Aug. 12th I was on the train, once again sleeping sitting up in coach.
I text messaged home that I wasn't meeting as many people as last time because I just didn't feel like talking to people. I kind of went into a funk or a blues period.
Mary Esta text messaged back: "You don't feel like talking? Because you know everyone will be jealous when you tell them you biked clear across Sask. :) I told Mr. T you're coming. He got so excited."
That message picked up my spirits, I can tell you.
At one point, we were deep in the Ontario woods, eating lunch in the dining car.
When you come into the car to eat, you are placed at whichever table the attendant says, and so you meet lots of people this way. I was with a couple from Winnipeg, and a girl from England.
The girl suddenly says 'Look, a wild horse running.'
We looked, and there it was running at a slow galop through the brush away from the train. It was a small one.
I said to her 'I think that might be a moose, though.' She was really excited then.
First time for me seeing a moose that wasn't in Algonquin in the fall.
Aug. 13th. The commuter train to Belleville left an hour before we got to Toronto as we were late, again.
Via desparately needs it own rail line (it has to share with CNR freight trains, and oddly enough, the freights have precidence and the Via has to stop time and again to let them by) but what political party other than Elizabeth May's Green Party is going to give us that.
Instead, Via had to set up a taxi bus to transport us to our hometown destination, so down the 401 we zipped in the middle of the night, and Lucas had to stay at his son, Martin's, until it arrived in Belleville, which was 2 am. (He didn't HAVE to, he just wanted to be there to meet me - both he and Martin were - felt really nice). Before we could leave Toronto, we all had to wait for some people's luggage to be pulled off the train from Winnipeg. There was some sort of hold-up so that it was another hour before we could leave Toronto. There were 3 bus taxis, I think. Via had called ahead to see if the commuter train could wait but that didn't happen. I bet this happens all the time. It must cost the company thousands.
When first I planned this trip, I was drawn to the idea of being out in the quiet and grandeur of nature. Now that I've done the trip, I realize that the magic was in the people I met. My knees hurt quite a bit but I had no leg cramps while cycling the whole trip. They came on the train trip home.
Anonymous said...Ever think of making this into a book.... remember Spokes? Spokes of a Canadian Trail.... heehee. Thanks for letting me overtake your pc so I could upload the Mirror for Dad! (that's a giveaway of who I am!)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Belleville Train to Vancouver
My first text message:
Hi Everyone, This is Josie. I'm posting Mom's text messages on this site for anyone who might be following her trip. (er... bad choice of words?) Mom sent some text message from the train. Sounds like she is having a great time. Although she is still learning how to text message, so some messages were hard to decipher.
From Mom: Friday 5pm "Winnipegnow ParrySound biggestwooden tressle in N.A. still in use - maybe 6 stories high. Mom" & "Trainscommunitiesveryfriendly"
In Capreol, first day on the train (Jn. 19), we stopped for 20 minutes, and everyone got off and walked up and down. Pretty wild flowers there.
Many smoked, because it's not permitted on the train
- (The Canadian).
The stops are many hours apart right across Canada.
In Sioux Lookout next day, the young adults all got a hackisack game going. You can see it above their heads - good shot, eh?
Frank, 2nd on the left, was headed to Edmonton to work on steel girders building large apartments and factories. He's bilingual - speaks English and Italian fluently.
Robbie, the youngest one at 17, was headed to Edmonton to work with an uncle for the summer, landscaping in Edmonton.
Daniel was headed to Regina University to study philosophy under the Jesuits. The Jesuits have a college within the university. He and I had a wonderful philosophical discussion.
Friendly Canadians on The Canadian.
I bought a cell phone only 2 days b4 I left on this trip, and did not know how to use it. Adele from Winnipeg was travelling via VIA on 'my' train, and showed me that it also had a camera and how to use it. She showed me how to get the numbers to work on text messages, and many other things about the phone.
Then we chatted for ages many times. Trains travelers are so very friendly. Even if I get a berth next time, I will go down to the coach dome car and dining area and spend a large part of my time there. I made so many friends on the train, coming and going. Try it! You'll love it!!! She took this pic of me...
Text message from me posted by Josie: Saturday 10am "train0ridewonderful0so0friendly0coming0into0wainwright0trestle0half0mile0long0spectacular0love0u0can0u0put0on0blog0for0luuc0see0ron0soon0two0hours0late0mom" I think she is saying the train ride is wonderful, she is coming into Wainwright trestle in half a mile - so spectacular. She sent another message saying someone is helping with her messages, so they might start to get better. The picture below was sent from her phone this morning! Josie.
Crossing the tressle near Fabyan and Wainwright AB. This tressle is about 1/2 mile long and is the longest one of its type in N.A. The train slows to a jiggly crawl to go across. I couldn't look down. My crazy l'il brother was only 13 yrs. old and living in Wainwright then when he and his buddies climbed up from the riverbank below, there being only one little area on the bridge where such a thing is possible, and they hooked their legs up and over onto the bridge itself. It's wide enough to allow for pedestrians (meaning workers) to walk if a train happened by.
On June 17/08, two days before I left on VIA Rail for the west coast, I went into Telus at the mall to buy a cell phone so that while I was on my cycling trip, I could text message home. Josie set it up so that she would type into the blog that which I text messaged each day or few days - (trouble was, she typed exactly as I wrote it, and I often did a terrible job of putting messages in correctly. Still haven't figured out how to capitalize, other than the first word in the first sentence which is done automatically).
While I was in the Telus shop, I had Mr. T with me as I was b-sitting that day. I used my regular camera to take this picture, and I think it's precious.
Wonder if Telus could use it for an ad? Their employees gave him all those stickers which he happily stuck onto his clothes. I laugh everytime I see it. Enjoy! the future is friendly. Best news yet.
Prior to this, Mr. T and I had been in Canadian Tire where he had entered a display tent and had scratched his head on the top of it, I thought. He bled profusely, and staff ran for bandaids. His mommy told me later that he had already had a scratch there, and he told her that he had picked the scab. I had to sign a form at Cdn. Tire as a result. Note bandaid. Oh, wonderful memories!
It was very important to me to learn how to use the phone but I certainly didn't know that the phone, luckily for me, had a camera, too.
Up to then, I didn't know how to make a space (# sign) and so sent my first message with a zero between each word.
One comment from Mary Esta on this subject is very funny. "me said... so0am0i0supposed0to0leave0a0comment0like0this hehehe just kidding Mom. Jn 30/08"
Hi Everyone, This is Josie. I'm posting Mom's text messages on this site for anyone who might be following her trip. (er... bad choice of words?) Mom sent some text message from the train. Sounds like she is having a great time. Although she is still learning how to text message, so some messages were hard to decipher.
From Mom: Friday 5pm "Winnipegnow ParrySound biggestwooden tressle in N.A. still in use - maybe 6 stories high. Mom" & "Trainscommunitiesveryfriendly"
In Capreol, first day on the train (Jn. 19), we stopped for 20 minutes, and everyone got off and walked up and down. Pretty wild flowers there.
Many smoked, because it's not permitted on the train
- (The Canadian).
The stops are many hours apart right across Canada.
In Sioux Lookout next day, the young adults all got a hackisack game going. You can see it above their heads - good shot, eh?
Frank, 2nd on the left, was headed to Edmonton to work on steel girders building large apartments and factories. He's bilingual - speaks English and Italian fluently.
Robbie, the youngest one at 17, was headed to Edmonton to work with an uncle for the summer, landscaping in Edmonton.
Daniel was headed to Regina University to study philosophy under the Jesuits. The Jesuits have a college within the university. He and I had a wonderful philosophical discussion.
Friendly Canadians on The Canadian.
I bought a cell phone only 2 days b4 I left on this trip, and did not know how to use it. Adele from Winnipeg was travelling via VIA on 'my' train, and showed me that it also had a camera and how to use it. She showed me how to get the numbers to work on text messages, and many other things about the phone.
Then we chatted for ages many times. Trains travelers are so very friendly. Even if I get a berth next time, I will go down to the coach dome car and dining area and spend a large part of my time there. I made so many friends on the train, coming and going. Try it! You'll love it!!! She took this pic of me...
Text message from me posted by Josie: Saturday 10am "train0ridewonderful0so0friendly0coming0into0wainwright0trestle0half0mile0long0spectacular0love0u0can0u0put0on0blog0for0luuc0see0ron0soon0two0hours0late0mom" I think she is saying the train ride is wonderful, she is coming into Wainwright trestle in half a mile - so spectacular. She sent another message saying someone is helping with her messages, so they might start to get better. The picture below was sent from her phone this morning! Josie.
Crossing the tressle near Fabyan and Wainwright AB. This tressle is about 1/2 mile long and is the longest one of its type in N.A. The train slows to a jiggly crawl to go across. I couldn't look down. My crazy l'il brother was only 13 yrs. old and living in Wainwright then when he and his buddies climbed up from the riverbank below, there being only one little area on the bridge where such a thing is possible, and they hooked their legs up and over onto the bridge itself. It's wide enough to allow for pedestrians (meaning workers) to walk if a train happened by.
On June 17/08, two days before I left on VIA Rail for the west coast, I went into Telus at the mall to buy a cell phone so that while I was on my cycling trip, I could text message home. Josie set it up so that she would type into the blog that which I text messaged each day or few days - (trouble was, she typed exactly as I wrote it, and I often did a terrible job of putting messages in correctly. Still haven't figured out how to capitalize, other than the first word in the first sentence which is done automatically).
While I was in the Telus shop, I had Mr. T with me as I was b-sitting that day. I used my regular camera to take this picture, and I think it's precious.
Wonder if Telus could use it for an ad? Their employees gave him all those stickers which he happily stuck onto his clothes. I laugh everytime I see it. Enjoy! the future is friendly. Best news yet.
Prior to this, Mr. T and I had been in Canadian Tire where he had entered a display tent and had scratched his head on the top of it, I thought. He bled profusely, and staff ran for bandaids. His mommy told me later that he had already had a scratch there, and he told her that he had picked the scab. I had to sign a form at Cdn. Tire as a result. Note bandaid. Oh, wonderful memories!
It was very important to me to learn how to use the phone but I certainly didn't know that the phone, luckily for me, had a camera, too.
Up to then, I didn't know how to make a space (# sign) and so sent my first message with a zero between each word.
One comment from Mary Esta on this subject is very funny. "me said... so0am0i0supposed0to0leave0a0comment0like0this hehehe just kidding Mom. Jn 30/08"
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Gibson's (Landing) and Richmond
I arrived in Vancouver on the 22nd of June.
Marlowe... taken from the camera phone :)
Candy: Asleep on porch in wicker chair.
View from porch is of Gibson's Ferry Landing,
the sounds, the mtns, and the trees.
June 24th: Glad I came here; we found store with bearspray, yay!
Comment from viewer: Bearspray? Is that to style bear hair? :) ME
June 24th: From a favourite Canadian TV show, Gibsons is where they shot The Beachcomers, very long run for a TV show - years.
June 25th: Went walking up a 2 mile mountain road behind the house today.
Coming down very painful on knees, half-way down a local woman offered me a drive rest of way down, great excercise though. My weak knees might become my 'achille's heel(s). Didn't consider myself weak-kneed before I started this venture.
A day at Marlowe's school, The Waldorf private school in a beautiful woods in or near Robert's Creek.
Plane to Nanaimo
The Windsong Galley, proprietor daughter, Veronica
"Terri at the Ferry ... back in Vancouver"
Comment from Viewer: Terri is very pretty...just like her Mum. Thinking of you. Love Jo Jy.17/08
June 27th "Pls put a 'Happy Birthday, Terri', on blog, love, Josie. Hi, All (Josie here), These are a few more pictures that Mom (Karen) sent over the past week from her camera phone, and some messages from the road. I found bigger versions of the pics on my online cell phone account...so check back to the older posts for bigger pics from her trip!
June 28th "I leave for Edmonton tomorrow. No train vacancies from then until Aug. There was usual mixup at my first attempt to get to Terri's so I went back to Chrissie's in Gibson's on the ferry after waiting in blazing sun for Terri for 3hrs at Horseshoe Bay, and sat on the deck watching the ferries come and go through the strait, mountains hanging on the sides. Nice mixup. Headed out again next day, and Terri met me at the ferry."
(Note from me, Karen, re: Via: Via Rail offered free tickets to all Vets and military personel for the month of July so I have to be on the train back to Edmonton June 29 from Vancouver if I want to use my train plan pass and go 'free'. Otherwise, I'll have to walk it.)
Can't get the # one to work on the cell phone so have to write it. Capitals, too. Hi! Adrian luv2u both" (last nt. I thought about this problem of not being able to get the #1 to work on my cell, so will try using the letter L next time)
June 29th "Getting on train at 5pm. Hope it's great weekend for you both. Check out 'mud girls roberts creek bc cob ' on google. Exciting idea. It's a type of building course run by Marlowes dad's (Jamie) girlfriend n friends. Saw Sex in the City with Terri last night. Fun movie but like a long fashion show. luv"
Marlowe... taken from the camera phone :)
Candy: Asleep on porch in wicker chair.
View from porch is of Gibson's Ferry Landing,
the sounds, the mtns, and the trees.
June 24th: Glad I came here; we found store with bearspray, yay!
Comment from viewer: Bearspray? Is that to style bear hair? :) ME
June 24th: From a favourite Canadian TV show, Gibsons is where they shot The Beachcomers, very long run for a TV show - years.
June 25th: Went walking up a 2 mile mountain road behind the house today.
Coming down very painful on knees, half-way down a local woman offered me a drive rest of way down, great excercise though. My weak knees might become my 'achille's heel(s). Didn't consider myself weak-kneed before I started this venture.
A day at Marlowe's school, The Waldorf private school in a beautiful woods in or near Robert's Creek.
Plane to NanaimoThe Windsong Galley, proprietor daughter, Veronica
"Terri at the Ferry ... back in Vancouver"
Comment from Viewer: Terri is very pretty...just like her Mum. Thinking of you. Love Jo Jy.17/08
June 27th "Pls put a 'Happy Birthday, Terri', on blog, love, Josie. Hi, All (Josie here), These are a few more pictures that Mom (Karen) sent over the past week from her camera phone, and some messages from the road. I found bigger versions of the pics on my online cell phone account...so check back to the older posts for bigger pics from her trip!
June 28th "I leave for Edmonton tomorrow. No train vacancies from then until Aug. There was usual mixup at my first attempt to get to Terri's so I went back to Chrissie's in Gibson's on the ferry after waiting in blazing sun for Terri for 3hrs at Horseshoe Bay, and sat on the deck watching the ferries come and go through the strait, mountains hanging on the sides. Nice mixup. Headed out again next day, and Terri met me at the ferry."
(Note from me, Karen, re: Via: Via Rail offered free tickets to all Vets and military personel for the month of July so I have to be on the train back to Edmonton June 29 from Vancouver if I want to use my train plan pass and go 'free'. Otherwise, I'll have to walk it.)
Can't get the # one to work on the cell phone so have to write it. Capitals, too. Hi! Adrian luv2u both" (last nt. I thought about this problem of not being able to get the #1 to work on my cell, so will try using the letter L next time)
June 29th "Getting on train at 5pm. Hope it's great weekend for you both. Check out 'mud girls roberts creek bc cob ' on google. Exciting idea. It's a type of building course run by Marlowes dad's (Jamie) girlfriend n friends. Saw Sex in the City with Terri last night. Fun movie but like a long fashion show. luv"
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