Hi Everybody! I've returned from sunny (mostly) California as of 8 hours ago. And, I've survived to tell about it! (No pics yet.)
I thought I'd just hit the highlights, then do some mini-posts describing eventful details.

First off, the Amtrak ride out was nice, but long. Overall, we were delayed 4 hours for one reason or another. Not good for impatient passengers. Chicago's Union Station has a neat "Grand Hall". I walked Denver's downtown for a couple of hours while the train was delayed 3 hours. Met some nice people (and some not so nice--to be described another time). Roomy seat areas, but not so great for sleeping (still better than a bus). Great scenery Rockies and Sierras. I'd give the total train experience a C grade.

It was nice to spend a day and a half with my second oldest daughter, Laura, sans husband (but with second thoughts from her). I did a lot of walking by myself, mostly in a super park extending out into the S.F bay (from Albany).

Met with my son, Darin on Sunday, the 22nd, and we drove an hour to Pinnacles Nat. Mon. southeast of him. We set up our tents as others trickled in--7 total (5 male, 2 female). Once the leader got over his "dictatorial" hard line "introductions", he turned out to be a good guy. I liked everybody, including the rangers that guided us.
Our primary and only work was removal of Italian Thistle, an invasive species. Nasty work. We had to wear chaps, but not for the thistle. Rattlesnakes! We never saw any. Poison oak everywhere, and the thistles prickly (leather gloves nec.). We used a "garden butler" to dig them out--by the thousands!
4 days of thistle pulling, one free day (Wed). Oh yes, and we had to hike many miles (8.6 mi round trip one day) to get to the thistle patches.

Except for a little night time rain, the weather was good and not too cold. Darin wasn't prepared properly, but he'll learn. The food was good--I haven't checked on any weight gain. Doubt it, since I burned a lot of calories. We hiked a very difficult trail on our free day. The scenery at Pinnacles is really spectacular--sort of a hidden gem in our park system, unknown to "outsiders".
Darin seemed to enjoy himself, despite being the "young kid" in the group. More on him later, but it was great to be able to spend a full week together.

Good flight(s) back home. Interesting story to tell about that later. Nice to sleep in my own bed last night, if only for 6 hours (jet lag/biological clock). I'll catch up with all of you soon. I have unpacking to do.