"Still Life On the Rails~

There's....no feeling better than an Adventure on a train_Riding the Rails!

One of my favorite Art forms in the Sixties was making a Collage of fun times or things I loved! My friends would hide from me_camera in hand...they knew they'd be plastered on my latest Collage! 

Collage morphed into Decoupage,Picture Boards,Dream Boards,PhotoMontage,Photographic Mosaic_now in this Era_Digital Collage! So, I decided to present my "Amtrak Wine Country Vacation "in the form of a Collage of Photos & Videos(kinda sorta). Drum Roll,Please....
                                                     "Still Life On The Rails"! 

                             ******PHOTOS & VIDEOS******

West Texas_Train stop in Alpine,Texas

                                         ~Last car on the train view~

       ~Writing in Journal while sipping Wine on "SWAYING" train ~Difficulty 10+ ~ 

Don't get me wrong_because I like this "Swaying Thingie"_Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore.......

                             ~Tuscon,Arizona Sunset from Observation Lounge~

                             ~Start of "The Salad Bowl"_the greens of Simi Valley,California~

                              ~Entering Santa Babara,California ~ Pacific Ocean Coastline~

                 ~Low Rider Biker at Carpinteria State Beach~ they waved to us~Cool!

                                             ~Postcards from the Edge~

                                               ~Santa Barbara Tourist Hostel~

~Passing Train on a Steep Grade~The Engineer was a Woman!She Rocked it~

            ~The Hills are Alive with Green Food Group,I need a Salad right now!~

                         ~Train nearing the Station_next stop_San Luis Obispo~

Note:Sitting in my room,enjoying early evening reading & wine_kinda dark out_all of a SUDDEN a LIGHT appears,rumbling is felt & this BAD Boy fly's by at 300 mph_Whew!WT??...first time it happened_scared the Hell outta me!Ah,the second,third,fourth,etc...scared the S%^#T outta me! They look like Monsters_Not to be played with!

~This is where the fun begins.First of two Horseshoe Curves powered by Amtrak's 2 GE P42 Locomotives~

                   ~Highway 101 in view from the Observation Lounge below the train~

~My Recordings~ 

~So many Wineries..what's a girl to do?~Drink No Wine Before it's Time!~

~Niner Wine Estates ~ We had a great Picnic Lunch here~that's me having fun below holding My Wine Journal_ah,each page is filled with ZEE-Grape in my French accent!~

                          ~Niner Wine Estates~ http://www.ninerwine.com/

                                     ~Wine Signs at every twist & turn of the road~

                                                    ~Wine Making Machinery~

           
                                         ~Last minute Antiquing~

                       

Depot for Train _next to The Wine Wrangler~Tour Guides~Waited on the train surrounded by WINE....First Class Outfit!Headed back....

                             Found this video_much better than my amateur one,Enjoy!

Arriving in LA Union Station_boarding the train back to Texas_I must say "What a Ride"! Book your Amtrak Train ride soon at www.amtrak.com

As the train rolls towards Texas_I feel a sigh of sadness as I checked out the sunset at Amtrak Maricopa,Arizona Train Station...

                               "Still Life on the Rails"
Check out Blog Post for other photos,etc ...HERE>

 http://sagebookwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/10/this-weeksermgmoments.html#links
                    
                     ~What a ride!!!!~

~All Aboard!!!!!!~

It's Just About Time......

My Local Amtrak Depot above....

Other Folks on An Adventure Somewhere.....

That Wave says it's Time.....

 

From Texas to Los Angeles,California...So glad we booked  bedroom accommodations for the journey!

We'll connect with The Amtrak "Coastal Starlight" which follows :

State Route 1 (SR 1) a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific Coastline of the U.S. state of California.

I'll be seated here with a glass of Wine_I shall allow refills!

         Observation Lounge on Amtrak"Coastal Starlight"!



As we roll on down the tracks_crossings like this will surely be a Zen Moment...as I love the Ocean!

The Steward will offer the "goodies" & fill my wine glass....I shall allow that to happen,again,& again!

We will continue on our route....

Amtrak will climb the Cuesta Grade North of San Luis Obispo.

Arriving in Paso Robles,California for a "Wine Country Tour"& fabulous Dining and Shopping! I shall return in May 2013 for the "31st Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival",May 17th(my birthday) through May 19th,2013!
http://www.pasowine.com/events/winefestival.php

This will be our view as we arrive & leave this beautiful "Big Sur" area of California.

AMTRAK 22_Coastal Starlight southbound on the Union Pacific main line after departing from the station at Paso Robles, CA.

I'll update my "Rail Travels" & see you on 10/12/12!

So until that time....."Happy Rails To You"!

~Life is like a train ride.We get on.We get off.We get on again!~