Coast Starlight

Today was our first train ride! We boarded the Coast Starlight (train #11) at 7:30 a.m. in Sacramento and arrived in Los Angeles's Union Station at 11:06 p.m., 15 1/2 hours later. Along the way, we looked for relative locations of industry, energy types used, and apparent natural resources that are being used by humans in both urban and rural areas. We noted their latitude and longitude and wrote down their distinguishing characteristics.

Photo by Bob Morrill

As we were stopped waiting for a bridge to open so we could cross the San Francisco Bay, Frick and Frack had a chance to "hang out" with our students back at Lynnhaven Middle School in Virginia Beach. While it did not work out perfectly (we did not have wifi access on the train, so we had to use the phone, and the sound, both volume and quality, left much to be desired), we were able to answer a couple of questions and talk about the trip so far. Eli asked what we had learned and Mr. Prochilo told him about our visits to the pumping station and farm yesterday. And former student, Alli, surprised us with a guest appearance. The students then went on to their graduation party on their last day of middle school!

Photo by John Bois

Another highlight of the day was getting to wave hello to John Bois, our former computer specialist extraordinaire, who met us at the intersection of Highway 25, just south of Gilroy, garlic capital of the world. Angie Bode was also there to welcome us to her hometown of Gilroy, as they stood by the side of the track and waved. John and Angie were returning from a trip to Disneyland!

Photo by Ami Warner

Finally, on a more serious note, our train was involved in an accident, striking a pedestrian trying to cross the tracks in front of the train in Oxnard. Fortunately, the pedestrian was not killed and was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. Incidents such as this should make us mindful of the great gift life is and we should appreciate it more than we often do.

Quo Vadimus

Post Script:  The problem with being the first one with the news is that you don't always get it right. The update on the woman "hit by the train" is that she wasn't actually hit by the train, but rather was knocked down by a gust of wind from the train and suffered only minor scrapes. The official report from the Ventura County Star:

A pedestrian suffered minor scrapes when the gust of wind from a passing train caused her to fall while walking near railroad tracks Friday night in Oxnard, officials said.

The incident was reported at 8:10 p.m. on Oxnard Boulevard about 700 feet north of Gonzales Road. 

The pedestrian suffered some minor scrapes in the fall, Oxnard police said.

I apologize for my grevious error. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Quo Vadimus