Steel rails, chasing sunshine round the bend
Winding through the trees, like a ribbon in the wind
I don’t mind not knowing what lies down the track
Cause I’m looking out ahead, to keep my mind from turning back
I wondered if this cluster of horses were wild? I wish I would have taken note on the location as the Southwest Chief rolled through New Mexico, then I could know for sure.
A tiny room of my own.
Quaint houses and solar shacks tucked in the pinõn trees and red hills.
Train tracks run through backyards, back roads, old dilapidated corrals and chicken coops, swimming pools and patios, places that you would otherwise not get to see if you were traveling the freeways in an automobile.
Lots and lots of self expression; art and graffiti.
My dad listening to old hobo songs on the transistor radio, I mean the iPad.
My mom and I talked, laughed and sang songs.
The famous clock at the beautiful Union Station in Los Angeles.
Jolly Santa, the engineer.
I smiled from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoy your train adventures. That room! With a big window to the giant vistas! How grand is that?
ReplyDeleteLove the little shacks in the pines:-)
I hope your soul enjoyed the freedom and sunshine! Heaven knows you needed it.
xoxoSheree
After being at those outrageous and SAD SAD SAD helicopter roundups, I could not wait to leave on that train! Leave it all behind me. Even though, I sat in my little room on a train and watched the world roll by, I never once stopped thinking about all the wild horses who lost their freedom just days before.
DeleteI got to be my hermit-y self, hiding out in my roomette on that Southwest Chief! Truly the most fun ever. :)
Those little shacks in the pinõn trees were outside of Santa Fe. Of course.
Such neat territory.
Bye!
x
Lynn, so glad it looked like a fun trip instead of the one I dreaded it to be, you know with elderly parents and all. Like the above commenter, I smiled the whole way through, also from a memory of my son's experience. When he was 12 or 13, our 4H group did an exchange with a 4H group from Montana. They all traveled Amtrak to Montana and as the train neared its destination, it passed the back of a ranch that was definitely an eyesore. Everyone said oh, I hope that's not where I go... of course I don't have to finish, you know that was Brett's family. Turned out they were very nice, just not at all concerned with how the back 50 looked.
ReplyDeleteHey! You don’t have to ride Greyhound from Chicago to California! Take this Southwest Chief! You can go on up, even further, if you want to go to the PNW. My dad gets a pass where you can go all over the USA for a month!
DeleteI love train travel. LOVE IT! Talk about freedom!
Good story about your sons 4H trip. BTW Chad has a similar story about what you mentioned, in Montana! Hahaha
Tell ya sometime.
That little bunk room to yourself is the only way to ride! Big smiles seeing your folks!
ReplyDeleteOh, my parents are impressively amazing, Diana!
DeleteI’m so blessed. So very much.
That room. Perfect way to go. I’ve ridden a lot of trains and I will always snag me a bunk from now on. Have you done that before?
Talk soon!
x
What a truly romantic way to travel! (Love the tiny room.)
ReplyDeleteAnd your parents look great!
Beautiful photos, all of them.
xx
Thanks, it was a very good time indeed. Everything went smoothly. My folks, well, you can see how great they look. Both very sharp in the mind and my mom is spirited and my dad is unbelievable. Blows me away!
DeleteYeah, I believe romantic is a good word for it, especially with the roomette. Very freeing moving on a train with all those windows!
x
gosh, this post lifted my sprits so very much!
ReplyDeletei love that you had your own tiny room!! and the sights!! oh, wow......
your parents are my heroes....and so are YOU, dear red dirt prairie girl......!!
you make me wanna hop a train....
xO
Go do it! Hop one! I dare ya...
DeleteHaha, no don’t ... it’s dangerous, Bernard. Especially these ol days.
I’m glad you were lifted by the hobo girl’s post!
My brother, Glenn, texted me while I was rolling on the rails, and he said, “is this Boxcar Lynnie?” Teehee!
xO