Sacramento

Yesterday we picked up Alex from his home and drove north, about a 90 minute drive, to visit the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento. Old Sacramento is a 28-acre National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park, located along the beautiful Sacramento River. As we passed beneath on overpass, having exited the freeway, the first indicator we see of having reached our destination is the museum sign dead ahead.

After parking in a lot with shade and ample spaces – both rarities I know –  we strolled to the train museum, pausing to take a few snapshots of the pony express commemorative statue. Alex appears to be staring off into the distance, perhaps to see from whence this galloping steed may have come.

From the plaque we learn that the Pony Express began on April 4, 1860. With 121 riders and 500 ponies the Pony Express delivered 35,000 pieces of mail during its 18 month existence.

The streets of Old Sacramento are quite quaint. The sidewalks are actually boardwalks like you would see in the movies for an old western town. The streets are cobble stones. Both of these features are killers on the knees but do contribute to an authentic air. Several of these horse drawn carriages traverse the main street regularly. Alex watches on, interested in the horses.

Once we were in the museum we watched a 20 minute introductory video. Afterward, the film screen raises up and the visitors are treated to this panoramic view of a locomotive. They exit to this life size display to self-guide themselves through the museum or join a 30 minute tour. Frank is listening to the tour guide talk for a brief while, but when Alex (and I) grew antsy we soon moved on to see things at our own pace.

It had been about 1:30 pm when we had arrived in Old Sacramento and parked, so by now we needed a bite to eat. We stopped at a corner shop just outside the museum that sold freshly made mini-donuts. They cooked your order once you placed it, that is how fresh they were!  In case that was not decadent enough they also served ice cream. It was a gorgeous day and as we perched outdoors at on barrel stools surrounding a round wooden table  I noticed a sign on the shop window that seems to belie the web site for Old Sacramento that boasts

Bustling with activity, the district is alive with shopping, dining, entertainment, historical attractions and world-renowned museums...

I think that "Dementia Friendly Sacramento" sign might compete – just a bit –  with the image being touted on the website. Maybe you keep coming back because you forget you have been there?

In lieu of going back into the museum, we bought tickets for the 4:00 pm museum excursion steam train ride that parallels the Sacramento River on a six-mile roundtrip journey.

Here we are waiting for the train. "Look at the camera, Alex."  No way. He'd rather watch for our train to arrive.

And arrive it does. The black engine you see at the front will uncouple and scoot around on another track to the rear of the train to pull in the opposite direction.

Once we are aboard we chose to sit in an outdoor car. It had a covered roof for sun protection and we had a lovely breeze while waiting. Sacramento can be quite hot but our day was mellow and pleasant. Off on the left of the photo, at mid height, is the black smoking locomotive making its way to the front of our cars to pull us. The train will reach a maximum speed of about 25 mph so we are not blasted by the wind even when under full steam ahead.  Boarding time and travel time takes about 45 minutes.

While we are waiting for the locomotive to relocate, I attempt a new kind of selfie. We can be seen but it seems like we are inside the car on the adjacent track, barely visible, in the two left most windows under the big "A". 

How about if I zoom in? Can you see us now? Alex is behind the riveted window frame but I am on the left and Frank is on the right. This image reminds me of the ending of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland where we are advised to beware of hitch-hiking ghosts.

Our route takes us along side the Sacramento River, between it and Interstate Route 5, three miles south and three miles back north. 

The Delta King does river excursions. Maybe we will investigate that further for our next trip.

We pass riverside restaurants such as Joe's Crab Shack.

There are speed boats and skee-doos on the river and the occasional bicyclist on the bike path.

Once we have reached our southernmost point. The locomotive uncouples and makes it short trip to the other end of our train.

Frank waves to the engineer as he passes. The engineer waves back.

The Granite Rock Co. No. 10 steams past us on a parallel track...

and then continues on to couple at the other end.

On the route back the engine stop to blow out it's excess steam since we are the last run of the day. A white spout shoots out of the left side of the engine with a loud blasting noise. It was very impressive and although we were warned I was unprepared to get a photo. Oh, well. That is what imaginations are for. A few blocks shy of the museum stop where we will get off, we glimpse a view of the state capitol building in the distance. I captured its location on the previous map.

After our train excursion we were ready to return home. Before we got into our car we stopped off for hot dogs and chicken strips at a small shop. I snapped a picture of the sign because it bears the name of my dad and a nickname for my new grandson William. I doubt he will ever be a Willie but you never know... I still liked the coincidence.

  

It was a fun day and we will do it again for sure. We listened to three hours total of Disney music on the ride up and back. I think Frank might have liked to change that part of our outing, but Alex was very much on board with that audio situation.