Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Riding the Rails across the West

The Assinaboine River Valley in Saskatchewan
The Prairies west of Winnipeg
Through the forests of N. Ontario
Every promotional line on Via Rail’s website that describes “The Canadian” is true.  It’s a 4,466-kilometre train journey across five provinces between Toronto and Vancouver.  Over four nights and three days, I saw exactly what was promised:  the lakes of Northern Ontario, lush boreal forest, the vast expanse of the Prairies and the magnificent Rocky Mountains.  The landscape was draped in the golden colours of the early fall and, for the most part, in brilliant sunshine.

Avec J - P , un nouvel ami de Shawinigan ,Québec

Here are some observations and highlights:

·       Meeting people from all over Canada and the United States. A common comment from fellow passengers: “taking this trip was on my bucket list.”
Big sky in Alberta
·       Relaxing afternoons observing the scenery from the dome car.
Sunrise east of Edmonton

·       Great food and conversation in the dining car.
 
·       No rushing and being off the grid with little or no cell
or internet service.
 
·       Signs of the Canadian economy on the move as we stopped frequently to allow freight trains to pass.

Moving goods from west to east

The trip across the west was a pleasurable way to complete my two-year adventure of working in and exploring Toronto and parts east.
Farmland in Northern Alberta

Pyramid Creek Falls between Valemount and Blue River, BC
Heading south to Vancouver on the last, and only, damp day of the trip