Traveling on Canada’s Via Rail
When planning a tour of the Bay of Fundy in New
Brunswick last month, we also arranged to ride the Via Rail from Halifax to Toronto before
flying back to Los Angeles.
Al, a train enthusiast since his
childhood, had always wanted to take the train across Canada, even if
it meant taking one section at a time.
After spending a week at the Tidal Watch Inn along the Bay of Fundy, we
took a round-about route to Halifax, driving in
a rental car north to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. It
was a beautiful, scenic drive, with a side trip into the Fundy National Park
to see the famous “Flower Pot Rocks” along the coast.
The next morning, we boarded the ferry to Nova Scotia, sitting inside the lounge area
where it was warmer than the chilly marine air out on the deck. The ferry boat
ride was fast, getting us to Nova Scotia and
back on the road again toward Halifax
in a couple of hours. It was drizzling when we reached the city, feeling very
cold for a day in early October, partly due to our being acclimated to warmer
California weather.
The weather was still cold and gloomy when
we turned in the rental car at the train station the next morning and stepped
on board the Via Rail. It was nice have a room in the “Anne of Green Gables”
car, named after one of my favorite children’s stories whose author lived on Prince Edward Island. Al and I soon found out that there were nine
sleeper cars between ours and the dining car. It was a long, unsteady walk, but
good exercise!
By keeping my eyes focused on a sign or picture posted at the opposite
end of each car, I could maneuver the narrow hallways and walk in a fairly
straight line without banging my elbows on the walls. Al figured out his own “duck
walk,” to meet the challenge of walking along the speeding train. Thankfully we
managed to stay vertical!
The sleeper car was divided into several smaller rooms, each containing a
comfortable seat which converted into a single bed, a tiny bathroom, and space
to store a few personal items. When it was time to go to bed, the steward lowered
another bed with an attached ladder from the wall. During the night, I had a
hard time trying to get out of the bed without hitting my head on the ceiling
and only managed to get one foot on the ladder. The other foot slid all the way
down to the floor, leaving me doing a senior version of the splits. Al, who was
sleeping in the lower berth, didn’t even wake up!
Arriving at Montreal the next morning, we
switched trains for Toronto.
The weather was still misty and cold, causing a slight delay due to wet leaves
on the tracks. The train had to be
backed up to get a running start, which then gave its engines enough power to
pull the long line of passenger cars up the hill! One of the highlights of the
trip was viewing the Canadian countryside decorated in bright reds, yellows and
oranges of fall.
Adjusting to the challenges of traveling wasn’t always easy. I confess
that there were times when I was exhausted, grumpy and unappreciative. I’m so
thankful for my husband who is not only a wonderful traveling companion and
partner, but who also loves me unconditionally, even when I am not very
lovable. God’s unconditional love is reflected through him, for which I am
undeserving, but grateful.
This then is the good news, dear friends… “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans
5:8 NIV)
(Scroll down to read two preceding posts about the trip to the Bay of Fundy)
Fall colors in all of their glory. Photo taken from train. |
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