Here we are in Jasper after 3 days and 3 nights of living on the Trans Canada train.
A real slice of life, all four in a cocoon of 4 seats facing each other, in the middle of a wagon half full of other travelers.
These three days were punctuated by magnificent crossed landscapes, superb sunrises and sunsets.
And also great people:
- our wagon neighbors, 3 happy girls on a ride to Vancouver
- a traveler from Toronto, super equipped with photo equipment that combines work in video editing and travel photography
- a Brazilian geek, always ready to find the missing adapter during our stops at the station
- but also a more unexpected group of Mennonite travelers, 6 men, 6 women and 2 babies with whom we were able to talk a little about the children, and who offered us wonderful songs at sunset (post more detailed to come on this).
Life on the train goes by quietly but without ever being boring, with first the observation of magnificent landscapes, very varied over the 3 days.
First the departure from Toronto in the rain, with the large buildings and the CN tower and above all the pleasant surprise to see that the Skyline wagon, with its raised space and its large windows, closed due to covid, has been reopened. for just 2 weeks!
Then, as soon as you leave Toronto, a landscape of forests colored by the Indian summer and the crossing of the "Canadian shield" with its rocks which outcrop.
On the 2nd day, we cross the lake region with hundreds of lakes on either side of the railway line, which gradually dry up into salt lakes.
Finally, on the 3rd day, we will cross the great fertile plains, the granary of Canada, supplying Mc Donalds, Wendy's and other chains for the manufacture of fries with potatoes. At the end of the 3rd day, the hills populated by cattle herald the imminent arrival of the Rockies.
We pass by stations with picturesque names like Washago, Sioux Lookout, Redditt (much appreciated by Gabin), Winnipeg, La Prairie, Saskatoon, Biggar whose slogan is "New York is big, but here it's Biggar!".
We stop at some of these stations, longer or shorter depending on the delay taken by the Trans-Canada Highway. Because we pass many priority freight trains, causing delays regularly. It is also an impressive sight to see these immense convoys carrying containers by the hundreds.
Life on the train is also the organization of meals and nights. We had planned to provide for most meals but also went the extra mile by ordering a delicious "breakfast" from the kitchens at the Canadian.
The nights were organized as well as possible with the chance to be able to invest 2 seats per person thanks to the space remaining in the wagon.
CNED's homework could also be performed in the relaxation area of the Skyline wagon, continuing a tradition that took place on this railway line formerly between mile 20 and mile 133 from Toronto, transporting a school car and its teacher between different localities to provide schooling for a few days in each town in the region.
Finally, after 3 days and 3 nights, and 2 time zones away, we arrive at 6.30 a.m., ahead of schedule, in the pretty little station in Jasper, in the Rockies, just in time to enjoy the magnificent sunrise. sun on the mountains.
After 1 hour of stop, we see our wagon, our Trans-Canada and our train companions leave, for those who continue to Vancouver ... but we are already delighted to be able to resume in 2 weeks to continue our journey too to Vancouver.
Until then, new adventures await us in the Rockies, and there too it is grandiose! To be continued...
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