A short while ago, I'd recounted here, via a SIM post, memory bits of a fascinating road trip, I'd taken on the Pacific Coastal Highway, from San Francisco to Santa Barbara (I read today somewhere, "California's coast-hugging Highway 1 is what dream drives are made of...") ...Yes, true it is. The scenic adventure indeed offers dramatic vistas overlooking the Pacific Ocean, along with the picturesque (overhanging) jagged rocky cliffs, distant mountains, and vibrant green vegetations, plus many other (touristy) attractions, along the way...

Today, I was recalling a bit of an equally fascinating (short 3-and-half hr.) Train journey, I'd taken, years ago, further south on the coastline, from Los Angeles (Union Station) to the San Diego Railway Terminal. It was a weekend early morning, and there was no rush at Union Station. As I booked a round-trip Ticket, at the counter, on the Pacific Surfliner (operating Amtrak Trains), I was offered a chance to upgrade to Business Class, for a nominal extra expense, so, I did, and was glad for it. As soon as I approached the Train Track, a uniformed conductor inspected my Ticket, and (rather respectfully...power of the upgrade...🙂...I presumed) guided me all the way to my coach and up the steps to the upper deck. To my surprise, the upper deck of the (long) Business Class Coach, was entirely empty... I was the only one...there...! I found a vantage seat by the Window, and opened up my copy of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, or was it just an Aviation magazine...🙂...Anyway, as I was absorbed in my reading, someone startled me by politely asking, "Sir, would you like a glass of wine...?" There seemed to be a dedicated steward for each Business Class Coach, here, for a pax of one. A serving of California wine (at my request) was brought to my Table, along with snack bites. Moreover, I was advised to help myself freely, from the Galley, down the coach, if I wished...I do recall making at least one more trip...to the Galley/Pantry which was left to my (sole) service...with no sight of the steward...

And I travelled along, enjoying the beautiful Pacific Vistas on one side, and the quaint little California towns and their quaint little Train Stops on the other side...while occasionally engaged in my reading...it was a most delightful experience...

So, here, we go...please find 14 pictures, from a mnemonic recreation of that (bygone) train trip of mine, but now from the air, as I take off in my C172 Skyhawk, from KLAX Rwy 24R, roughly tracking the same coastline, south to San Diego, eventually for an (ILS) landing on Rwy 09...similar as both the U.S. Highway 1 and the (Amtrak) Pacific Surfliner route had once tracked and hugged the majestic coastlines of California to my destinations...

Hope you enjoy these images from my flight. Thanks for viewing...!

Edited November 26, 20232 yr by P_7878

You picked a beautiful time of the day to make this flight, putting the golden in the Golden West.

Very nice shots! 😉 

Beautiful set, realy like the first shot..

cheers 😉

Thanks all...! Glad you liked my California Dreaming.... (it's bitter-cold here around Chicago today.... with snow on the ground ....🙂...Oh well...)