Sunset Limited

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Vendors setting up Saturday morning at the Tucson station

The walls and floors of the Days Inn were thin--nearly paper thin. The folks above me were having a very loud "party," leaving little to the imagination, So 5:30 came earlier than desired this morning. But preparations went quickly, and before 6:15 I was on the road for the 1.1 mile pedal (with full gear) to the Tucson Amtrak station. Packing the bike in the official train box went quickly, thanks to the fact that Kent and I had practice last year when we rode the train from Los Angeles to Flagstaff after our De Anza ride. The train arrived in Tucson early this morning, and we departed right on time.

Desertscape west of Benson, AZ

The starkness of this desert and these mountains exudes a unique beauty and attraction like few other landforms. Our tracks often follow arroyos and riverbeds, which steal and hold just enough water to nourish multi-shaded green ribbons through the brown, tan and reddish rock and sand. It's alluring from the comfort of my padded reclining seat in an air conditioned train car, but I'm quite certain that perspective will change as I pedal through this xeriscaped wonderland in 90 to 100 degree heat in a few weeks.

The "Sunset Limited" route runs from L.A. to Orlando, FL (although the train now stops in New Orleans; the Amtrak brochure announced that the New Orleans to Orlando segment is suspended indefinitely, due to what I understand is residual damage from Hurricane Katrina). The tracks parallel my intended path of travel, just to the north, intersecting it at El Paso, Van Horn, Marfa, Sanderson, Langtry and Del Rio, Texas. From there this iron horse turns due west through San Antonio on its way to Houston. I'll be coming from the east and south. Two weeks into my ride the returning train and I will be racing each other along parallel routes back to the Copper State. (OK... maybe it won't be a "race," given that the train will pass me over a dozen times.

Observation car on the Sunset Limited

Progress this morning has been a bit slow. We're stuck behind a freight train on an uphill grade. He may "think he can," but the jury is still out as to whether he'll make it or not. Arrived in Benson, Arizona at 11:25am, 2 hours and 10 minutes behind schedule. Sure hope we can make some of that up before arriving in Houston! (Update: He thought he could but he didn't. The freight train is broken down in front of us, and we're trying to figure out a way around it. Oh joy!

Lookimg over into Juarez, Mexico from the train

Just west of El Paso the train passed literally within feet of the U.S./Mexico border. We pulled into the station still a couple of hours behind the schedule.  But it worked out just fine because it was the dinner hour and the "Burrito Lady" was there waiting for our business with $2 Burritos! Best food I've had since leaving Prescott!

At 9pm a rich orange glow settled over the horizon of the West Texas plain and the Rio Grande.  Time to try to get some shut eye.