Go by train! Chance would be a fine thing...

Do you know, Portland Amtrak station has a neon flashing sign proudly proclaiming "Union Station - Go By Train". I think it lies! Our trains got cancelled! This was sad BUT we got an extra (albeit rainy) day in Portland and we still get to travel to all our destinations - mostly via bus! Portland to Sacramento was an especially memorable trip by Greyhound bus, cost me $73 for the privilege and I got no sleep and Ellie's elbows in my sides! Train stations which announce that you can travel by train and then proceed to helpfully inform you that you need to buy a bus ticket really shouldn't call themselves train stations. Useless idiot stations maybe. I'm not bitter though (anymore) as the whole trian-bus palava seems quite funny now and we get to see more countryside through bus windows. Yay!
Portland was quite a nice place, the houses we stayed in were proper American houses with fences and porches, and again we met some lovely people. We possibly could have done with buying a guidebook though as our typical aimless wondering of streets didn't seem as productive in Portland, except maybe leading us to Ethiopian food and a 68,000 sqaure book shop that I now want to live in!
Follwing our eventual arrival in Sacramento (!) we were whisked away by 2 of the nicest people I have ever met to spend three wonderful nights. They have been so kind and have taken us country line dancing (very funny!), wine tasting (very enjoyable) and bought us lunch (very tasty). Our exploration of Sacramento has lead us to the state Capitol building and Capitol Park, downtown and old Sacramento - an amazing part of town that looks like it's straight from an old wild west film set, complete with old stores, paddle boats and raised pavements!
We've also been to Folsom which is about 20 miles from Sacramento and is another old town. Cue much singing of Johnny Cash songs from me and much rock climbing from Ellie. Sadly we didn't go to Folsom prison, but we probably shouldn't make a habit of visiting prisons this year in case they keep us in one!
I feel I'm slowly converting Ellie towards my way of thinking - that musicals are fabulous - by taking her to see Sweeney Todd which she enjoyed and encouraging her to sing random musical songs with me! When Ellie gets back you won't even recognise her!
Tomorrow we head to Santa Barbara to chase the sun back down the coast and I leave Sacramento with a slight longing to watch a wild west film and chew on some straw!

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