Pacific Surfliner

I’m taking the Pacific Surfliner train from Oxnard to Salinas. They call it Surfliner, because it runs along the coast a good portion of the way. I don’t actually know if that’s why they call it that, but it makes good sense to me. I’m thankful that the person beside me decided to take the aisle seat, leaving me the amazing views of the coastline along the Pacific. If you’ve never had the opportunity to see the Pacific firsthand, it’s a large body of water. Lots and lots and lots of water. I would guesstimate there are at least 100,000 gallons or so, but I’m not a scientist, so there will be absolutely no way to verify my calculations. There are also over 47 different types of vegetation growing along the coast. It’s quite beautiful, but also sobering knowing that Mitt Romney plans to destroy all of the coast in order to build a giant garage for his estate in La Jollla.

So it’s been 25 days since I’ve started this vacation, and almost every single day has been fantastic. I can’t begin (but I’ll try) to express my gratitude towards Chris and Kristin and Bean and Shukri and Rahn and Robin and Buddy for their kind generosity in making this possible. If I had to spring for hotel rooms this whole time, I’d have been back in Chicago three weeks ago with the rest of the pool team. Fortunately, for myself, I’ve made some pretty damned good friends along the way and they’ve taken good care of me over the past few weeks. Hopefully I’ll be able to repay their kindness someday. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but someday it’ll happen.

I would also like to prematurely thank Laura for accepting my invitation to freeload for a while at her place in Monterey. I once gave someone the nickname freeshow, because she decided to frolic through a fountain on a hot Missouri afternoon with just a flimsy t-shirt standing between her wet breasts and my perverted eyes. And now I’m giving myself the nickname freeload. Feel free to call me that anytime you see me, but that may not happen anytime soon, as I may just decide to stay here for a while. I finally understand what Steinbeck meant when he wrote, “California’s pretty cool and neat”. I’m not sure those were his exact words, but I think the sentiment is the same. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitching about Illinois, because I love (sorta like) Illinois and all it’s beautiful, flat, boring land. Did you know the lowest recorded temperature in San Diego history was 25 degrees Fahrenheit? I didn’t either until I Wikipedia’d that earlier today.

While I’m in the mood to thank people, I’d like to thank the two jackasses sitting a few seats up for exiting this train car and going elsewhere. I don’t know where they went, but I’m hoping they stay for a while. I guess I didn’t really enjoy their not all that witty banter. And I’d also like to thank the old guy sitting across the aisle for shutting up for a while about everyone and everything he can remember from the past 80 years. It was cute to hear about it for a bit, but that also grew tiresome. I’m trying to enjoy this serene moment between myself and the coastline, but some people aren’t quite fully cooperating.

Great! A group of Indians just walked through the train. It’ll be fun to gamble a bit more in the casino that’s sure to open up shortly in the next car down. I didn’t get to do enough of that in Vegas. Actually it’s the wrong kind of Indians, so there probably won’t be any gambling in my Amtrak future. Perhaps they have some naan they’d like to share though? Had some delicious Naan at a Himalayan restaurant a week or so ago, if you were wondering. I’m sure you weren’t, but the jackasses are back in their seats so the nonsense has begun once again. Ten minutes after that started the seniors woke up and now the kids have quieted down and the geriatrics are yapping. We’re passing through a lot of farmland and the old lady commented that she can see farmland as far as the eyes can see, which I’m guessing is about three feet past the train window, since her eyes are probably shot to hell much like her husbands plane back in WW II. That’s probably not true, but her eyes are shot, judging by the giant pair of bifocals she’s sporting. Well regardless of the constant yapping, these two are probably very nice folks just enjoying a nice train ride through the great state of California.  I do wish they’d shut the fuck up though. Too bad I don’t have any blackberry brandy to offer them so they’d both pass out again. Who knows? Maybe their next scheduled naptime will be sooner than later. My naptime didn’t materialize like I thought it might. Was drifting off to sleep a bit, but snapped right back out of it.

Pulling into San Luis Obispo for a few minutes so I think I’ll step off the train, as the engineer and the train foreman are departing this train for the last time, as they’re both retiring from the railroad. Should be a nice moment out on the platform as the announcer just said. They’re retiring after many years of service and I’m here trying to figure out what the hell to do with the next 40 years of life. Perhaps I’ll climb up into that engine and take this baby the rest of the way to Salinas!

Perhaps not.

So this was written almost a week ago. My stay in Monterey has been relaxing and very nice. There’s a bit too much cloudiness and cold for my tastes, but it’s allowed me to reacquaint myself with my hoodie and my jeans. Not that I wanted to do that, but we all have to adapt to our surroundings.

Speaking of surroundings, here are a few pictures of some I’ve visited so far on this short journey. Feel free to click on a photo to bring up a larger version/slideshow. Or don't feel free to do it and instead send me $5. 

Balboa Park, San Diego

Perhaps the most beautiful park in the World. This place is amazing and I probably only saw about 10% of it. Guess I'll have to go back. My Mom will probably love the pictures of flowers I took.

Los Angeles

Took this picture while waiting for Shukri to return from getting change at Burger King down the street. She got the change, but we missed the bus. Oh well. I didn't fly Virgin. Perhaps when I head back? Nah...probably Southwest. 

Hoover Dam

Weeks later this is still the most incredible man-made structure I've had the pleasure of viewing during my short lifespan. That rocket ship Lego set my Dad bought me for my birthday one year is a close second, but that was destroyed hours after being built in a fatherly love terrorist act sorta way. 

Los Angeles

Some random intersection in Los Angeles. Actually it's not all that random. It's Sunset and San Vicente, where I found myself after walking for far too long one evening. I'm not sure how much chafing had started at this point, but it was probably significant. 

Lake Shrine, Los Angeles

One of the more relaxing, peaceful parts of my journey so far. Though to be honest, there have been quite a few of those fortunately. One can't spend all his time getting wasted with Chris and Kristin at some campsite. 

Pacific Beach

I like to think this guy's the pervert in this picture, not the person snapping the photograph, though I'm not quite sure, as that's the second time I've used some variation of the word pervert in this blog. Anyway those two look pretty relaxed there on the beach. 

Point Lobo

Another beautiful park somewhere near Monterey. Closer to Carmel I guess, but I'm not staying in Carmel, so Monterey it is. Nice work telling me to go here, Laura. 

Dave and The King

I'm not sure what else needs to be said about this picture. The King, in this case, is Trent Carlini, who performs more often than he probably cares to at the LVH in Vegas. Ellyn and I agreed the toll of being an impersonator is probably wearing him down. The show was pretty good, not great, and I'd definitely go see it again, but only if I didn't have to pay again. 

Valley of Fire

Here's a little attempt at a nice black and white picture. Think I need to figure out how to add some contrast to those midtones, but whatever. Anyway another beautiful place. I'm running out of cliche adjectives to use. 

Sunrise at the LVH

Woke up pretty early in the morning to take this picture. Or perhaps I was still up from the night before. You decide. It would have been more interesting, but there was too much junk in the foreground so I made it a close up. Perhaps in hindsight, none of that stuff would have been noticeable anyway. Oh well, you live you learn. 

Celebrity Sighting in Ventura

Saw these two in a thrift store and had to get a picture of them on the red carpet. Decided against asking for their autographs, as I didn't want to be too nosy.