There And Back Again: An Amtrak Excursion, Part 3: The Return

Part Three of my Amtrak excursion, pics from the return train journey.  Not as many pics this time because I was so tired and drained.

Late afternoon light washes through the Jack London Square Amtrak station.


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There And Back Again: An Amtrak Excursion, Part 1: San José To Oakland

On Saturday D. and I went on an experimental Amtrak excursion, to test how well I tolerated train travel.  We chose a short, 40-mile trip on the Capitol Corridor, from San José to Jack London Square in Oakland and back again a few hours later.  I took a lot of pics along the ( Read more... )

Niles Canyon, and Evening Clouds

On Sunday, D. and I took a drive through Niles Canyon, and I took some pics.

Barely visible through the scrub alongside the tracks, The Niles Canyon Railway's holiday Train of Lights gets itself ready to take on the evening's first passengers.


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Niles Canyon Brickworks, 12-21-08

A couple of Sundays ago D. and I returned to Niles Canyon to look for the abandoned brickworks factory we'd heard was there somewhere. I'd seen the facility referred to variously as the Mission Clay Tile Works, Mission Pottery, Mission Clay Products and the California Pressed Brick Company (over the course of its ( Read more... )

Niles Canyon and the Secret Sidewalk 11-22-08

On November 22, D. and I returned to Niles Canyon, and this time we found the Secret Sidewalk. Here's some pics I took.

Alameda Creek, looking downstream and upstream.  The creek is considerably lower than the last time we were here.


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Niles Canyon and Alameda Creek

D. and I spent the afternoon in Niles Canyon, walking along part of Alameda Creek. We were a little early for the autumn foliage, but it was still pretty.

First up, my pics, then D.'s.

First we took a look at the Niles Canyon Railway tracks, opposite the road from the creek.


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Today's field trip: Windmills and a temple

Today D. and I went to the Altamont Pass wind farm to take some pictures. The windmills were spinning away and humming a high-pitched whine ( Read more... )