross
