Arrived in Los Angeles just under an hour behind schedule, after a nearly two hour delay in our departure from Maricopa. The Amtrak train experience is always a thrill for me. After a short subway ride to the 7th st. Metro Station and a one mile walk to our hotel we arrived at the Stillwell Hotel too early to check in. We were able to leave our bags there and took off on foot again. Too early for the graduation carnival, we headed over to the school. FIDM is just across the street from the Stillwell, one of the reasons the Stillwell has been my hotel of choice during the past two years. We picked up a few items at the student store then visited the FIDM Museum. There was still two hours remaining before we could check in so we walked over to Ralphs grocery store for lunch, which we enjoyed at one of the sidewalk tables outside the store. With still more time to kill we decided to walk a few blocks to Bank of America to submit a change of address for Brianna. We headed back to the hotel, checked in, took naps and freshened up for the carnival. Once at the carnival we took care of the business of the graduation first. Brianna checked in, verified the spelling and pronunciation of her name and picked up her cap and gown. We went on and enjoyed the carnival. Neither Brianna nor I participated in any of the physical games but I did play some of the casino games. There was plenty of good food and drinks provided and was all free.

Brianna and I are sitting at the train station waiting for the Texas Eagle to Los Angeles. Train is delayed. Debris on the track. The train was two hours late, we are finally pulling out of the station at 2:10am. 2:48am, passing through Gila Bend AZ. 4:32am, pulling into the Yuma train station. I'm looking out the window at the Yuma Territorial Prison and historic downtown Yuma. I can see Lutes Casino downtown. 5:39am, Crossed state line into California. The closest point to the border of Mexico (Algadones) I got my eyes peeled for illegal imagrants running across the desert. 5:43am, Imperial Sand Dunes, nothing but sand as far as you can see in all directions. 6:02am,passing along the eastern shore of The Salton Sea...It's Awesome! the largest inland body of salt water in the US. 7:10am, The train has stopped in Palm Springs California to take on a few passengers. There is absolutly nothing at or near this train station... but The wind generators are a sight to see. Left Ontario at 8:40 and pulling into Pomona now at 8:50. we seem to have made up some time. Next stop Los Angeles Union Station.