In the Roundhouse: Not That Far West!
Hawaiian rail, affordable California, polluted parks, and big urban cats
Hawaii is a little farther west than I generally look, but while scanning the news this morning, I came across freelance journalist Jessica Tucker’s new article at The Travel, “What To Know About Hawaii's Historical Railroad On Oahu”. I’m sharing this article mostly for my wife and Westward Spike co-writer,
, whose new-found interest in railroads (inspired by the Ticket to Ride games) and old-found interest in Hawaii (inspired by visiting family on Oahu as a child), places Tucker’s article squarely in her interest inventory. (Be warned: The Travel appears to not have a paywall, but it does have an account wall. If you don’t have an account and don’t want to sign up for one, make this article about the Oahu Historical Railroad the first The Travel article you read.)Meanwhile, KTLA’s Marc Sternfield wants everyone to know that Del Norte County is “California’s most affordable coastal county”. I don’t need coastal living, but I could certainly do with more affordable digs than Orange County has to offer.
The real question is “Does Del Norte County have passenger trains?”
And the answer?
Well, I didn’t bother looking—because why would I?—beyond the county’s only incorporated city: Crescent City.
Which has an Amtrak bus stop. Curbside only. No shelter.
At least Anaheim gives me access to trains that I can’t afford to ride.
But Southern California News Group’s Brooke Staggs shares the disheartening news that the “Four most polluted national park sites are in California”.
The most significant part of the article, for me, was this:
“…there have been years when air monitors in Sequoia and Kings Canyon showed ozone violations were more common in national parks than in Los Angeles.”
I won’t pretend that it’s the only reason why, but maybe the air pollution outside of Southern California’s urban areas had something with the recent mountain lion sighting(s) in Oceanside.
Maybe that poor animal died while searching for a breath of fresh air.
How’s the air over there, Hawaii? Got room for some big cats?
Maybe on an island without trains?