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Training Through the Sierras
Nov. 30th, 2008 06:30 pmI spent the majority of today on board Amtrak trains between Sparks, Nevada and Fremont, California, taking in the sights and generally relaxing.
My train, Amtrak #5, the westbound California Zephyr, was showing as 21 minutes late almost from the moment it left Chicago, but I had a feeling there was a lot of "recovery time" (padding) in that schedule, so we reckoned on assuming the train would not be late at all. We had plenty of time to walk down to Denny's for breakfast. Over breakfast, we read the local newspaper, including an article talking about the opening of the sky bridge between the Atlantis Hotel and the Reno Convention Center, the key properties of the Reno in 2011 Worldcon bid. The article notes that the sky bridge is sufficiently large that you can put exhibits in it, and I wondered if a Reno Worldcon might use it for fan tables or maybe the Worldcon History displays. That led me into thinking how either would work well; if the Fan Tables were there, you'd have to make sure you generated sufficient traffic between the hotel and convention center or the tables would be a dead zone except during "commute times," and the History Exhibit would present a security problem in that the area would be open 24 hours and would need protection, given the number of irreplaceable artifacts that are in the display.
( Get Me to the Train on Time )
( The Bear Went Over the Mountain )
( Just Where Was that Seat – Not to Mention my Luggage? )
( Returning to Familiar Territory )
( A Stroke of Luck )
The remainder of the trip passed uneventfully. I spent some time reviewing documents for a project I start for work tomorrow morning, but otherwise took it easy. I have taken the train between the Bay Area and Sacramento many times, of course, but this was only my second trip ever through the Sacramento-Reno/Sparks section. It certainly was not the fast way home, but it's certainly the trip I enjoy more than any other mode of travel.
My train, Amtrak #5, the westbound California Zephyr, was showing as 21 minutes late almost from the moment it left Chicago, but I had a feeling there was a lot of "recovery time" (padding) in that schedule, so we reckoned on assuming the train would not be late at all. We had plenty of time to walk down to Denny's for breakfast. Over breakfast, we read the local newspaper, including an article talking about the opening of the sky bridge between the Atlantis Hotel and the Reno Convention Center, the key properties of the Reno in 2011 Worldcon bid. The article notes that the sky bridge is sufficiently large that you can put exhibits in it, and I wondered if a Reno Worldcon might use it for fan tables or maybe the Worldcon History displays. That led me into thinking how either would work well; if the Fan Tables were there, you'd have to make sure you generated sufficient traffic between the hotel and convention center or the tables would be a dead zone except during "commute times," and the History Exhibit would present a security problem in that the area would be open 24 hours and would need protection, given the number of irreplaceable artifacts that are in the display.
( Get Me to the Train on Time )
( The Bear Went Over the Mountain )
( Just Where Was that Seat – Not to Mention my Luggage? )
( Returning to Familiar Territory )
( A Stroke of Luck )
The remainder of the trip passed uneventfully. I spent some time reviewing documents for a project I start for work tomorrow morning, but otherwise took it easy. I have taken the train between the Bay Area and Sacramento many times, of course, but this was only my second trip ever through the Sacramento-Reno/Sparks section. It certainly was not the fast way home, but it's certainly the trip I enjoy more than any other mode of travel.
