At some point on the last day we left the Tahoe National Forest and transitioned into Northern California's soft and shapely terrain. The gently undulating landscape from Sacramento to the Pacific coast is blanketed with a fine green grass and bushes that resemble brocolli sprouts. And the Central Valley is home to a rich variety of crops.

Closer to San Francisco, we started to encounter inland bodies of water that carried cargo traffic and were maintenance yards for old ships. The scene had turned from one of natural beauty to industrial practicality.

We finally stopped at Emeryville, outside of Oakland. This was the end of the line for the train, but not necessarily its passengers. A number of us, wishing to reach San Francisco, boarded a shuttle that took us across the Bay and deposited us at the local terminal. At last, we had arrived.