The train left at 1am, three hours later than scheduled. Before leaving, about fifteen minutes before, I was told there was a lounge that I could sit in. A lounge?!?! A warm lounge with drinks and power points and comfy chairs. I went, even if it was for only 15 minutes.
When it was time to board, I went down to the platform, thinking I could hand my luggage over for it to be checked. No deal. If there’s one complaint I have about this trip, it’s that the information from Via Rail on what to expect and what to do pre- and post-boarding has been near-non-existent.
Anyway, I took my luggage on board, found my berth (I’m in car 120 – right next to the dining car) and said hello to the three other people I’d be sharing the space with. The bunks were already folded down and the beds made. The space we were in can sleep six but they only made up four of the beds, leaving one area unmade up. This was handy as we could store our luggage there (though I put my big suitcase in an out of the way place where the towels are stored).
I got ready for bed and climbed up onto my berth/bunk (it’s like being at camp), and buttoned up my curtains, shutting out the world. I put in my ear plugs (essential if you’re going to do this trip) and settled down to sleep.
It took ages! New bed, new sensations (the train rocks and sways and clunks. It’s not like a Eurostar train. You can hear everything). After a while though, I fell asleep. The bed was comfy (though anyone taller than 6ft might have a bit of a problem), the lights were blocked out and I slept until about 6ish.
Breakfast began at 7 and I was in and waiting bang on time. There is a selection of three or four things at every meal. For breakfast, I had an omelette. After breakfast, I showered and went exploring.
There’s a dome car at the end, which has a see-through roof so you can see everything around. I thought there was a lot of snow just outside Toronto. Here, there is nothing but. Evergreen trees and snow covering everything. I haven’t seen any animals though there are tracks on the sides of the…tracks.
There are two dome cars so I went and checked out the other one a little later. There was only one other person in that one when I was there. I worked. My laptop battery started to die, as did my phone. There are about six power points (I’m exaggerating but there aren’t many that are accessible) on this train and you have to get lucky if you want to nab one.
There’s one in the dining car, which I sat next to at breakfast. I went in there at 11 to charge my laptop. It was setup for lunch but lunch wasn’t starting until 11:30. I was given grief by the staff
Waitress: “You know we’re not serving lunch until 11:30.”
Me: “Yes, I know that. I’m charging my laptop.”
Waitress: “Oh, well there’s a power point in the next car.”
Me: “Someone else is using it.”
Waitress: “Well, you’ll have to move when we do first call.”
Me: “I know. I’m in the first call for lunch anyway.”
Waitress: “Oh.”
Me: “Is that ok?”
Waitress: “Yes, whatever.” [she storms off]
Next, the head steward of the dining car comes by: “You’ll put that away when we do first call, won’t you?”
FFS.
I also got told off by another steward for storing my luggage in a place not considered appropriate, never mind that the steward who looks after my cabin said it was fine. Long story short, I put my luggage back in the cubby hole.
Lunch was a salmon burger thing that was nice. I went and finished more work, then went back to the dome car for a while. I played games and then went back to my area. I fell asleep against the window, the tiredness catching up with me.
Dinner was pickerel with rice. One thing I’ve liked about the meals on the trip is that they feature Canadian specialties. Nice touch.
After dinner I went and sat in the dome car for a while, watching the sun set. It was so nice to just sit and look out the window, watching the world go by. That has been the highlight of the trip: seeing the different landscapes outside the window. I’m hoping we’ll see the Northern Lights but it was too cloudy on Sunday night to even see the stars.
There are musicians onboard. Via Rail has a program whereby they give passage to performers as long as they do a number of performances during the trip. We’ve got blues singers. They did a half hour performance at 9pm in the dome car, which I sat and listened to, along with a bunch of other people. Their last two songs were What a Wonderful World and Glory of Love, songs that remind me of mum. Which is good considering the 30th was her birthday. She would have been 59. She would have loved to do this trip.
I’ve made conversation with various people. There’s a couple from South Africa who are living in Nova Scotia, there’s another couple from somewhere who are going to Vancouver to catch a flight to Auckland. There are plenty of people here who’ve done this trip before and love taking the time to get across the country. It certainly has its plusses.
Despite my issues with staff (and even then they’re small and there were a couple of good ones who help make up for it), I’m glad I’ve done this journey and can’t wait to see the rest of Canada outside the window.
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?