The Albatross
Sunday 25 February 2024
Scanning the local area on Google Maps last evening I noticed 3 massive Asian grocery stores not far from us, so after our normal leisurely morning (Tuna likes a coffee in bed), we sprang into action just after 9am. We hit pay dirt, with great stuff we couldn’t find in regular supermarkets. Unfortunately, we only have so much cold storage space whilst travelling, so had to pass on a great amount of stuff and just settle for a bunny rabbit and a few veg. We dropped those back home and went off on today’s adventure.
The destination was old Sacramento, a region down on the waterfront. It still has planked pavements and very original shop fronts. Yep, it’s a bit kitsch, but rather charming. The main point of being down there was to visit the train museum which did not disappoint in any way. It basically tells the story of the Central Pacific Railway, which formed the Western part of the first Transcontinental railway. Any train nerds will have a ball.
We joined a tour as it started just after we arrived and had an old bloke called Jack as a guide. He was awesome, but seemed to drift off at time and forget his spiel, never mind he was great and gave a few details that weren’t on the boards.
There was stacks in there, with trains and carriages from throughout the different ages of the railway, and folks everywhere to tell you about stuff. We spent quite a few hours, and by the time we left, feet and knees were getting a tad sore.
Lunch was at a fake British pub, which looks remarkably like a modern American one. Didn’t care as there was a nice quiet beer garden out the back to enjoy the stunning winters day and a nice young chap that bought us lovely beers and burgers.
Stepping out after lunch the crowds had grown dramatically, and there were lots of people in slightly fancy cars and Harleys choosing to do laps of the area and share their delightful music with everyone. I don’t think they were hugged much as children. Not our scene, so after a bit of a walk around, we went home for G&Ts and to cook some bunny.
