FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1
Had alarms ringing across the apartment and at 10-minute intervals- there was no way we were missing any connections.
Slight hiccup in the early hours of the morning did put a wrinkle in our blankets though – there was a power outage. For a mere 2 seconds. Enough to take #GoogleHome and our alarms offline, to turn on the lights in various rooms and to set timers blinking. Additionally, the connection to the internet didn’t automatically restore. At 3:30 am here I was sending out my “phone a friend ” lifeline to @Mindy to get the lowdown on what to do.
Poor girl was in the midst of luggage wrestling for disembarkation and relocation but still managed to telegraph solutions with grace and good humour. My main concern was around locking the front door – but apparently it has its own power supply and doesn’t need the internet to function.
@Mac did a little reset here and there and thankfully all was restored to normal by our 9 am departure.
Locked and loaded - we were eager and early for our two buses
No shortcuts today – we did jump the back fence – but after that stuck to the bitumen to drag our luggage to the bus stop. Then joined the working crowd on the local bus to get us to the #Gateway Loop to join the #Skylynx for the 2-hour ride to #Pacific Centre Station in Downtown #Vancouver.
A different experience in the “Business Lounge” because everyone who was boarding the train was shepherded to the limited seating of the outside patio. We managed to find two seats and were just tucking into some late lunch when the announcement was made that it was “All aboard” time. Cue lots of yelling and screaming here and a mad dash to the allocated carriage – for us 210 B.
The process was to present our email to the ticketed office for ticket issue. Then moved along to baggage checkin for the larger luggage items. Next stop was the lengthy queue of surprisingly early arrivals. Moved through registration and dinner booking and then through to the #Business Lounge.
All aboard - VIA Rail
The platform had a display showing the organisation of the cars along platform 5 – and we were the LAST car – of course. Had a staff member to look after us, welcome us aboard and to deliver the safety briefing. Have to admit that we were a little “giggly” at the size of the space – that 2 m x 1.5 m was even smaller than we thought and with two moveable armchairs and a bin ... the room was full before we stepped inside.
Cosy in the snug
It is a small space
But with height (and super strength) he was able to stow our gear overhead and we had leg and wriggle room. Basically (in all senses of the word) we have a window, two armchairs, a sink, a loo, a closet that is 20 cms wide and overhead storage. In the luxury offerings, there is power, toiletries, mirror, a fan and AC. And a large viewing window.
I thought there was commentary coming through the cabin and I asked our steward @Dominique how to control it. The things you learn – it was actually the sound of the train on the tracks coming up through the plug hole of the sink – by closing the plug- you cut out the sound.
It could be a slow trip. We pulled out of #Vancouver and travelled for 30 minutes – then it was into a siding to wait for a freight train to pass – that was the next 30 minutes – and then we rolled again.
Note the smoke from the wildfires following us
Unfortunately, not exactly a “scenic” spot for our stop. Just a building, a power line and a bushy embankment.
As soon as we had finalised our safety briefing, we raced to the #Skyline Car – full glass dome – and took up the LAST TWO seats in the 24-seat area. Lots of disappointed travellers started to appear only to be turned away. Clinked our plastic champers glasses, swallowed our canapes and then had @Mac used his charm and innocence to wheedle us another drink.
@Clare taking care of business
Made our first crossing of the #Fraser River in the afternoon – with many more to come through the night. And it’s that whole night thing that is the problem.
By the time we cleared the confines of #Vancouver and made the outskirts of #Abbotsford, the sun was setting, which meant that the spectacular crossing of the #Rockies corridor was completed under the cover of darkness. We therefore had an unduly enthusiastic celebration when we caught sight of the might of #Mt Baker complete with its jagged snowy peak, early in the trip.
We held onto our seats for the 5:30 presentation of “Railway 101” by @Clare who ran down the stats of our 23 carriages and explained the significance of the mile markers and signage that we can keep an eye out for on the journey. There are lectures and games sessions and activities very day in the #Skyline Car.
Top of the world view
Did learn that the train is FULL with 210 passengers across the 23 cars – 80 passengers in Economy which is a “sit up” option for the four nights. Interesting to see the configuration of the ñext class which are the berths – these are daytime seats, which convert to upper and lower bunks behind a curtain in the train corridors. Then there are cabins for one and like ours cabins for two. We don’t have access to the #Prestige car – but assuming that they are way roomier.
It was extremely cold in this car – a ploy I think to move you on. Have to admit though we did need to eventually move on – we are sharing this segment of the train with a group of 10 VERY LOUD Americans. And I mean VERY LOUD. They managed to clear the #Skyline Car on a regular basis with their shouting and screaming and laughter. We photo bombed them and were instantly invited into their group! But way too noisy.
Their noise was fuelled by access to alcohol and it was sort of a blessing that @Clare is only permitted to serve each guest one alcoholic beverage per hour. The Americans were plotting a #Sklyine car crawl to beat this rule- working their way along the train they could get 3 drinks in, in each hour. Mind you they didn’t move so think it is plan for the future.
Thought we would try to sort out our luggage in the cabin. Find our PJs, toiletries and medication. Not quite as easy as you think with only space for one person at a time to be standing. Lots of hilarity and endless huffing and puffing as @Mac hefted the luggage up and down from overhead. Mind you, we don’t want to get too comfortable because we change rooms tomorrow.
Definitely worth turning up for
Answered our 7:30 call to dinner with enthusiasm and in a random seating draw be joined @Irene and her son @Allan at the table for four. Dinner did not disappoint- @Mac scored 2 servings of mushroom soup (just with a smile), had chicken and a lamb rib rack for mains and a decadent chocolate cake for dessert.
Conversation and company were fabulous aided by frequent use of a translator APP, our native-born mandarin speaking Chinese family from #Shanghai were perfect partners for dinner and sometimes the nuance of conversation was morphed in translation adding to the fun.
He's got a safety net - I mean the #Amarula
Returned to our “snug” – going to appropriate that word from the Irish pubs, cause that’s what our room reminds me of – and were greeted by the bed configuration. If we thought it was tight before dinner – this was positively condensed. But by taking turns standing up and scheduling and choreographing our bending over – we eventually found ourselves top n tail spread out in the lower bunk sipping #Amarula. We're doing better than okay.
Tips for @Kathy and @Dave
A. The flushing button for the toilet is behind your left butt cheek hidden under a ledge (gotta get the priority info right up front)
B. Pack by outfit eg PJs together in one suitcase in same packing cubes. Have tomorrow’s outfits for both of you in next cube etc. There are no drawers for storage – everything is in your suitcase
C. A standard size airline carry on fits in the overhead shelf
D. The #Skyline dome is FREEZING – take a jacket
E. On #SleeperPlus you hear every conversation and toilet flush from your fellow travellers on both sides day and night (believe #Prestige is sound proof)
F. Travel mug with lid an advantage to have in room
G. Toilet seat is very low – but there is handle to grab onto to help you up
H. Power board and adapter an advantage- no USB charging in #SleeperPlus
I. When travelling #Vancouver to #Kamloops – left hand side of train has the “action”
J. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks not included in #Sleeper Plus - $10 CAD per glass of wine
J. If your number 1 priority is accommodation- you are on the wrong train. If you want scenery and food – toot toot - it’s a winner.
Meanwhile in 🇪🇺 with @M&I
Toga party recovery or rough seas? Not looking so chipper.
Recovered to skipper the boat
Back in Athens for sunset dinner
Trans-Canadian Adventure
British Columbia to Nova Scotia
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