Time Travel - Believe It!

When Paul and Courtney lived in Downtown Los Angeles during their studies at USC, we had occasion to visit the historic Union Station - known as the last of the great railway stations built in the US.  We said to ourselves, how fantastic it would be to travel into Los Angeles and arrive via rail at this absolutely beautiful station.

After attending a wedding reception in Sacramento a month back and visiting the historic Railway Museum in Old Town (see the earlier post) we said, let's do it - and celebrate Trudy's birthday.  At 55, let's pretend we're in the year 1955 and imagine we're our grandparents.  I was fortunate enough to have one of my grandfather Atkerson's hats, and Trudy got an old new one too.

DAY 1

We left Redwood City via the Menlo Park Caltrain station Monday morning and road down to San Jose Station.  There we switched trains on to the Coast Starlight - the Amtrak line that runs from Seattle to Los Angeles departing at 10am.

Menlo Park Caltrain Station

Birthday Girl

San Jose Station - built 1935

The route to Los Angeles follows the same corridor as US Hwy 101.  Technically, it should be described the other way around, as the railway was completed in the 1890's and Hwy 101 in the 1920's approximately.  There are several sections where the train reaches speeds over 80 mph, but also portions where we traveled at only about 40 mph.  I had the impression, that while the rails were new and we did not experience the old clankety-clankety ride, the route still had much of the original curves and only one set of rails that meant that for trains to pass we had to park on siding from time to time.  

Salinas Station - built 1941

As we passed through Salinas valley, we thought of John Steinbeck and East of Eden, we noted that today 80% of all lettuce for the US comes from this valley and saw a lot of it.  

Lettuce in Salinas Valley

At the southern end of the valley, there are still oil fields that haven't changed much since its discovery in the 1940's.

San Ardo Oil Field

It was time for lunch and a little birthday celebration.  Our good friend Mario had picked us up at the house and brought us to the Menlo Park Station and Jasmin had make Trudy a surprise birthday cake. 

Lunch and Birthday Cake

Finally passing the end of the valley, we passed down the Cuesta grade from Arastedero to San Luis Obispo on the coast.  This 16 miles of train line was completed in 1894.

San Luis Obispo Station - built 1942

Just below San Luis Obispo, the route returns to the coast through Pismo Beach, home of the famous sand dunes, where we've had some very nice memories including one Thanksgiving on the beach complete with a delicious deep fried turkey.

After a brief departure from the coast, the line makes its way back through Vandenberg Air Force base then Point Conception (that's the break point for the coastline, currents and weather patterns that effectively divide north and south in California) and then directly on beach itself arriving down to Santa Barbara.

California Coast near Point Conception

California Coast North of Santa Barbara

California Coast North of Santa Barabara

Ready for Dinner in the Parlor Car - 1st Class only

Can you believe it - Lamb Shanks for Dinner

Santa Barbara Station - built 1902 and the Coast Starlight

After leaving the Santa Barbara Station we followed the coast down to Ventura.  One fascinating technical thing we learned was that the train also had wifi connectivity.  We took advantage of this and connected with the computer and made Skype calls to Grandpa and Grandma Harmon, Dakin and John, and Paul and Courtney. After reaching Ventura we turned inland through Oxnard, Simi Valley and Burbank as a last stop before coming around the Hollywood hills into Los Angeles and the Union Station.

John studying the train schedules

Pulling into Downtown

Trudy leaving our berth

Coming from the tracks

Union Station - built 1939

Turning 55 in 1955

Union Station from one of the side patios

Union Station ticket hall - electronic kiosks no longer require so many ticket agents

Union Station from the entrance lobby

As we speed away in the cab

When Paul graduated from USC we enjoyed a wonderful awards ceremony in the Biltmore Hotel located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.  As we planned our trip, it was a sure bet that this would be a wonderful destination for our arrival and to stay overnight.

Biltmore Hotel - built 1929, Olive Street Entrance

Biltmore Hotel - Main Galeria

Main Lobby - Grand Ave Entrance

Later that evening, Thomas and Angela joined us. They had run a half marathon in Santa Barbara on Saturday.  In the morning we were treated to a breakfast that was truly scrumptious.  We really felt special.  Happy Birthday Trudy - Day 1.

DAY 2

There were two things that we really wanted most of all to see Downtown before continuing southward and that was Los Angeles City Hall and the Wilshire Ward / Los Angeles LDS Stake Center.

After the afore mentioned breakfast at the hotel, we drove over to the historic Wilshire Chapel, built in 1929 and dedicated by Pres. Heber J. Grant.  We enjoyed a small miracle.  Just moments after we arrived we were joined by the building scheduler and long time stake member, Bro. Michael Bolingbroke, who had had other plans that morning, but surprisingly things changed and he came to the building instead.  He was delighted to meet us and shared the next two hours as a guide and historian through this most beautiful of all LDS meeting houses.  It was wonderful to hear about the times that my father and his parents spent in the early days of the church in Los Angeles where they were often in attendance visiting from their ward in Beverly Hills and also where Paul and Courtney attended Stake Conference from their USC ward.

LDS Wilshire Ward and LDS Stake - built 1929

Chapel on left - Cultural Hall center

Chapel with stain glass of Savior taken from the Balcony

Trudy playing the Organ

Cultural Hall - very large stage can accommodate any performance. 

Marvelous events have been hosted here over 80 years.

Bro. Bolingbroke in the courtyard

At this point we said goodbye and left to visit Los Angeles City Hall.  I think it is fair to say that it is the most recognizable city hall in the world, if for no other reason that it has been seen so often in Hollywood productions. 

Making our way to City Hall

Los Angeles City Hall - built 1928

Arches entrance from city mall

City Council meeting room at 27th floor

View of city mall

View of today's Downtown skyline

View of Union Station - Mission/Spanish Revival architecture

Finally it was time to head back to Union Station and continue our trip south with the next stop being San Clemente to spend the night with Karen and Scott.

Leaving Los Angeles via Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.

1.5 million passengers travel through Union Station each year.

Leaving the industrial center with trains in view heading eastward.

Arriving in San Juan Capistrano

On the San Clemente Pier

The San Clemente Pier at Sunset

DAY 3

On Wednesday, Amber and Courtney had made plans to get their kids together and enjoy the day on the beach at La Jolla Shores.  Peter had Amber were there so that Peter could  attend a 2 day prosthetics seminar.  He learned upon arrival had been cancelled - transforming a combination of work and play into pure vacation fun.

Leaving Casa de Karen

La Jolla Shores - My idea of a winter wonderland!

Chloe, Parker and Mae

Simon loves the water and loves to run

Mae - happy and smiling

Chloe loves chasing Grandpa!

Kate and Parker love the sand

Happy Kate

Happy Mae

Kate loves Mexican Corn on the Cob

Lunch at the Taqueria

After the fun was over, Grandma and I got back on the train and headed south again this time leaving from Oceanside and arriving in San Diego Santa Fe Depot.  Paul graciously picked us up and we spent the night at their home in Chula Vista - just a few miles from Tijuana and the Mexican boarder.  We reached our southern most destination.

Main Hall - San Diego Santa Fe Depot

DAY 4

On Thursday morning we got ourselves all ready for the trip on the train to Anaheim where we stayed Thursday night - poised for a big day at the happiest place on earth on Friday.

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service begins in San Diego and extends up to San Luis Obisbo. Together with Courtney, Parker and Kate we departed at about 10:30 in the morning and made our way up back up the coast. 

San Diego Union Station - Santa Fe Depot - built 1915

Santa Fe Depot - rail side

Courtney and Parker 

Ready to board

Courtney and Kate on the train

Heading northward, we planned ahead to pick up Chloe, Mae and Parker in Oceanside and travel on to Anaheim. 

Mae, Chloe and Simon waiting to join us in Oceanside

Peter and Amber waving good-bye. 

Riding the train

Passing back through San Clemente

Visiting the Snack Car on the Train

Bringing back the Snacks

Simon loves Grandpa

And Everyone loves Donut Holes!

Two hours after leaving San Diego (about 1 hour after leaving Oceanside) we arrived in Anaheim where the station has a big transfer dome that connects to the buses that route to all the hotels in the area.

Mae, Chloe and Parker in the Anaheim Transfer Station

Waiting for our Bus

Riding the Bus to the Marriott Residence Inn

While Simon and Kate took a nap - Courtney got to stay and watch them - Grandma and I took Chloe, Parker and Mae to Johnny Rockets for an mid afternoon lunch.

Chloe, Mae and Parker

That evening, after Peter and Amber arrived, we all headed over to Downtown Disney located between California Adventure and Disneyland to get ourselves already for the big day ahead and to have dinner.  We elected to eat at the Disneyland Hotel where we were visited by many of our favorite Disney friends.

Everyone with Goofy

Parker and Minnie Mouse

Simon and Goofy

Mae and Goofy

Chloe and Goofy

Grandma and Goofy

Thomas and Goofy

Simon and Dale

Mae and Dale

Parker and Kate and Dale

Angela and Minnie

DAY 5

On Friday morning after breakfast at the Residence Inn it was off to Disneyland.

Entering the Park

Main Street

Walking down Main Street

Peter and Amber on Main Street

Paul and Courtney at the Castle

Peter and Amber at the Castle

Pinocchio - The kids will never tell a lie

Tarzan's Tree House - previously owned by the Swiss Family Robinsons

Parker

Kate

Chloe

Simon

Yo-ho-yo-ho a Pirate's Life for Me...

Mark Twain's Steam Boat (It really is steam powered)

In front of It's a Small World

About to hear the Grandma's favorite song...

You can almost hear it now!

After riding It's a Small World, and getting a bite to eat at the Golden Horseshoe, the kids got to head back to the Residence Inn and go to bed.  Autumn and Mia Hawkins live very close by, and they came and baby sat.  After returning we got in a run on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Indiana Jones for a second run and Thunder Mountain Railroad.  

Fireworks at 9:30

At the end of the day we watched Fantasmic and Amber and Peter got us some great snacks.  Then, it was back on the bus and a return to the Marriott.

DAY 6

Well, all good things must end, but not before a relaxed morning poolside at the Marriott.

Thomas and Angela - taking in the sunshine

Grandma loves to give boat rides around the pool

Mae got in the act too.

Chloe's adventurous and love the water.

Kate's getting pretty brave too.

Finally, Thomas and Angela took us to John Wayne Airport and it was back to Redwood City.  We had such a wonderful week.  The kids were perfect all week long,  We enjoyed an innumerable number of hugs from them all.  What great parents they have!

XO to All, 

John & Trudy