Decisions

[donkaye]

This past Saturday was a milestone birthday for Shirley.  The Sierras are beautiful in the wintertime when they are snow covered, and a beautiful way to see them is by train.  We've done the trip from Sacramento to Reno a number of times and have enjoyed every one of them.  This year December provided enough storms for a record amount of snow.  Shirley asked that we do the trip.

My plan was to fly up to Sacramento Executive Airport and Uber to the train station downtown where we'd pick up the Zephyr to Reno.  The train was to leave there a 11:09 am.   At 6:00 am KSAC was reporting ¼ mile and indefinite ceiling.  I read the TAFs, the MOS, and called Flight Service.  All indicated that things should begin to clear by 9:00.  If I drove, I'd have to leave by 8:00.  The benefit of flying is a short 30 minute flight and leaving by 9:00.  If I were to believe the forecast, then I could leave at 9:00 and have time to make the train.  However, if I left at 9:00 and the fog didn't lift, we'd miss the train.  I really wanted to fly.  However,  Nature doesn't really care what I want to do.  The decision was obvious.  We'd drive and hope it was still ¼ mile and no ceiling when we got there, to validate the decision.

It was a beautiful and clear drive---until about 7 miles from Sacramento when the LED signs lit up beside Interstate 80 for low fog ahead.  And it was low fog.  Yeh!  Interestingly, I could look up and see the sun, but there was no way it would have worked to fly.

The old saying, "If you have time to spare, go by air" could also be modified to, "If you have time to spare go by train."  The Zephyr was almost 5 hour late arriving in Reno from Chicago for our return trip.  It seems there was a rock slide near Glenwood Springs, Colorado and they had to wait to clear the tracks.  The trip both ways was terrific.

 

[carusoam]

@donkaye

Congratulate Shirley on her 30th(?).  

Tried the YouTube link… but it says private viewing only…

There must be a button to allow for it to be shared….

Best regards,

-a-

[DonMuncy]

On 1/19/2022 at 1:07 AM, carusoam said:

@donkaye

Congratulate Shirley on her 30th(?).  

+1

[PT20J]

Good story, Don. That is a beautiful train ride. And Happy Birthday to Shirley!

Years ago, I was on a business trip from San Jose to Seattle flying the friendly skies of United. Half an hour out from SEATAC, pilot announces we are diverting to Portland due to fog. They put us on a 3-1/2 hour bus ride to Seattle. Of course the skies were clear when we arrived, late, tired and hungry. Sometimes even the airlines can’t get you there as planned.

Skip

[Mooney in Oz]

On 1/19/2022 at 6:02 PM, donkaye said:

This past Saturday was a milestone birthday for Shirley.  The Sierras are beautiful in the wintertime when they are snow covered, and a beautiful way to see them is by train.  We've done the trip from Sacramento to Reno a number of times and have enjoyed every one of them.  This year December provided enough storms for a record amount of snow.  Shirley asked that we do the trip.

My plan was to fly up to Sacramento Executive Airport and Uber to the train station downtown where we'd pick up the Zephyr to Reno.  The train was to leave there a 11:09 am.   At 6:00 am KSAC was reporting ¼ mile and indefinite ceiling.  I read the TAFs, the MOS, and called Flight Service.  All indicated that things should begin to clear by 9:00.  If I drove, I'd have to leave by 8:00.  The benefit of flying is a short 30 minute flight and leaving by 9:00.  If I were to believe the forecast, then I could leave at 9:00 and have time to make the train.  However, if I left at 9:00 and the fog didn't lift, we'd miss the train.  I really wanted to fly.  However,  Nature doesn't really care what I want to do.  The decision was obvious.  We'd drive and hope it was still ¼ mile and no ceiling when we got there, to validate the decision.

It was a beautiful and clear drive---until about 7 miles from Sacramento when the LED signs lit up beside Interstate 80 for low fog ahead.  And it was low fog.  Yeh!  Interestingly, I could look up and see the sun, but there was no way it would have worked to fly.

The old saying, "If you have time to spare, go by air" could also be modified to, "If you have time to spare go by train."  The Zephyr was almost 5 hour late arriving in Reno from Chicago for our return trip.  It seems there was a rock slide near Glenwood Springs, Colorado and they had to wait to clear the tracks.  The trip both ways was terrific.

 

Please also pass on my congrats to Shirley too, Don.

It has been a long time - 14 years.