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

Battle of the Fairs

Well, it’s not quite a battle – just me checking out Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) for the first time after years (way into the double digits) of attending the annual Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver.

Living just blocks from the PNE grounds in east Vancouver for most of my life, as soon as the PNE banners go up on Hastings St. each August, you know that the end of summer is just around the corner.

It looks as if the same can be said for the CNE (The Ex). On a mid-August summer evening, I definitely felt a bit of an autumn chill in the air. But I’m told this year isn’t a typical Toronto summer as we haven’t seen the usual above 30-degree temperatures and high humidex values.

So, what do I think of the CNE? 

Well, just like the PNE, it’s in an urban setting, there are farm animals, craft displays, midway rides, a casino and merchants hawking their latest gadgets. And both fairs have the Superdogs show.


Then there’s the food. Over the last week, I would say the CNE PR folks did their job getting the media to talk about the “new and wacky” food such as chocolate fried chicken, thanksgiving waffles and s’more bao. 

I stuck to the basic fair midway fare:  a roasted corn on the cob and a tasty sausage on a bun with fried onions and green peppers from Corrado’s Authentic Italian Cuisine. I figured it was a reliable choice as it was voted the CNE’s best food concession in 2013.


There are more buildings to house the exhibits at the CNE compared to more green space at the PNE. And like everywhere in Toronto, one can pick up a Tim Hortons coffee to go at The Ex.

Overall, I would say the CNE satisfied my annual summer fair fix – this year in Toronto.

A couple of facts: the CNE was founded in 1879 and is currently one of the 10 largest fairs in North America.  Last year, the CNE attracted 1.36 million visitors over 18 days. The first PNE took place in 1910 and has become the largest annual ticketed event in B.C. drawing 900,000 visitors over 17 days.

The Princes' Gates were opened in 1927 by H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales
and his brother, Prince George.

One of the many historic buildings on the CNE grounds.