Story of the Day

Sorry. I have been away for a few days. I know that's not a real good excuse but it is the only one I am going to use. I haven't given up on the web yet. Any way, let's see what's up....

I woke up with a start. As sometimes happens, I wasn't sure where I was a first. All I knew right away was that it was dark, noisy, and the bed was moving. I quickly remembered I was in a sleeping car on a train. I was on my way across Utah in the middle of the night. I raised the curtain and tried to see what was out there. I could see nothing. My lights were out so there were not even reflections of my roomette. I had never been to Utah so I kind of wanted to see some of it. But that was not to be this night.

As the train pulled its way across the Great Salt Lake, I fell asleep again. I never saw the lake. If the moon had been out it would have been quite a sight. To have seen the moonlight reflected off the calm waters of the lake, with only small ripples to mar it's surface would have been magical. Instead, I slept. Lulled by the rhythmic motions of the sleeping car and the repetative sounds of the wheels on the track with the distant rumble of the engine in the background. I slept the rest of the way across Utah. I missed it.

When I next awoke, I was in Nevada. Somewhere around Winnemucka (or what ever they call it). The mountainous backdrop was impressive. The early morning light had the tops of the mountains aglow while the valleys held the last of the night's darkness until it was little more than a slight darkening of the over all colors. But I was not ready to start my day yet. I went back to sleep for a while.

We stopped in Elko. I carefully raised the curtain so I could see. The station was not large and what I could see of the city was not either. It was a short stop and not very many people got on or off the train. I was now awake for the day though. I was ready to enjoy the scenes of Nevada.

Saturday night
February 17, 1996