3/29/2013
6:30
Well this is the last day and we are on
wards toward Toronto. Last night I did not get a very great sleep but
I slept for longer because I went to bed earlier. Now I am just
sitting I the viewing car and enjoying the sunrise over the Sudbury
area whilst listening to Darkthrone Total Death... Great choice.
So I was just thinking that I should
fill you in with some essential items and tips for the train that I
have learned would have been a good idea under certain circumstances.
I will fill you in with what I have learned from my experience and
found handy that I have.
Essential Train Items aboard “The
Canadian”
Pillow and Blanket
Although these items can be purchased
from the canteen for a price of ten dollars, I could see them being
essential for someone who has a variable inner thermostat. Meaning
you get cold easily. Personally I didn’t want to buy them cause I'm
not of the consumer type, but I would have liked a pillow if I
brought one with me!
Chewing Tobacco
If you are a recreational smoker and
partake in cigarettes often, it might be a good idea for you to stock
up on a few tins of chew to get that high amount of nicotine
contained within. I personally am a very casual pipe tobacco smoker
so the 8-10 hour waits between getting of the train were not as
grueling as it was on some others... In Saskatchewan I pointed out
mid conversation that the 5 of us had been talking about smoking in
some way or form for over 2 hours.
Change of Clothes and Toiletries
Obviously, its 4 days... As well those
big wet wipes that are used for make up removal are useful for
washing your face and to douche your feet.
Ear Plugs
For me at least, this is the most
essential item that I could have in my pack. Your body is not timed
like everyone else, it will be natural to have a snorer at 8:30 in
the evening or a baby crying at 3:00 in the morning. The industrial
orange ones work best as they compress down and slide all the way
into the ear.
Water Bottle
A refillable water bottle certainly is
handy, there are places on the train you can refill it so to keep
hydrated is easy.
Ibuprofen
Well I am tall, nothing in the world is
built for the tall man, so naturally I suffer from sore knees and
back. It is a good Idea to carry some of these guys in your pack to
help with sleep if your sleeping with an armrest in the back of you
neck.
Alcohol
Well this is not for everybody, but a
cold beer on the observation deck while rolling through Jasper is all
the better. I personally just kept the cans in my bag, and poured
them into a coffee cup. Liquor is something I also wished I had, it
helps me sleep, picks me up when I'm feeling a little bogged down,
and is liquid charisma. But not for everyone. Barley Pops on the
train are 6$ ea, and little tiny bottles of liquor are 7$.
Plan Out a Few Meals
Bring a few options for lunch or dinner
or pick some stuff up at the grocery store along the way. A few easy
to prepare non-perishable items(canned Tuna or Salmon works), a few
buns, maybe some peanut butter and jam, and be creative. There is no
place to keep your food cold so nothing that will go bad to fast
without refrigeration, or bring a small cooler is you must.
There are plastic cutlery and other
items like cups and plates available on the train so don’t fret.
Bring some fruit like apples, oranges and kiwi's for something
healthy and I personally stopped at the bakery before I left
Vancouver and picked up a half dozen tasty cookies for snacks.
Cell Phone Coverage
So not all providers have great
coverage in all provinces. In British Columbia, Alberta, and
Saskatchewan Telus coverage is good with service for a lot of the
journey. On the flip side, Rogers coverage in these three provinces
was limited to only major towns(I mean major, only Kamloops, Jasper,
Edmonton, Saskatoon, and very few other little places)
Once you enter into Manitoba and
Ontario, Rogers is much better and Telus drops off and is crap. I am
not sure about other carriers but this is my reported findings.
Note: Koodo Mobile uses Telus coverage,
and Fido uses Rogers.
That is about all I can think of, so in the mean time enjoy some more photos!\
4:30
Out of the sheer excitement of finally
rolling into the outskirts of the Greater Toronto Area, I was unable
to bring myself to make an entry. But I arrived at Union Station at
around 4:30pm where all of our train buddies took names and contact
info, took some group photos, and said our goodbyes on the platform.
As I descended down into the station
concourse my parents appeared, waiting for me, and we hugged for the
first time in 6 months. It was great to see them again.
The overall train experience was
awesome, aside form the delays and stopping for freight traffic in
the prairies for what seemed like an eternity. I met great people
that seem to have the same interests as me, and were great to talk to
and get to know, I saw some great sights and learned truly how vast
this country is.
The train itself was great although I
would not have wanted it to be full for the whole journey in coach
class. It is an excellent way to connect with Canada in a way I have
never really done. The train is sociable, something new, and very
relaxing in the way it sort of rocks back and forth, drifting you
into slumber in dark nights and calming you as you roll through some
of Canada’s most marquee sights.
Some photos of the final leg through Ontario,
Here are pictures of the friends I met on the train, first pic is Jordan, Richie, and I. Second, is Eva and Richie from Ireland.
A splendid choice to wander the
country.
W
Intro; I decided to take the train across Canada as a cheap and easy way to move a whole bunch of crap back to Ottawa. Little did I know that i was in for a 4 day journey full of new friends, great sights, reflecting on my past in Vancouver, and planning for my future travels.
Day three. Well this is getting
interesting. We have just left Winnipeg and unfortunately there has
been an eery fog since we entered Winnipeg, I am guessing it is
coming off the big Lake Winnipeg. A lot of people have got off here
and we now are not as cramped and have our original seats back
Earlier in the night there was a Native
American guy passed out in our car on the floor lying across the
isle. He had no shirt on and was on the burly side and passed out
conveniently with one of his hands down is pants. He must have snuck
a little bottle of booze onto the train. I wish I had snapped an inconspicuous
picture for the blog, it was quite the sight to behold.
Well today has been great for all but
one reason... We are in Ontario, and it is god damned good Friday,
meaning it is a holiday and all liquor stores(LCBO) and Beer Stores
are closed. We managed to slam back a number of beers on the train
before we rolled into Sioux Lookout, ON and excited at the prospect
of more, we barreled out onto the main drag of the town in search of
an LCBO. When we found one it was pure shock and astonishment, I
almost was on my knees Platoon style in the middle of the sunny, one
horse town.
So the reality that I am back in
Ontario has set in early, under the brutal regime that is the Liquor
Control Board of Ontario.
