Last of it -- Getting Watson

I have one last task I need to complete before my move is done. I need to pick up my other car and pick up Watson, my cat, and drive back to New Mexico with whatever other loose ends I might still have .

I boarded Amtrak's Southwest Chief in Albuquerque on September 12th on day three of a monsoonal rain storm. It had been raining off and on for three days and everything was pretty much drenched.

New Mexico has a monsoon season that runs from mid July to September...more or less. This year it has been pretty rainy and folks are happy to see it. We've been in a serious drought for several years. this can only help.

The problem is when it all comes at once.  My train pulled out of the station during one of the brief dry periods but it started raining again within a few minutes. I heard a report that a railroad bridge was closed due to flooding on the Pecos River...one of the rivers we have to cross.   As it turned out, we were OK and the Pecos was back in it's banks when we went over it...barely. There were a number of times when the train slowed to a creep as it went along some of the swollen streams.

There was serious flooding in Colorado with people and homes swept away. New Mexico is sparsely populated and less impacted by the flash flooding.  All of that rain falling in Colorado came up through New Mexico to get there. Cloud were thick and very low for most of the trip. We didn't see the sun until we got to Lawrence Kansas, the next morning.

Apart from the rain, the train trip was uneventful. As always I met some interesting people...a 911 operator from Glendale CA, a couple heading to the husband's 60th high school reunion in Webb City, MO, some folks going to visit their son in college in Iowa, a lady off on a multi-leg journey to visit cousins and grand kids scattered around the country, and a couple from Scremerston England on a long cross country trip...San Diego to Boston and points along the way.

We were running very late due to the weather but managed to make up the time and got into Kansas City about fourteen minute late...not bad.

I caught my connection train to Jefferson City and was back at my old house by noon and went on to Jill's by late afternoon.

I'll post more for the trip back home....should be interesting with Watson.  He hates to travel.