One of the reasons for staying with Patrick on my last night in Victoria, was to be inside the perimeter of the marathon so I could get to the seaplane for an early flight to Vancouver. The Canadian (VIA’s trans-continental train) was to leave at noon, and I didn’t want to miss it.
So it was disappointing when I received an email the day before that there had been a problem with the train from the east, and the outgoing train would be delayed an unknown number of hours. I decided to go to Vancouver anyways, and stay in the station. But it was rining, so I was in no hurry. The seaplane rie over to the big city was a treat I gave myself, and was worth it: they fly low enough to see a lot more, and it is only a 45-minute flight. When I got to the airport in downtown Vancouver, the rain was still coming down, so I sat in the reception area of the airport for an hour or so before heading out into the drizzle. It was about two kilometres to the station, and again I was taking my time. Somewhere along the way, I got a further email from the folks at VIA telling me the wait would be about five hours. (I found out late there had been a derailment and an accident in Ontario, and also that CN in Winnipeg had denied them use of the tracks for a few hours, even though they were ready to go.) Eventually, we got going, about six hours behind schedule. But surely we could make that up, eh? It’s a big country, after all.
One of the disadvantages of being so late was that we would not be able to see the Fraser Canyon, a spectacular gorge in the rock through which the river crashes headlong towards the sea. But, on the other side, we would be in daylight through the main part of the Rockies. And so it was.
After the introductory bubbly, and a fine dinner, I crashed into bed about eight o’clock, hoping to get on top of this cold. I slept for about ten of the next eleven hours, and felt a whole lot better. After some breakfast, I went for some viewing in the Dome Car. I was watching out the window, and noticed by the side of the trcks, surrounded by dense forest, a small grave, white picket fence and cross in place. There would be story to tell there! (VIA, in its search for more money, has set up a “Prestige Class”—which I’m not a part of—and they have exclusive access to the back of the train. We have an observation car a bit more forward in the train: still good, but not like those Park cars with the rounded rears at the back of the train.) But I was getting tired again, and we had an unscheduled stop, for freight trains of course, so I had a sleep. Didn’t miss a lot of scenery, and woke with mountains looming high and snowy—the snow seeming to flow like gentle streams down the mountain gulleys— over the shallow valleys. We slowed at Pyramid Falls for some pictures, then again near Mount Robson, before getting to the Great Divide. And then gently downwards into Jasper for a scheduled stop, and to pick up and leave off some passengers.
Monday is when they are celebrating Thanksgiving on the train, so clearly we had to have turkey for supper. But before that, there was another bubbly intro for new passengers (and some of us older ones partook). And my neighbours had bought some wine in Jasper and invited me and another couple for a glass before dinner. I had first sitting, and sat with a couple from Utah. Pleasant conversation, as expected. Then back to the room, and to bed to read for a while before trying to sleep.
The overnight was bad for the train. Lots of freight trains pushing us into sidings for hours. By the time I woke this morning, we were about 12 hours late, and just leaving Edmonton (we should have been there yesterday afternboon). All the staff deserve a hand for being as positive as they are, but this is not good. Breakfast and reading, writing my blog, skipping lunch, thinking abouot a nap: all these things to do!
No comments:
Post a Comment