The 2016 Adventure Began At Old Ranch At 6:00 AM (Page Two)
The bus departed right on time! We did a belly-button count several different ways and finally decided all 28 of us were on board. Luisa and Cindy went separately.
'Twas a magnificent morning
The forecast was for a great day weather wise!!
Our bus was from TaylorMade Limo was right on time
and
Sid, our driver, as
extremely polite and helpful!
Need a limo/bus... Give them a visit!
We coagulated inside where Old Ranch had coffee ready for us
Out they come... Ready to rumble!
It's called the "Loading Dance"
Who said "Are we there yet??"
Coni assists Nancy... We have such a wonderful group of friends!
They kepy pouring out...
Bob B is anxious to go shopping! He wanted to stop at COSTCO
on the way to Union Station but we convinced him not too!
Greg, Bill and Donna bringing up the rear
"Newbies" get to meet the "experienced" folks...
We welcomed Josie to the gang!
Brenda was wide awake and ready to roll!
Maggie, Lisa, and
Coni have prime seats!
Oh oh... Spoke too soon...
Greg provides needed entertainment! He recites EVERYBODY's name
which he learned and remembered in the last 25 minutes! Amazing!
The main performance however is "The Little Teapot Song"
"Oh darn... I must start again..."
"Oh &*$%^*&#$ I'm a Sugar Bowl"
Sid assisted everyone off the bus... A really great driver!
Hans has his beer drinking shirt on... We know where they are headed!
Nancy is an "old hand" at this trip!
Bill and Holly are ready to go...
Annie, Allison, and Bob
Heading to the train
"Bad Mike" gives us the high-sign!
Greg and Irene are on their way!
Lee can almost taste the wine
Gary and Marion... Heading for the beer!
Lisa... All the way from San Diego!
Robin and Maggie... A pair to draw to!
Holly captures the moment (Courtesy of Holly)
We are ready to move inside the station!
Coni and Rick keeping up
All smiles!
Did You Know? - Los Angeles owes its growth to the railroad. California's first was the small Sacramento Valley, which opened a 22-mile line connecting Sacramento with Folsom in early 1856.
However, the city wouldn't receive its first train until the Los Angeles & San Pedro opened a 21-mile route between San Pedro Bay and Los Angeles on October 26, 1869. At the time the small community numbered only around 5,000 residents but would explode over the next three decades to more than 100,000.
During this time the West's three principal railroads would reach Los Angeles. The first was the Southern Pacific, which conquered the Tehachapis (via the grand Tehachapi Loop still in service today) and completed a link to Los Angeles via San Francisco on September 5, 1876.
The second was the the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Santa Fe), incorporating a subsidiary known as the San Bernardino & Los Angeles Railway on November 20, 1886.
This little system linked its namesake cities less than a year later on May 31, 1887.
It's like a cavern!
"We're walking... We're walking"
We are on Train 1761 leaving at 7:50
Some of us took the tram...
It is quite a gaggle of humanity!
They looked so... so... so... sober.... Just wait!
The train was ready for us!
Here they come
...
Donna has her trusty wine tour making kit with her
Greg knows everyone so he get to pass out the lanyards
Did You Know? - A lanyard is a cord or strap worn around the neck, shoulder, or wrist to carry such items as keys or identification cards. In the military, lanyards were used to fire an artillery piece or arm the fuze mechanism on an air-dropped bomb by pulling out a cotter pin (thereby starting the arming delay) when it leaves the aircraft.
The earliest references to lanyards date from 15th century France: "Lanière" was a thong or strap apparatus. In the French military, lanyards were used to connect a pistol, sword or whistle (for signalling) to a uniform semi-permanently. Lanyards were used by cavalry and naval officers at sea.
Greg does his newly assigned task efficiently
Attempting to identify people
Paul has that effect on Bill!
More serious!
Everyone has their lanyards!
We are about to be welcomed aboard
"Ya'll come..."
Bill welcomes the gang!
