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Snow Over Donner
Dec. 2nd, 2012 07:25 pmToday's weather forecast for Reno/Sparks included heavy rain and potential flooding, and gusty winds in Fernley buffeted the trailer throughout the night, so it was a fair bit of trepidation that we set out for Reno this morning in the Big Orange Van. Although the BOV has more surface area (and thus more "sail") in the high winds), it's so much heavier than the Small Orange Pickup that Lisa felt safer driving it to take me to the train.
Amtrak was mostly unaffected by the weather and was right on time at Reno. The waiting room was full as is has been every time I've ridden from here, and it was a bit of a scrum getting aboard because the train had only two coaches; however, when my car attendant had the presence of mind to open the baggage door of the combination coach/baggage car, things got easier, as those of us who could handle the slightly higher step could go into the baggage compartment to stow our larger bags while people who needed more help used the main door.
I managed to find a coach seat, but spent very little of the trip in it, as it was Last Call for Breakfast. Inasmuch as the conductors have been very sensibly lifting tickets and issuing seat checks in the waiting room at Reno rather than having to chase passengers all over the train, it's very easy to get your seat and head for the diner, which is what I did. After breakfast, I went to the lounge car to take in the views. By then, the rain had come, turning to snow higher up, which spoiled the long-range vistas (Donner Lake was lost in the mist) but provided some different nice views.
( Glad I Wasn't Driving in It )
I called Lisa to let her know I'd made it. She said it wasn't too bad driving back home, and she went back to bed for a few hours. (I don't blame her.)
The train travel is easier than driving would have been, but it's still ten hours of travel and I'm very tired and still recovering from bronchitis. I've told my manager I'll be late tomorrow on account of needing to go up to Fremont in the morning and collect my minivan, which is ready to be picked up as my mechanic finally cracked the problem during the month he had it in his shop.
Amtrak was mostly unaffected by the weather and was right on time at Reno. The waiting room was full as is has been every time I've ridden from here, and it was a bit of a scrum getting aboard because the train had only two coaches; however, when my car attendant had the presence of mind to open the baggage door of the combination coach/baggage car, things got easier, as those of us who could handle the slightly higher step could go into the baggage compartment to stow our larger bags while people who needed more help used the main door.
I managed to find a coach seat, but spent very little of the trip in it, as it was Last Call for Breakfast. Inasmuch as the conductors have been very sensibly lifting tickets and issuing seat checks in the waiting room at Reno rather than having to chase passengers all over the train, it's very easy to get your seat and head for the diner, which is what I did. After breakfast, I went to the lounge car to take in the views. By then, the rain had come, turning to snow higher up, which spoiled the long-range vistas (Donner Lake was lost in the mist) but provided some different nice views.
( Glad I Wasn't Driving in It )
I called Lisa to let her know I'd made it. She said it wasn't too bad driving back home, and she went back to bed for a few hours. (I don't blame her.)
The train travel is easier than driving would have been, but it's still ten hours of travel and I'm very tired and still recovering from bronchitis. I've told my manager I'll be late tomorrow on account of needing to go up to Fremont in the morning and collect my minivan, which is ready to be picked up as my mechanic finally cracked the problem during the month he had it in his shop.
