2 February

I woke at 6 Central Time – but we are now on Rocky Mountain time, so it was really only 5. After a few minutes of looking to the window and seeing nothing (common in the middle of nowhere with no lighting), I got up and cleaned my boots. They weren’t looking too good after snow walking and then drying out. They looked a lot better after. I got ready to have a shower, but the shower got taken just before I got there, so I had to wait. The showers are larger than on Australian trains, but in most sleeper accommodation there is only one per carriage.
After showering and dressing, it was up and along to have breakfast. My roomette is on the lower level and the dining room is on the upper level (the galley is down below). I joined Ceal for breakfast and she was looking up the delays on her blackberry. A large snowplough on the tracks had fallen, and smaller ploughs had to be sent out to clear the tracks, and the large snowplough had to be recovered. The two California Zephyrs (one eastbound and one westbound) were waiting.
We chatted about things to see in the US and were later joined by another lady who added in to see a museum on the River in Du Berque Iowa. Then, just before I left, we were joined by a gentleman who got photos of all his dining companions.
I went down to my berth and collected laptop, GPS, SatNav and camera. Here it was pointed out that my mobile phone had been making noises – my next-berth companions thought it was calls, but it was the alarm. I must remember to switch it off after I leave, especially if I leave it charging. I went to the observation car, to get a good view of what was happening but also to check that the SatNav was working okay in the US. Here I set everything up, connecting the SatNav to the laptop for power. All worked! The train was travelling at around 70 miles per hour (imperial units while in the US) and I could get the surrounding roads and streets. I chatted to a construction worker who knew about Holdens, so I showed him pictures of DOUG. After a discussion on different construction methods, we parted as he was leaving the train at Denver. We arrived in Denver not long after 9 and I went outside to have a look but it was too cool, so I went inside and gave Velma a call. We had a short chat, but the essential point was that I would miss her and Patrick. I was able to briefly log onto a wireless network and send and receive a few emails, but not long enough to post photos or a blog.
The train pulled out about 9:20 and I settled down to observe the scenery. Both Dan and Rick had told me to be ready to get good sights and photos on the northern side of the train. I was following our progress on both devices and soon was seeing the Rockies. I took plenty of photos (but I’m still not sure how they came out). During this time I chatted with Donna’s husband, who was most surprised that I knew his history; spoke with two girls who had completed a modelling assignment in Denver but couldn’t get back to Grand Junction because the roads had been closed, so were coming by train; heard about the travails of another traveller at the far end of the carriage; found out some more of the sights to see from both Rick and Dan (and met Lulu, who was travelling with Rick) and chatted to some others.
The scenery was magnificent – changing all the time, as we climbed and were hanging on the sides of the mountains. I was busy watching.
I had a late lunch with Dan and furthered our chat about casinos, travelling and Australia.
In the afternoon the weather became overcast and soon snow flurries took away most visibility. Very soon it started to become dark and I went back to my berth to transfer pictures over from yesterday and today, catch up with today’s (abbreviated) blog and get ready for tea at 7:15.
Tea was with Dan and our waitress Kathleen. It stretched out until after 10, so after that it was straight back and to bed.