A Living Magazine - Day 12 - Fun in the Sac

I sat up against my backpack with my jacket folded under me, trying to catch a few more Zs. It didn't work. And, when the first few rain drops fell my commitment to just getting out of there became complete.

There were some sprinkles, but the sky - though threatening - never came through on that threat. I walked down town and did the park thing. Then I sat and looked for other interesting things to film or take pictures of there. First, was a very friendly squirrel who - even though he realized I didn't have a snack for him - stuck around for quite a while and followed me...

I wanted to see the difference between a redwood and a sequoia. I found that - although members of the same family of giants - the two species have other markedly different characteristics. The bark of the sequoia is spongier and rips more easily. The redwood is redder (imagine that!). But the best way to tell is by examining the foliage... 

Middle Aged Sequoia - About 60 Feet

Foliage of Redwood on the Left; Sequoia on the Right

It was time to visit the library and buy my Amtrak tickets. I'd never purchased them online before, but since I'd gotten my Prepaid PayPal credit card I wanted to try it. Some of you may recall from the first journey that I have an expired Maine license. Out of the 12 times I took Amtrak during the Manifest Destiny crossing, I was only hassled about this once. And, it's understandable that (since the trains are interstate transit systems overseen by Homeland Security) they would want up-to-date information.

But it is just impossible for me to get a new license. Under normal circumstances I could simply order a new one online from Maine, but after the age of 40, if you are restricted to glasses, you must have an eye exam in Maine to get it. I'd get a California ID, but I would need to prove residence. I thought that maybe paying online would help me avoid having to show an ID. And, I was right, though I didn't know it yet.

I ordered the ticket which was a combination of their Thruway Bus Service (from Napa to Martinez) and a Capitol Corridor Train (from Martinez to Sacramento). Besides wanting to get out of California as soon as possible, there was no way around the small mountain range that blocks the Napa Valley from the Sacramento metropolitan area, except for a state freeway with no pedestrian access. Strangely, by going to Martinez I was practically back where I started. Yet it was unavoidable, so I made the decision.

The purchase went fine and I was able to print my eTicket there at the library. Libraries are really like offices for me, and they are in every town. I left the library early to make damn sure I got to the station on time. When I arrived there, I was way too early (of course). So I walked down to a place called Big D's Burger and bought my meal for the day. It needed to last until the next day's lunch. Not bad either...

The time to get to the station arrived and I was there and ready. I was still dubious as to whether I would run into ID problems. The bus showed up at 4:50 pm and I boarded. This was a reserved seat (rather than coach) so all the amenities (larger seat and Wi-Fi, etc.) were available. The train would be coach, but because it is an in-state run I still had full Wi-Fi. I simply LOVE taking buses and trains. I find it exhilarating to watch what I usually see go by at 60-70 mph. It is relaxing.

The trip went by quickly and we pulled into the Martinez station right on time. Train 542 to Sacramento was delayed due to "Police Action," but only for about 10 minutes.

Inside the station I wandered around looking for interesting things to photograph, and found this as part of an immense list of "Rules and Regulations." I laughed, and just had to show you...

They eventually announced that the train was approaching. It squeaked to a stop and everyone boarded. No one asked for my name nor ID. In fact, the conductor didn't even look at my ticket--it was never seen by anyone. I could have taken the train for free and no one would have been the wiser. I checked Intellicast (BEST weather site on the net) and it showed (placed there by Murphy's Law, no doubt) that a large thunder storm weather pattern was developing over Sacramento. It was supposed to be intense, but clear up by 1:00 am. I could handle that.

The trip to Sacramento was a bit further, but we were traveling faster. It was packed when I got on and I had to sit with a young, quiet guy. After the Davis stop, the load lightened and I got my own seat. I've posted pictures and videos of the two rides at Facebook, so I won't post them here. Please friend me there if you want.

As it is whenever I detrain in a large city, there is much that I don't know, for example the direction I'm facing when I exit the building, the streets that are most efficient for getting out of there, and their proper names. Often times, Google will show street names only at a close-up view, but Route numbers only when viewed from afar. Thankfully, Sacramento was just names, so I was able to formulate a rough plan on the train ride.

Now I'd like to mention my newest advantage in this regard. My friend David Sixsmith set up an Xfinity/Comcast guest account for me. I had been seeing Xfinity signals in every city and town. The company has literally millions of hotspots all over the country and now I was able to access them. For weeks in my planning stage for this journey I had believed that I needed a G4 connection - perhaps in the form of a smartphone - to use as my connection when restaurants and libraries weren't available. It would have cost quite a pretty penny for a prepaid data plan and I kept putting it off. Presently, I was glad I did.

The first thing I saw in the city was I Street, and a lot of tall buildings. I Street was in the center. The rule of thumb is that it is hardly ever more than a 10 mile radius from the center of a city to its edge, and this was no exception. I pulled out my Nextbook and placed it on a small piling just next to the street side. Crossing my fingers, I clicked on the Xfinity signal, and immediately I was connected. I thanked God, and then I thanked David!

I discovered that I needed to cross the American River. I saw Highway 160, but was weary of using it, because sometimes pedestrians are not allowed. In some cities I've been to just getting across a small river can be a nightmare. So I located a bike path on the map that went across near the streets I was examining. The scheme involved taking I Street to 19th Street, then D Street to the Bike Route. The sky was growing dark with both the setting of the sun and the disturbing weather pattern.

I started out immediately. If I needed to, I would rap my trusty plastic trash bag around the backpack and put on my light rain jacket (thanks to the "Human Protector" from the last journey, Jeff Poulin, for that!). I took these shots along the way...

Downtown Sacramento, outside the station.

City Hall

Cesar Chavez Park

Cool Lighting

Sacramento is the Capital of California

Let's hope Lady Justice remains blind.

The Bike Route Passing over the Light Rail Track

Everything went fine, despite briefly walking the opposite direction along 19th and then reversing. (I had been wondering why the lettered streets were going up rather than down.) I reached the Bike Route. That's when the convolution began - as it usually does - with an unmarked fork in the path. I did an eenie meenie, with a 50% chance of success. Apparently, I chose wrongly--as I'm wont to do frequently. I ended up in some industrial section I hadn't seen on the map. A light rain started and I put the plastic bag and rain jacket provision into action.

The only problem with this well-thought-out plan, was having the ties for the bag in the way of my shoulders, and the fact that the same lining that kept rain from passing through my rain jacket also kept the sweat in. On this night I was definitely wetter inside the jacket than out.

Getting frustrated by being lost for the 7,000th time, I simply hauled out the compass and did my best to head down streets that I knew should lead me to the river an then take my chances with crossing via the highway bridge (using 12th Street, which became Route 160).

It worked, but my mood was sour and my attitude was even worse. Now, here is something I've never really written about, but you may find amusing...

I talk to myself - not loudly, but still out loud - ALL the time when I'm walking. It helps reinforce my memory of what happens to me so that I can write about it. It also keeps me company. Sometimes I really crack myself up, and sometimes I work myself into a frazzled mess. Tonight it was both. It helped relieve the stress and any anxiety. I also have a strong belief that an unseen companion is following along, and would get a kick out of my walking narrative. Whatever the case, I do it, and it works for me.

When I passed a light rail stop I found a smartphone on a bench. No one was around, so I took it with the plan of handing it to a police officer. The guy who lost it must have been seriously bummed out. It was locked so I couldn't find out any info. I slipped it into the backpack and continued on.

After I passed over the bridge over the American River, I came to a less densely packed district, that I would later learn was called, Arden-Arcade. It was getting late. I'd had quite a day and now that the river had been crossed, I just wanted to find a nesting spot. This was a strip mall area, that led to a large regular mall. It always amazed me how all of the exact same stores were seemingly copied and pasted every 3 miles or so, down any urban area in America. Such was the case here. It was tiring to see over and over again. On the other hand it was reliable for finding restaurants and gas station markets. Here are some shots of that area...

Are you serious?

This would have been a cool album cover for my old band, ICE.

Eventually, I got to a place where a triangular, small island of trees and shrubs was located alongside a one-way road, with the view of the approaching cars blocked, a fence blocking an apartment complex, and a closed store cutting off the sidewalk from the third angle. It wasn't perfect, but my intuition told me it was going to work.

The rain had stopped about 3 miles back and I'd taken off the plastic and rain jacket. In the cooler breezy air everything dried fairly well. I stood for a few characteristic moments assessing the situation and then put down the tarp and sleeping bag. The moon was beginning to break through the clouds and I took it as a sign that clearing was ahead. Still, the second my head touched the sleeping bag, a drop fell on my face. Growling and over-tired, I implemented a new strategy for light rain. Unfolding the tarp one more time, I used the double width to pull half of it over me. This worked well, but was probably unnecessary, since at the moment I did that the rain stopped. The rain god was toying with me. But I was satisfied not to have a downpour.

I fell asleep by 1:00 am, with the watch alarm set to go off at 5:00 am. It would be another short sleep...

Sacramento Sleeping Place 1