Snug in our #snug - new digs
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd
And how about the corridor passengers - who now had people joining them and clambering over them to get up the ladder into their bed. All fun and games.
Obviously, lots of jobs to do at the station because we didn't resume the journey until 4:50 am. It was a good chance for a toilet stop (I heard duelling loo flushes from our neighbours, mind you @Mac snoozed comfortably through it all.)
Watched the landscape slip by in the early hours - all shrouded in a mist + smoke combination all very thick and persistent.
Watching the world slip by - lots of smoke
We really didn't stir until the 8 am and @Mac commented that it was the best sleep he's had since we've been away. Think he was trying to tell me he quite liked a single berth where he didn't have to cope with my constant tossing and turning and the never-ending wrestle of the sheets and doona.
Caught - after the act - no room for tidy up in the loo. Spot the bowl - very Snug in the "snug"
Had our first dance in the shower (individually). The #Sleeper Plus has access to a shared cubicle at the end of the carriage. You are provided with a little #Shower Kit that has two towels, shampoo and soap. The water was comfortably warm, came out in 10 sprays and is on a timer. (@Mac reckons he had 4 rounds of the timer! He is a big boy.) We were very pleasantly surprised at how much room there was in the cubicle and how big the towels were - definite pluses.
We answered the last call for breakfast and had a booth to ourselves and enjoyed our omelette and bacon brekkie.
The marathon of eating takes stamina - with time changes you loose and hour between session - pace yourself
Perched up in the #Skyline Car you are surrounded by the mountains and chased along by the milky green of rivers fed from the melting glacier. At 11 am (we are now on mountain time) the train slowed to give passengers a view of the mighty #Pyramid Falls. It was a quick glimpse and the sun shining behind it emphasised the startling white of the water cascading down the sheer cliff face. Only opportunity to glimpse this one is from a train ride. How lucky are we. Also had a stop at #Valemount which was a township of 1000 people nestled between the peaks of 4 different mountains including the highest peak of Mt Robson at 3954 metres (compare with Kosciuszko at 2228 m.)
@Mac trying to capture #Pyramid Falls from moving train
There are regular announcements throughout out the trip highlighting particular scenic highlights and we definitely were impressed with out cloud free summit view of #Mt Robson and our lakeside trek along the beautiful #Moose and #Yellowhead Lakes.
We spent the morning session in the #Skyline Car taking in the views and enjoying the laughs with the Americans. Didn't they have some stories to tell. It is so true that every door and carriage looks identical a d that was the basis of the overnight fun Apparently - one of the gentlemen let himself into the WRONG room and definitely surprised the two occupants who were already in their beds! Talk then went to door decorations and making everything unique - and we had a lesson in upside down pineapples and coloured loofahs and their meanings. Well, who knew that. All I can say is don't leave your garage door partially open or hang an upside-down pineapple outside your house!
The rhythm of the day is evolving - eat, talk, go to a lecture, watch the world go by, play a game, laugh, get out at a station for a walk .... shower, sleep .... and muddle them up in whatever order you need ... and just keep repeating.
He started a puzzle with @LoRi
Suits us just fine and the changing landscape as we progress towards the west is amazing. Plenty of wild flowing glacial rivers, mountains, gullies, bridges and small towns to keep us busy, interspersed with the very occasional spotting of some wildlife.
Have to comment again on the smoke. It still lingers everywhere. Making headlines in the papers of the provinces and townships we pass. At #Jasper today - we could actually taste AND smell the smoke.
Mealtimes are the easiest to make new connections. Enjoyed lunch with two German ladies (@Barbara and @Eilein) and dinner with two Canadians from New Brunswick (@Mel{inda} and @Doug) and loved their stories. Amazing how quickly you create a connection with total strangers over a meal and of course many shared laughs.
Plenty of variety at meal time
Got out at #Jasper for a sprint around the town - only had 30 minutes so we did prioritise. We set a countdown as our alarm to head back - definitely committed to NOT missing the train. A couple of photos, a stop at the grocery store to get some mixers for our rum stash and a hunt for a coffee. Still mystified - after going into 5 different venues - we couldn't score a cup of coffee anywhere. Ice-cream stores in abundance but no coffee. We believe there is a business opportunity here. We were definitely overdressed for the 26 degrees of #Jasper and could understand why the "scoop" shops were so popular.
#Jasper for a coffee ... if you can find one
Bear hunt was more productive - statues and posters
We returned from our #Jasper walk to our NEW cabin F in car 2014. And we can't believe it. We are the only passengers in the entire car, cabin F is next to the shower (we now have personal ensuite) AND the cabin is a whole 30 cm wider. @Dan who looks after us said we can have the bed down AND a chair out at the same time if we wanted to! Well fancy that.
Stretching out in F - fancy that
We had been travelling quite slowly on this part of the route but as we came out of the Jasper National Park and started the traverse of Alberta our speed has in reused. Apparently, overnight, as we hit the #Prairies, we will reach speeds of 85 miles per hour. So far, we are four hours behind schedule - but crew remains optimistic that we can make up time.
Did earn today that we are experiencing extra delays on the line because there had been a 14+ day strike in the port at #Vancouver which means that there is a tremendous backlog for freight trains - the line is extra busy and we have had more frequent stops. Some of the trains we are pulling over for are 3 kms long!
Celebrated the extra space in the cabin with nightcaps and settled in the upper and lower bunks for some well earned zzzzzs.
Tips for @Kathy and @Dave
A. Everyone is "gone" at 8 am - perfect time to access shower!
B. Late breakfast is the best - have dining car to yourself
C. Right hand side of Skyline Car for views of Pyramid Falls, left side for Mt Baker, right side for Moose and Yellowhead Lakes.
D. Forget what I said yesterday about left and right in the toilet for flushing - it depends which way your loo is facing. Still at your butt cheek - but on the side closest to the door
E. Great hint for the shower - person who goes second can use partner's towel for floor mat (to be fair, you do get two towels each in your kit ... replaced as often as you need)
Meanwhile in Europe with @M&I
Very intermittent and scratchy internet connection - not enough to load photos - but have received the occasional text. Believe they were kicking their heals up in Athens for one day before joining their private tour out to the monasteries.
Trans-Canadian Adventure
British Columbia to Nova Scotia
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