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No time for breakfast this morning I'm checking out as I've got a train to catch.
My alarm went off at 7:00am and caught a cab down to the clock tower on the dock (made sure I had the right money this time). I'm catching the Starlight Pacific Train down to LA.
The guy in the Amtrak office refers to it as "The finest train ride in the universe". He then laughed saying "Well they ain't discovered any other train rides on any other planet yet."
I find my seat and I'm sat next to a guy known as "Scott". He's wearing a big black eye, a screwed up plaster on his nose, brown cheque shirt, white moustache, trucker cap and khaki boots. I'd say about 65years old and boy does he love to talk.
"You from England boy!?" - ice broken.
He's from San Diego and was up in Oakland seeing his mum (she turned 94 the other day and has glaucoma in one eye).
So we get chatting and discuss everything from how the atom bomb was developed in Berkeley to the American Gun laws. (He happens to have a Smith and Wesson and uses it for self defence.... ||[]> Pause. I better not piss this guy off!)
He's actually a really nice guy, very knowledgable, and he's giving me a running commentary as were making our way south. (And while I'm writing this). He also has given me an old map of California. which was kind of him.
Turns out he got his black eye from fighting.. I didn't want to go into it any further but think it was over money. (His heart seems in the right place though)
Putting that aside It goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover.
I'm Heading south past Paso Roble. Outside the orange fields surround the track. (That's why California is called Orange County - there's so many bloody oranges!)
I must have the same train driver blasting the horn at every opportunity.
There's miles and miles of farm land. Agriculture is big business. There's everything from oranges, cabbages, artichokes, yams, strawberries and of course grapes.
Well San Fran has been incredible. They say people make a place and the "friscons" certainly have done it for me. :)
It's 1:42pm, it's an hour to San Luis obispo, In 8hours I'll be in LA. Not sure where I'm staying yet but I'm sure they'll be a load of places to choose from..
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