In July Joanne Srack Mead and her best friend, Judy, rode a train from Simi Valley to Seattle and back– a trip they probably won’t repeat anytime soon. They boarded Amtrak 40 miles north of Los Angeles and arrived in Seattle 33 hours later. According to Joanne, the train food was good, but the roomette sleeping accommodations, terrible.

After a sleepless night, Joanne and Judy welcomed an overnight stay in Seattle, the first leg of their tour. The next few days were filled with tourist-related activities such as the Clipper cruise to Victoria, High Tea at the Empress Hotel, a stroll through Butchart Gardens and a ferry ride to Vancouver.

Victoria Parliament Building

Butchart Gardens Fountain

Vancouver Skyline from Stanley Park

After touring Vancouver they boarded a bus to Whistler, a world-class ski resort and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The highlight of their trip was a scenic Peak2Peak gondola ride from Whistler to Blackcomb Mountain.

Whistler to Blackcomb Gondola

After riding the bus back to Vancouver, they boarded a train to Seattle where they stayed the next two nights. They had just enough time to wander through Pike Place Market, stroll along Seattle’s waterfront and enjoy Ivar’s famous clam chowder before catching the early morning train back to Simi Valley– another 33 hours with no sleep.

Seattle Skyline