Day 5 of the Trans Canadian

I am a bit obsessed - already in love with the tower 

Downtown Toronto - 4 blocks to the tower ...  tomorrow

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 5

Well, where did these days disappear to? We have made that trek from #Vancouver and now find ourselves waking up to the final run in to #Toronto.

Water and lake views under vivid, blue clear skies approaching #Toronto

It was 6 am wakeup for me to take in the early morning sights and disturbed @Mac at 8:50 so we could shower and pack before getting off to brunch courtesy of #VIA Rail .

Time to get cracking - last day on train - no time to watch the world go by

How is it even possible, after all the delays that were experienced that we arrived in #Toronto a full two hours early. To top it off it was a stinking hot day AND we couldn't check in till 4 pm. We were dragging luggage so there was no way that we could dash off and do something. Unless of course it was on the way to our accommodation.

Must be Day-5 blues but I think I am on a roll for a bit of a #whine. We had a few little wrinkles in our blanket today. Nothing that really wasn't of our own making - and nothing that couldn't be solved eventually .

Finishing up the rail story - we enjoyed the journey and feel "accomplished" making that transit across the provinces- amazing variation in countryside and such a relaxed and indulged way to see it. On the down side (no doubt influenced by our recent #African safari) thought we would have seen more wildlife. With that thought in mind, it's not funny, but it was so funny, English @Lisa was saying out loud and often, that she'd even accept some "road kill" by the track if that's what it took - think we had convinced her maybe some "zoo" or "aquarium" experience might fill the void as an alternate. 

Last hurrah in the #Dome

We loved views forwards, backwards, left, right and up in the glass #Dome

We were quick to pack up the "snug" and first time in the trip, we had to wait for someone to finish using the shower before we could access.

Spruced ourselves up (it's 30 degrees plus in humid #Toronto and we only have long sleeves left in our clean clothes choices), joined the brunch crew for the last hurrah, watched #Toronto start to appear on the horizon and all too soon were pushing our luggage along #Front Street to our accommodation. 

I get the easy job - just have to wait

Welcome to #Tornto - pick a lane, any lane to get out!

Piece of cake - had four hours to get there

Set ourselves up at a coffee shop and indulged in some "real" coffee and managed to have a chat with the #Hop on Hop Off team to try and work out and source our plans for #Niagara.

That brings me full circle back to the #whines.

First #whine - we have tried multiple companies and haven't been successful in jagging something "organised" for tomorrow for The Falls. Delayed.

Second #whine - we tried to organise our onward train ticket while at the station using our squillion VIA Rail loyalty points -they don't do at the station - can only do over the phone - and you are on hold waiting for an operator. Delayed.

Thought it would be straight forward to book at the station. Nope.

Third #whine - we tried multiple ATMs because we are cash poor - for some reason, they don't like us and we felt we had experienced enough "declines" for the day. Delayed.

Fourth #whine - thought in our coffee break we would hook up our next accommodation options. Well our marked "favs" were already gone but there were alternates. Unfortunately, the online payment system they used required verification of our credit cards. The verification number was being sent to our Aus phone number (despite us changing this choice to email before we left.) FAIL, fail, fail, fail. We used 4 cards .... twice! Have a stack of "pendings" listed on transaction records with the bank. Delayed. #Solution, contacted venues, settled with# PAYPAL

They just keep queuing up

Fifth #whine - train was so early we had four hours to kill in the heat till checkin! Killed two but then found ourselves perched on hot concrete seat outside door with no response from the "owner" for early checkin. #Solution - @Mac just risked it - and used the key less checkin process and let us in 2 hours early. My hero.

We are 17th floor in building on leff

So predictably #whines transformed into #wines and we decided to spend the night "in." Went to the local grocery story - like a big #Woolies - but with masses of fresh food and premade dinner options and decided to chow down on a chicken with some bread rolls (not quite the dining car - but was AOK) and  found the most AMAZING Maple Caramel Corn. Had to set a limit on how much to eat.

Not quite the dining car -  but we did OK 

We laughed lots because can't believe our 17th floor super dooper apartment is over a RAILWAY line. Every time a train goes by, @Mac grabs onto something, thinking he is going to be rocked over. It is even worse in the shower where you are holding on for dear life fearing the worst. Think we'll have time to get our land legs tomorrow - got a big day ahead of walking.

Right above the railway line

PS  Once reconnected to civilisation we realised our systems at home had been offline for 4 days - we were a little nervous that we had lost power in a storm and the fridge/freezer may have been off. I have always said that "Everyone needs an @Aunty_Gail." And of course MY @Aunty_Gail came through like a champion.  With a couple of texts, a few pictures amd a video call, we were back online. Tech genius at work 🙌 and we got some pics of the great work by #Harris Lawnmowing and a building update on our neighbour. It was just like being home - thank you.

Tips for @Kathy and @Dave

A.# Prestige can request assistance for disembarkation 

B. #Prestige luggage is the first off the carousel

C. Have noted that -Prestige guests can always request the "forward facing" seats in the dining car

D. Our brunch meal partners from #Prestige said it was easier to pack for disembarkation with bed folded away so that L shaped couch could be used

Meanwhile in Europe with @M&I 

Getting their turn at being Okympians. Hope they recorded their splits and monitored their PBs. 

Admitting we got a little surprise with the "baby face" of the newly shaved @Ian.

Day 4 of the Trans Canadian

Sharing anniversary drinks in #Skyline Car

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4 

Started the day with 6 am wakeup of the freight train roaring past at #Sioux Falls. Beautiful morning though with misty lake surface perfectly reflecting the morning sunrise.

All day - water and trees

Today's journey is water, water and water, on rails frequently perched above the forest floor over endless steel bridges. Back to the spruce and pine forest and an increasing number of trees showing their reds and gold of fall.

Woke to one bar of service to catch up on news from home, #Europe and #London - all with different stories to tell.

Think this has been my favourite day of countryside - travelling across the waterlogged #Canadian Shield. Very old area of flat terrain, covered in water, reeds and tall pine trees. We've had a smoke free clear day, with wispy overhead clouds and no smoke haze. The reflections have been beautiful.

We started the day at 45 minutes behind schedule at #Sioux Falls this morning and were 2 hours behind for our afternoon arrival in #Hornepayne. Not sure how we will do it, but staff are predicting an early arrival in #Toronto tomorrow morning.

The late arrival means that the time off the train is greatly reduced - so places like #Jasper, #Melville, and #Hornepayne were just a dash around the station platform or a quick sprint around the block. In the case of #Winnepeg last night, we were so late there were very few things even open between 10 and 11 p.m. on a Sunday night.

We do enjoy the forward, back, sideways and up view from the dome of the #Skyline car

There is a growing familiarity amongst the travellers and there are lots of conversations and fun. Had a couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today pop a cork on a bottle of champagne and share it around. @Larry was keen to notice my crocheting and asked that when I was finished, could I make him a beer cosy. While he was at lunch, I whipped him one up - much to the delight of fellow travellers. He was certainly chuffed - and was using it with pride.

He asked - I delivered - in bottle green - with pink trim

@Lisa (English) and @Sal (maths teacher from #Toowoomba) are two solo travellers who have struck up a friendship on the train. They have loads of fun stories and adventures to share and have kept us entertained as they too are regulars in the #Skyline Car.

Everyone is on high alert for wildlife spotting. Still not much luck in that department and on this part of the journey have not really sighted many people! Isolated cabins here and there around a lake or a small group of houses that look to be associated with the railway line.

 Not much else. In fact, other than our 6 am catchup in #Sioux Falls this morning we have definitely been offline and out of range.

We had a change of crew last night in #Winnipeg. We know they deserve a break- but we were really enjoying their interactions with the old and familiar crew and of course we are trained with the "way" they did things. Have to now familiarise ourselves with the ways of the new crew ... or train them to our ways. All very different.

@Mac got off the train at #Horneypayne today. It was our only stop for "fresh air" and because we are behind schedule was a mere 10 minutes. @Marion is a mad geocaching fan and she was keen to go on her treasure hunt and was busy clambering up the embankment to retrieve the "cache.

" It's a real passion" for her - she has recorded some five and a half thousand around the world, has laid out 150 of her own and hosts a major event in her town. Husband @Larry not so much - and apparently in keeping her 366 day streak going - even during blizzards and whiteouts - there were "grounds for divorce."

Looking for the cache

He got the pic of the engines at last

Dead centre of Ontario - #Hornepayne

We were also intrigued by the fishing stories of @Cheryl and @Vern at lunch. They plan all their trips around wetting a line. They are heading to tuna fishing off #Nova Scotia and fly fishing in #New Brunswick once they get off the train. But they were global in their pursuits which included 18 fishing trips to Australia. Lucky - @Mac had his " big barramundi" story to tell. Mind you, their recent 300 lb in 6 packing case haul from #Alaska did take the shine away from his #Darwin success.

Enjoyed our final evening dinner with @Christine and @Steve. We were very lucky to have scored a place at the late sitting mind you, think that with growing familiarity and the constant flow of alcohol in the #Prestige class, the noise level in the confines of the dining car was elevated tonight. Poor @Mac had a circus happening in his left ear and was hard pressed to hear our table conversation - I was doing a lot of relaying of the highlights. I think that is how it transpired that we were asked to leave - when the other guests left and we had the car to ourselves - we were deep on conversation and hadn't quite registered "it was time to go."

Big day of eating even before we got to dinner

Headed back to our "snug" as quietly as we could, passing all the curtains of the upper and lower bunk dwellers who had already called it a day. No mean feat to make your way along the passageways as darkness falls because the engineers definitely take the brake off and hoik along at breakneck speeds. They definitely are committed to an early arrival in #Toronto tomorrow.

Picked @Cheryl and @Vern's (a pair of absolute passionate fishermen) brains at lunch for tips for @Kathy and @Dave:

A. Plenty of storage room to unpack bags and small hanging space

B. Bathroom includes hair-dryer (ours doesn't)

C. Always have separate pre dinner entrees and champers before other guests permitted to dining room

D. Room includes L shaped couch for daytime use

E. Extremely attentive staff dedicated to #Prestige guests

F. Swipe card entry to rooms which can be locked when left

G. Fold down bed is a double

H. Of course, all drinks included and 24/7 access to #Park Car

Meanwhile in Europe 🇪🇺 with @M&I

Just brief message opportunity today that indicated they were heading back to Athens - and that on arrival, they scored the same room as their original visit. If memory serves me, that was the spiral staircase three floors up!

Trekking across Ontario today

Day 3 of the Trans Canadian

Morning view from the train - no worries

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3: Happy Father's Day

Crossed the Prairies of Saskatchewan (only province with all manmade borders) today of course under the shroud of smoke which meant that visibility was limited. Got the general impression of wide expanses of open farmland. Square after square of crops with very little evidence of grazing animals. And impressively, plenty of water everywhere.

Dining room boycott - just took up another window view for apple and orange - did find an #Oreo

Known as the "Bread Basket of Canada" it is also a significant mining area with extensive reserves of potash (handy for the agricultural base) and uranium.

Lots and lots of this - endless flat fields

When the smoke is thick and settled, might be playing a game or writing a blog. Definitely NO RECEPTION.

Got an up close and personal experience with the agricultural nature of the province when a crop duster buzzed the train at about 10 in the morning. We were set up on the lower level of the #Skyline Car enjoying some fruit (and an #Oreo) for a late breakfast when this small plane seemed to swoop out of nowhere and head straight for our window. We spoke to people in the dome above us and they said the plane was that close, they ducked.

BIG infrastructure and loads of equipment

And for brother @Phillip and cousins @Jeffrey and @Ross you would be in "farmer heaven" - there was soooo much equipment - I don't even ha e the words to name the stuff that they had ready for managing these crops. It almost seemed as if the main feature of every property was an impressive array of silos - perched right beside the rail line.

We did cross from #Saskatchewan after brief stops at #Saskatoon and #Melville (smallest Canadian city), into #Manitoba. Although also an intensive agricultural belt the land as we headed further east was more undulating. #Manitoba was greener and had a gentle series of rolling hills with a more varied landscape.

Some variation to landscape in #Manitoba 

We had made a long crossing through the Prairies during the night and believe it or not, at speeds of 85 MILES per hour, this train was flying and rocking and rolling and made up the deficit trip time of four hours. When we woke this morning we were back on schedule.

Same rhythm to the day - with #Skyline Car- lots of eating, although we did miss breakfast - new people to meet, some games, a walk out at Winnipeg (it was very late at night) and some information lectures and games. For the first time we went back to our "snug" for two hours in the day - enjoyed a rum and a bit of quiet before attacking the social scene again.

Talk time with JP

Lunch today - unbeatable - shrimp and scallop skewers followed by "death by chocolate"

Meals have been fabulous, plenty of choice and great t8me in small group situation to get to know more of each person's story. Great stories from Aussie friends @Santa Steve and @Christine, lots of cruising tips from travel advisor @Marion and joker husband @Terry and some insights into the #Prestige experience with @Lou and @Greg.

Smiling because he has ut all - a rum AND room to stretch out

Train had late night departure from #Winnipeg and we celebrated with #rum AND #Amarula nightcap before calling it quits on the day.

Late night breath of fresh air at #Winnipeg

Have to comment that the landscape changes lots and keeps us entertained but negligible sighting of animals - perhaps some ducks and a long horned sheep is the sum total to date.

Meanwhile in Europe with @M&I

They had planned the tour, planned what to wear to fit in with the "dress code" and had planned for tour arrival to coincide with sweeping views of the valley below during a Mediterranean sunset. What they hadn't planned - nor could they control - was the weather. The only thing to do was embrace it, done the wet weather gear, smile and dance in the rain. They nailed it.

Before the rain - after the rain

Warning and predictions - not a valley in sight 

The tour continues - rain, hail or shine

Literally "dancing I'm the rain"

Trans-Canadian Adventure

British Columbia to Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan and Manitoba today

Day 2 of the Trans Canadian

Snug in our #snug - new digs

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd 

Started my day at 3:15 as we pulled into #Kamloops a full 3+ hours late. Can you imagine those poor passengers who were boarding - who had paid for their sleeper accommodation- only to have to sit it out at the train station. Mind you, from a previous visit to #Kamloops, we would highly recommend "Frick and Frack" - best drinks ever! 😂😆😅

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

A snowed over image from a professional 

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

British Columbia and Alberta today