GRAND CANYON TO RIVERSIDE
Seem to have found little opportunity to write lately, and am now trying to do so on the train between Grand Canyon and a place called Riverside California – the movement of the train is rather worsening my handwriting I’m afraid!
At present we’re passing through the Californian Desert – much drier and more barren than those in New Mexico and Arizona. Very warm too, the train is air conditioned, but if one stands near an open window at the end of a carriage it’s very hot indeed.
These trains are very comfortable: I had another sleeping berth last night. I am writing this in the lounge. One has to travel 1st class in order to have sleeping berths: my round trip ticket is 1st + costs only about 20% more than coach class.
Train going much faster now, and writing almost impossible!
Bit more opportunity to write as train stops at a place called Barstow, about 2 hrs late – as I’ve found normal on The Santa Fe Railroad.
Most of the people on the train are middle-aged or elderly people enjoying a tour. Their leader has just come round and informed them sandwiches will shortly be served and they will be ready to start sightseeing as soon as they get into Los Angeles, around 3pm. What a life! They’ve already had a night and most of the day on the train.
The journey was a bit warm in places, the air conditioning failed in the train lounge, when an American gentleman (an eye-specialist) invited me to have a glass of beer with him in the lounge the thermometer stood at 99°, and100° when we left!
Saturday September 6th
RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA
Arrived in Riverside as planned to-day, a bit late as the Santa Fe Railway has always been not less than two hours late on each occasion I’ve travelled on it. The temperature during the day was above 90°. It’s a pleasant town, full of palm trees along the streets and in gardens.
I was met at the station by a Dr Erwin, whom I was to see at the Plant Pathology Department at the University of California here, and spent much of the afternoon with him: to-morrow I shall see various other microbiologists here & also give an informal seminar on cellulose decomposition – this will be the sixth I’ll have given in the U.S.A.
11th Sept
Well, to-day was spent at the University here, in discussing matters microbial. I gave the seminar this afternoon, which went off rather well. I thought. Again the temperature rose well above 90° but cools off at night. The evening sky is beautiful, sort of luminous like the hottest of hot days at home. The town does suffer a bit from “smog”, believed to be due to a combination of air currents or car fumes from Los Angeles, fifty miles away. Shall move on to Los Angeles to-morrow. Have now run out of large paper! As you can see, I am having a whale of a good vacation. And I must tell you, Mum and Dad, of what I often think, how much of this capacity for enjoyment of living comes from your love. How I’ve been taught how to behave myself, and to like people, and to have an interest in all sorts of things and experiences. And taught too the good sound solid doctrines of the Church of England, which guarantee all of life.
So will close on this rather thoughtful note dears.
SAN FRANCISCO
Sunday 14th September
Many thanks for your letters which have followed me to Los Angeles. Have spent a short while here in San Francisco, a really beautiful city & much cooler than Southern California.
Postcard to parents
Your journeyings are improving our American geography – somehow that country always seemed to be left out of my school syllabus! Your talk of heat and sunshine makes me quite envious – we have had one of the most deplorable summers imaginable here. Rain and gloom nearly all the time. The “it’s all due to atom bombs” and the “weather is not what it used to be” sections of the community have gained quite a following!
Letter from David, 20th Sept
I haven’t written to you for two weeks because I was not certain where to write to, but I’m sending this one to Parkdale to wish you a very happy birthday on the 25th. I wonder if I have timed this to get to you on the 25th. What an energetic time you are having, and what a number of places you have been to. I’ve had to get the atlas out more than once and brush up my geography. I expect to see quite a lot of photographs when you come back.
Letter from Dad, 21st September
No letters available for tour beyond LA. Not known if written 8/3/18 – note at end of Henry’s list of Canada letters.