Day 4 of July

Well I thought I had better update the details of my recent trip. Had hoped to do it sooner, but who knew that when I got home everyone would need me.......children; mother; husband; dog; work..........Side note spend last Monday picking up Patrick in Banff (where he's working); returning to Calgary to take him to his soccer game in the SW; grabbing some food for him: taking his back to Banff where he is still working; and returning home to Calgary; thought I had to do the same thing on Wednesday; but he caught a ride into Calgary and back with another soccer player;...................


So met some interesting people on the train. Such a variety; males, females, old, young, straight gay, married, single, families, couples, widowers, newlyweds, single mom's; and me.... someone just trying to get away for some peace and quiet. Like me, taking the train was a new experience for many people, but alot were also seasoned travellers. They were old hands on which sitting to chose for meals; how long the stop overs were for a smoke break; who to call if you couldn't get your bed set up by yourself; when to take a sip of your hot tea whilst the train was moving. I had the opportunity to sit with one gentleman a few different times during meals. We started out as strangers, but by the end of the trip, people thought we were married. "Guest #1" works as a grieve counsler at a sicks kids hospital in Canada. Guest #1 is an openly gay man in a relationship. Guest #1 could be one of my new friends. We got along so well. We were jabbing and teasing all the time. At our second "date" there was a couple at our table that asked if we were married. I turned to Guest #1 and asked if that would hurt his reputation or mine!. Then at another meal sitting, I was telling a gentleman about Bill, my husband at home, and Guest #1 turned to me and said "You mean your other husband." Even when we weren't sitting at the same table, but near, the bantering continued. Then there was guest #2, who tugged at my heart strings. He was an elderly gentleman whose wife had died a month ago, and he had gone to visit friends in Winnipeg and was returning home to Toronto. And finally there was a couple from Calgary; originally from Houston I think. But they have lived in Calgary for over 35 years and call Calgary their home. He's retired and his wife was a retired teacher. She appeared to me to either have suffered a stroke or a muscle debilitating ailment; anyway, the husband was so good at catering to her. There was one other lady I met when we first got on the train; she had the room right across the hall from me (a two foot hall); when we first boarded the train, the porter showed us a demonstration of how to lower our beds and how to access stuff. When the porter left, we talked a little bit; people kept walking through the hall way on the way to their rooms and they would say good night. I started to get a vision of the Waltons; good night John Boy; Mary Ellen; Elizabeth. My neighbor had the same thought. Funny thing was, we were the closest in proximity and I don't believe I seen her on the entire train ride. Guess she didn't think the Walton analogy was that funny, and might have been avoiding me the entire time. Oh wait, wait,,,, there was one more couple. The newlyweds.. Yes Cowboy Joe and his new bride. Now I don't have their true story, but here is the one I imagined, just by observation. This was a second marriage for both (they weren't young chickens) He probably has more suitcases than her (two leather coats - brown, black, cobra cowbow boots; lots of hair product - that's all him; her baseball cap, oversized sweatshirt, sandles) They haven't know each other very long -(he was explaining that a colored bird flying around must be a hawk - and she was impressed) Now had I not overhear him telling everyone at the train station that they were newlyweds, I would have guessed that as well. So at the train station I kept saying, I hope they are on a different train; nope, they were right next to me; they also happen to be at every dinner seating I was at. In fact I think we sat at the same table one time. The "head waiter" brought him his drink, and his comment was "I don't care what the boss says, you're pretty good." Not original, but a little funny - the first time, but after the third time, not so funny, and finally the "head waiter" said, "I am the boss!" K, I better stop, because the remaining blog could just be about Cowboy Joe; doesn't matter where I went, he was there with his cobra boots - he told everyone that, I didn't guess - I thought they were alligator......
So we had a 3 1/2 hour stop over in Winnipeg. I should have had that on my 50 list, because I have never been to Winnipeg either; didn't really have a desire though. Although I didn't get to see too much of the inside of the Winnipeg train station, the outside was lovely. There was an inside/outside market a short walk away; and a lot of old trains set up and being used as stores. Quite unique. I headed back early to our train; not that I thought I would miss it, but you had to get on before a certain time, or wait and get on when the new arrivals got on closer to departure.
So come thursday morning, we had arrived in Toronto; That train station was big, but not exciting. I thought the train ride from Toronto to Montreal was only three hours, but I then realized it was five. I lined up early so I could get a good seat; The line got very long; I got on the train and found a comfortable seat; it was set up similar to the C-train-two facing forward, and you faced two seats facing the other way - hope that's not too confusing. And then I did a stupid Stacey thing; I was sitting on the inside, facing a petite lady, and I was facing the direction the train was travelling ( as opposed to going backwards) This couple gets on the train, they want to sit side by side - you could tell - and I offered to move so they could sit together. Sometimes I am just an idiot. Now I was on the outside; facing the wrong way; and these two tall, long legged people are taking up the entire leg space. I spent five (not three) travelling to Montreal with my knapsack on my lap, my legs squished up, and no food. Thank goodness for gravol and ativan.
Now we arrive in Montreal. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice. Luckily the Montreal train station is large and very much like the Toronto, or Vancouver, or (Dallas) airport. Lots of stores etc. The trek from Montreal to Halifax is 24 hours. if I had to do it again, I would get a seat with a berth bed. You don't need an entire room, but being able to shut a curtain or lay up on a bed would be nice. But I figured for 24 hours I could handle just sitting. I had visions of having to sit cramped like I did from toronto to Montreal, but this train had much more comfortable and spacious sitting. I actually at a one seater, facing another one seater, with a table in between. Almost like a set up in a trailer. And, there was no one sitting across from me, so I got to stretch out at night.
Not a lot of interesting people on this trip. Grandparents with their two grandchildren that were coming for a visit. A single mom with an 8 year old and a two year old. He did quite well considering he couldn't run around and had to sit alot. It took everything in my power not to get up and offer to watch the little guy so Mom could take a break - But I kept saying to myself, Stacey this is your holiday, you are allowed to be selfish this one time...... There was also the Mom, travelling to meet her husband; she had the two daughters who unlike myself at that age, were very bold. They weren't misbehaving or anything, just busy and bold.
So it's Friday, July 15th, around 3:00ish and we arrive in Halifax. Ahh the smell of ocean air.
And so the saga shall contine - when you might ask, when Alisa and De have entertained me enough on Facebook. (thanks to everyone else for being so patient)
Luv Me