The Canadian

The Canadian train from Toronto to Vancouver is considered by some travel writers to be one of the world’s best train trips. I certainly enjoyed it. Here are some photos, complete with reflections and distortions from the curved windows.

Parry Sound, Ontario

Beautiful sunsets

Sunrise

Such still water makes for an amazing reflection

Jasper, Alberta

The train staff told us Mt. Robson is only visible an average of 20 clear days a year.
We had a perfect view.

My last night of vacation is in Vancouver. I had a little time to look around Granville Island and part of Stanley Park.

Oasis in the middle of the city. My little retro hotel in Vancouver.

VIA Rail Through Canada

It’s Friday and I’m headed home. But it will be a long time before I get there. I boarded an overnight train in Halifax, headed for Montreal. Tomorrow morning I’ll transfer to a train to Toronto. I’ll spend the night in Toronto near the station and Sunday morning I’ll board a 5-day, 4-night train to Vancouver, BC. Thursday night I’ll stay in Vancouver and then take Amtrak home Friday.

There will be big parts of the country where I’ll have no cell signal off and on. I’ve got a book, audio books, podcasts and downloaded shows. This afternoon there was a local history lesson and a tasting of a local wine, and tonight they have some live music. A woman I sat next to at lunch wants to play cards. Plus, there’s the scenery. So there’s enough to keep my easily-entertained self occupied.

Rivière Chaudière outside Québec City

Sunrise outside of Québec City. It’s tricky taking photos from the moving train.
The windows aren’t super clean, you’re getting reflections, and it’s tough to be ready to
frame and snap a shot when you suddenly see something come by quickly.

My tiny room for Friday night. Yes, that’s a toilet on the right, and above it is a drop-down sink.
On the train for Sunday through Thursday nights I have less privacy. It’ll be a lower berth with just a curtain, no door. And the bathroom will be shared with others from the sleeper car.
But the windows are bigger in the lounge car, so I’ll spend a lot of time there.

Fall Colors and Coastal Drive

Tuesday was spent driving across the north part of the island through Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Something I wanted to do while in Nova Scotia was hike around the Skyline Trail. It’s so popular and fragile that you have to reserve a parking permit well in advance. So back in May I decided what day I wanted to be there and bought a permit. 

I was lucky with the weather. It rained the day before and the day after, but my Tuesday hike was great, albeit chilly. (I would have been so bummed if low clouds would have obscured the view.)

Despite reading about black bears frequenting the area and a lot of signs indicating recent moose sightings and the problems coyotes were presenting, the only wildlife I saw was birds.

The end of the trail is boardwalk, which then turns into a series of steps and viewing platforms

What goes down must eventually go back up

During the time I’m here there’s an annual festival called Celtic Colours going on, featuring local folk music and arts. A lot of people travel here in October specifically for this. I figured I ought to take in some of the Acadian culture and went to a great concert Tuesday night in Chéticamp, where I was staying. Fiber arts are big in this area and I was able to go to a couple of exhibits in different towns.

Tonight (Wednesday) I’m headed to the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou for my last night on Cape Breton Island. More music and hopefully good food and drink.

Fortress of Louisbourg

Today I drove to Louisbourg to see a reconstruction of a French colonial village. It’s a national historic site and was the sort of place where you find people in period clothing doing the kinds of day-to-day activities that were a regular part of life at that time.

The King’s Bastion Barracks

Louisbourg Lighthouse

Tonight the inn I’m staying at has invited guests for (Canadian) Thanksgiving dinner. Tomorrow I’ll travel north to Ingonish Beach.

Cape Breton Island

Walking along Lac-Brome to Knowlton, Québec, the village that inspired the fictional Three Pines

Now that the retreat in Québec is finished, I’ve moved along to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.

I’ll be on Cape Breton Island most of the week, returning to the Halifax area Thursday. I am not likely to have a great phone signal while I’m here, and sometimes none, so don’t be surprised if you try to reach me and don’t hear back for awhile. It’s a remote area, and it’s beautiful.

Yesterday I had quite a bit of driving from the Halifax airport area. When I got here, I took a little hike to Uisge Bàn Falls. Got rained on a little, but it was good to get out of the car.

Finished the day in Baddeck at a little pub and enjoyed the live music there. Next stop, Louisbourg on Sunday.

View from my room in Baddeck