Down by the Station and Welcome Sunshine

Down by the Paso Robles Train Station

This afternoon I was just leaving an appointment around 5 PM on Seventh and Pine when I heard the Amtrak train coming into the station. I managed to get my camera out before the train was completely out of sight. 

Amtrak Train Pulling into Paso Robles Station around 5 PM

I walked as fast as I could hoping to get to the depot for some other closer shots. I was in luck. One of the boarding passengers didn't have all her luggage aboard yet. As she was rushing toward the open door, I noticed she had dropped a scarf. I ran to pick it up for her, but she was so flustered about her luggage she almost didn't notice me trying to hand it to her. I wanted to give it to her so I could finish getting my photos before the train pulled away again. 

A Peek throught the Amtrak Train's Open Door

The lady and her escort finally took the scarf and I turned north again to take this photo of the train while it was stopped. Notice the sign for the Paso Robles Depot. 

Amtrak Train Parked at Paso Robles Depot about 5 PM -- Please Pin Me

Zazzle Products Featuring the Paso Robles Train Station

Paso Robles Train Station in Autumn Playing Cards










These products all come from photos I have taken at the Paso Robles Transportation Center (Amtrak train station) in the past.

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Postcard: Paso Robles Train Station in Winter PostcardPaso Robles Train Station in Autumn Luggage TagPoster: Train Leaving Paso Robles Station in Winte Poster

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Sky Journal February 4, 2017

I welcomed the sunshine today after yesterday's rain. This is how my usual photo spot across the street looked at about 11:30 AM.

Late Morning Sky at 11:30 AM

By 2 PM the scene had changed. You can see the contrail high in the photo. 

2 PM, Fluffy Clouds with Contrail

At 4:20 when I left for my appointment,  the sky looked like this. The bright sun was behind the tree trunk of the oak. 

Sunburst behind Oak, 4:15 PM

When I came home about 5:15 PM, the sun was ready to say goodbye. 

Sun Almost  Down, 5:15 PM

Kind of a mellow sunset, don't you think?

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Big Change on Pine Street by the Amtrak Depot in Paso Robles

New Parking Lot on Pine Street in Paso Robles, © B. Radisavljevic

As I was driving downtown to return some books at the Paso Robles Library yesterday, I accidently turned on 6th Street instead of 10th, and I took it to Pine so I could skip the stop signs on Park. When I got to Pine I almost thought I was in the wrong city. There was a "Do not enter" sign facing me before I turned left, and I saw that while I'd been sticking to Spring Street these past few weeks, someone built a new parking area along Pine between 6th and 7th Streets. That was quite a big change by the Amtrak Depot in Paso Robles. After I left the library, I returned to take some pictures.

I happened to arrive just after a northbound train had pulled in and was picking up  passengers. Notice the conductor taking tickets as people board. You can also see the trees reflected in the windows of the train. If you click on the photos they will enlarge so you can see them better.

Passengers Boarding Amtrak at Paso Robles Depot,  © B. Radisavljevic

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Majestic Oaks at the North County Transit Center

Paso Robles literally means Pass of the Oaks, and it's obvious to even the most casual observer who walks our city streets that the name is appropriate. Although we enjoy a variety of other street trees, it's the oak trees that usually tower above them. Some of the tallest are downtown, and the ones you see in this photo are found in the parking lot of what locals call the train station. Please click to see an enlargement of this photo.

Oak Trees at North County Transit Center, © B. Radisavljevic

As some of the oak trees are losing their leaves, the Bradford Ornamental Pear trees are showing theirs off before dropping them. I don't know whether they outnumber the oaks or not, but they are the showiest trees in town. In spring their blossoms turn the city white, and during late fall and winter they turn it red. These are growing beside the Amtrak waiting room.

Bradford Pear Trees at North County Transport Center

Here are some of the Zazzle designs I've created featuring photos of the Bradford Ornamental  Pear leaves in autumn and the oak trees I see around town. The Rickshaw Messenger bag is large enough to hold everything important to carry with you. Its design is that of oak bark in a neutral color. The throw pillow features oak leaves with a colorful oak gall still on the tree. Click through to see product sizes and details. Most of these designs appear on many other products as well.

 Autumn Ornamental Pear Leaves Ceramic Ornament Autumn on an Oak Tree Throw Pillow Under a California Valley Oak Tree Ceramic Ornament Autumn Ornamental Pear Leaves Sandstone Coaster Paso Robles Train Station in Autumn Playing Cards Tangled Oak Trees in Paso Robles, California Jigsaw Puzzle Messenger Bag: Oak Bark Pattern, Courier Bag Paso Robles Train Station in Autumn Luggage Tag

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• What Sort of Owl Is That in the Oak Tree?
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• Odd Oak Trees | Trees in My World
• Looking at Deciduous Oak Trees in Winter
• Does Anyone Live in this Tree?
• Theme Day: A Simple Acorn #AtoZchallenge

Mother Nature Also Decorates in December

Mother Nature Decorates with Red and Green in December

Traditionally, we think of red and green as the Chrismas colors. Mother Nature loves them at this time of year. I took this photo a couple of days ago in front of the Historic Depot Office at the North County Transport Center. It's currently home to Anglim Winery and a law office. Do you see the red "ornaments" on the hedge and the rosemary bush next to it?

Rosemary Decorating with Bradford Pear Leaves

In this next photo, we see a different view of the same plants with the current Amtrak waiting room / office in the background.

Shrubs with Autumn Leaves
Amtrak Waiting Room is in Back

The cotoneaster plant with its green leaves and red berries are also on display during the holiday season. I have made coordinated greeting cards and stamps from my photos of cotoneaster should you want to use them for your holiday cards. You can find all my variations at Zazzle. There are four cards with this design: a blank greeting card, a blank postcard, a card appropriate for businesses to send, and a more personal greeting for friends. Of course, you can also add, change or remove text and even change the image to design your own card if you have one you like better.

 Red Cotoneaster Berries: Holiday season Greeting Card Holiday Postage Stamp: Red Cotoneaster Berries

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