High hopes for the future

To my delight, I read in the paper that they are hoping to get a rail service started up again here in Sonoma County, to run from Healdsburg to Sausalito, where it will connect with a ferry to go to San Francisco. Years ago people rode such a train all the way to Monte Rio, a tourist haven up here on the Russian River. It was a favorite destination for weekenders, who flocked by the hundreds to swim in the river, ride boats up and down and stay in the hotel that was built in the side of a hill. When we had a vacation cabin on the top of the hill, there were three stores in town, a meat market, a fire station, a clothing store and a bowling alley. Now it has all faded away and nothing is left but a food store and a pub, known as the Pink Elephant. There is, thankfully, a movie theatre and a hairdresser who does a great job of cutting and shaping hair. Now and then, some small store will open, but it soon fades away. We do have the Bohemian Grove encampment across the river, and so in July limousines are seen coming and going as powerful members enter and leave. It is a retreat for men only, and they tell me that the goings-on in there are not to be believed. It lasts for a short time and then all is quiet once again.
Our cabin was at the very top of the hill, named Starrett Hill, and could be reached only by a winding one-lane road that was, to say the least, difficult to drive. We used to go up there every weekend, and have wonderful memories of the place. We naturally remodeled it and had a great kitchen when we were finished. My grandson was born in that cabin. Finally we sold it to a friend, who enjoyed it as much as we did.
Time marches on. We no longer drive a car, and are advised not to ride in airplanes, but I am pretty sure we could handle a train. What a thrill that would be to ride the length of the railroad down to Los Angeles. That will be an event to aim for.