Canada...Journey into Winter

Part 1 The Mountains

Maybe it was because it was April 1st, April Fool's day, when we boarded the train, or perhaps it was some carefully orchestrated acts of God. We should have known, as the first foreshadowing occurred when we arrived at the station. While being ticketed the clerk informed us there had been a mudslide, which was blocking the C.N. Via Rail tracks. "Not to worry!" she assured us. " You will be travelling on the more southerly Canadian Pacific route." This was fine with us, for we would be able to see the spectacular scenery of the Southern route as well as the Northern views on our return trip.

It is 8 p.m. on a green, rainy spring evening, as my mother and I board the transcontinental "Canadian" Via Rail train for a trip across Canada. Yes, it is another one of our now famous mystery trips. As we board, I particularly notice how green everything is in Vancouver, possibly at some level I know there will be very little green on the rest of the trip.

With great anticipation, accompanied by Peter and two of our grown children, Julie and Tim, we enter the refurbished art deco railcar and search out our bedroom suite. Perhaps suite was not the correct word - when we find said room, it is so small we cannot all fit in. We take turns looking around.

There are two comfortable chairs beside the large picture window, a sink, mirror and a couple of shelves, a couple of hanging hooks and a small doorway on one wall. The doorway leads into a miniscule windowless bathroom. We have a great laugh as we try to maneuver our luggage into the room. Fortunately, our large bags are in the baggage car, but even the luggage for our three-day first leg of the journey, is too big for the space. We have yet to see the bedroom, with the chairs folded down and the bunks in place. More laughs to come.

We decide to explore the train, so we head for the bullet car, called the Bullet Lounge, the last one on the train, which serves as a *silver and blue viewing and lounge car. Here they are serving hors d'oeuvres and coffee. We join the other guests for a quick cup, then head off to the private dome car, also reserved for silver and blue. There is another dome car on the train anyone can use.

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