Day 2 | Wednesday, May 22

Today was our first full day in California, which we spent by taking a train ride down to Old Sacramento.

After a yummy breakfast of Aunt Carole's homemade scones we went to the train station. If we weren't trying to travel anywhere fast, we both agree we prefer train travel to air planes! It was fun and relaxing to sit on the top level of the train and watch the scenery go by. Plus, the added leg room was definitely a benefit :) !

The scenery out the train window:

"Our" train in the station at Sacramento

Our destination: Old Sacramento

Walking on the boardwalk to the Railroad Museum

The Railroad Museum was very interesting! We took a tour with a docent and learned about the Trans-Continental Railroad. The wooden structure in the first picture is called a snow shed and protected the railroad from becoming buried in snow. The railroad workers built the longest snow shed through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They say it's the world's longest barn, 37 miles! Think of all the cows we could keep in that Dad!

Theodore Judah, the idealist who envisioned the idea of a trans-continental railroad, surveying the best possible route: 

Map of the Trans-Continental Railroad:

Uncle Pooge by the Gov. Stanford engine: 

Emily and Michaela by a railroad boss:

This cramped galley kitchen served over 300 meals a day to train passengers: 

A train dining car:

This train is called a 4-8-8-2, which means it has 22 wheels! It was so huge it had to be articulated in the center to prevent it from wrecking when going around curves.

The upstairs of the museum was filled with toy trains:

The mail car was filled with various bins and slots for sorting mail. The workers on board raced against the clock to sort the mail before it needed to be delivered. During their 12 hour shift they were only given one 12 1/2 minute lunch break!

Old Sacramento is a quaint part of town filled with shops and restaurants: 

The Sacramento River, the Mississippi of the West:

Emily and Uncle Pooge:

Sorry Mom and Dad! We didn't mean to rob the bank, we'll put the money back!

We visited a reproduction one-room school house and played at being school marms: 

While we were exploring the school, Aunt Carole was having fun on the playground:

Uncle Pooge trying on a lovely new bonnet:

Marcus, we took this picture just for you. Love you Lego Man!

Going back to the train for the return trip:

Michaela discovered the best chair in the house. Aunt Carole has it set up perfectly! A cushy seat complete with an ottoman (made by Uncle Pooge!), a nice bright light for reading, a wide, firm arm rest for taking notes, and a radio side table for holding a cup of tea or cocoa. Love it!

After a delicious dinner of pheasant and yams, we finished off with delectable cheese cake. Since Emily likes tea Aunt Carole also let her drink a cup of her favorite blend, Golden Monkey. Aunt Carole sampled this tea and fell in love with it before discovering it costs $119 a pound. Suffice it to say she only buys 2 ounces at a time and only serves it to people like her favorite niece :) 

 -Michaela and Emily