The other great news is that the construction that has been going on for over 2 years at the Sacramento Valley Station is now done. They had an open house on Thursday.
The Sacramento Bee has leased a large part of the second floor as a video lab

tom -- the construction didn't improve the loooooooong walk between the platforms and the station. Just a ridiculous situation.

>>If you wanted to save the drop fee you could drop your passengers and luggage at the airport and take the car back downtown.<<

The drop fee is 12 bleedin' dollars!! Is the 20 minute drive back downtown, to the car agency, getting to the bus stop (either by cab or hopefully the rental folks would top him off), the wait for the very infrequent Yolo Bus and the schlepp back to the airport worth saving $12???

We just returned form our trip. It went well and I want to come back and say thanks for all the advice.

The trip went very well. We each had a minor physical ailment that caused us to miss some sights that we might have otherwise seen. This was not a major impact and these missed opportunities simply mean we want to return, one measure of a successful trip I think!

Final itinerary was as planned above:
Denver - one night
Train to Sacramento
Sacramento - two nights
Plymouth - one night
El Portal - one night
Yosemite Valley Lodge - four nights
Murphys - four nights
Fly home

In all cases we were not ready to leave and could have stayed longer everywhere. The Gold Rush country in May was a perfect add-on to Yosemite, so we appreciate the advice we received here and in my other thread when planning this trip.

I may eventually write a very short TR and/or post some photos, but for now thanks again!

Glad to hear the trip went well! Tx for coming backand telling us.

Great! This month should have been gorgeous in the foothills and Yosemite

We're leaving for Winnemucca in a couple hours. Sleeping in a roomette tonight and tomorrow night. Renting a car in Erie PA on Saturday morning.

Yes! Please post a trip report. Perfect time to see the foothills!

Consider having a bedroom rather than the very cramped roomette. The bedroom has its own shower and toilet and a bed for lounging during the day, as well as a fairly comfy chair.

I'll try to cobble a short trip report together in the next week or so.

Yes, it was an absolutely perfect time to be in both Yosemite and the foothills. The site of Yosemite Falls was astounding, never to be forgotten!

>>Consider having a bedroom rather than the very cramped roomette<<

They are already back home . . .