"The Big Valley"

By Kelly Tomlinson

After reading about the Climb For The Cause by those intrepid souls with MS that scaled Denali in Alaska or Mt. McKinley as those of us in the lower 48 know the mountain, it gave me an idea for my own expedition. The mountain climbing days of my youth are pleasant memories but at my age, even if I didn't have MS, I have sense enough to know that climbing a mountain would be out of the question.

I sat down thinking what adventure I could take given the parameters I follow these days. In a blinding flash of the obvious it came to me, a train trip! I would have food and beverage in the snack car, comfortable seating with the ability to be off my feet most of the time and my #1 priority a restroom close by for my neurogenic bladder. The nice thing about train restrooms is how roomy they are compared to those on airplanes.

It was decided to take one of the Amtrak San Joaquin trains from its southern terminus at Bakersfield up to Sacramento and return. Further research revealed that approximately two blocks away from the Amtrak station was Old Sacramento with many shops and restaurants, and the California Railroad Museum. This would be a good day trip. Final plans were made, tickets were purchased and I felt like a kid again excitedly waiting for Christmas.

As the day of the trip neared, the San Joaquin Valley was in the midst of numerous days with its infamous "tule fog." My spirits dropped, I knew the train would run but with thick fog I would not be able to see the countryside. It would be like setting my sights on the top of that mountain only to be unable to reach the summit because of a storm. However, looking at it from another perspective, the weather is another thing I have no control over, just like my MS symptoms appearing and disappearing. The day of the trip finally arrived with the sun shining brightly, crisp fall temperatures and no fog. It was going to be a glorious day for a train trip.

At the station the conductor hollered "all aboard" and we were off. The San Joaquin Valley is truly amazing. You can see almost all segments of America traveling its length. You have the oil fields around Bakersfield, miles and miles of farmland with crops such as alfalfa, cotton, carrots, corn, tomatoes, melons and milo throughout the valley. There are grape vineyards, orchards full of almonds, walnuts, oranges and even olive trees.

The tracks cross over canals that carry water to irrigate the crops. Dairies with milk cows dot the landscape along with sheep, cattle and horses in pastures. Cotton gins and grain elevators are scattered along the tracks where freight trains pick up those commodities. Old farmhouses and barns abound and the train travels through small towns that look like something Norman Rockwell has depicted.

The big cities are here also, with their factories and warehouses, and on the outskirts suburban housing developments, shopping malls and golf courses. What I enjoy the most is to see the different train stations along the way, ranging from new modern ones to the older ones and even a couple that are more like bus stops, just a bench in a little shelter.

Upon arrival at Sacramento I had a 4-hour layover before the return southbound train. I leisurely strolled the two blocks to Old Sacramento, first having lunch at one of the many fine eateries and after taking nourishment I tackled the museum. It was quite spacious and after two hours on my feet I was thankful that I would be resting for the 5-hour trip back home. The museum was tiring but worth every minute of it.

I returned to the Amtrak station and to quote Simon and Garfunkel, I was "sitting at the railway station, got a ticket for my destination...homeward bound." The conductor hollered "all aboard" and I settled down in my seat for some much needed rest.

The sun was setting as we left Sacramento and as I started to nod off I could hear Arlo Guthrie singing, "go to sleep my weary hobo, let the towns drift slowly by, cant you hear the steel rails humming, thats the hobos lullaby." The next thing I know the conductor gently awakens me and tells me it is the end of the line.

My expedition was a huge success. Where does it say life with MS cannot be fun? I'm already formulating an idea for my next journey, an overnight trip on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train.

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