North America Circle

Sunnyvale -> Seattle -> Vancouver, BC -> Toronto -> Chicago -> Sunnyvale Read more

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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 5
Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 45 °F
Altitude: 374 ft
United States Seattle Asian Art Museum 47.630017, -122.3150547°37’48” N 122°18’54” W
Capitol Hill and Volunteer Park
March 7, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
After some false starts and course corrections, I eventually made my way to Volunteer Park atop Capitol Hill. It has this very well placed statue that frames the Space Needle perfectly. It is also home to the first water tower for the city (built in 1906) which is now just used as an observation platform. I climbed all 105 steps (yes, I counted) to reach the summit, only to find that the fencing over the windows made it pretty much impossible to take photos. And the trees in the park made it difficult to see anything in the distance anyway. But it was an interesting climb, nonetheless.

Then I walked all the way down the hill, through some of the more busy sections of the neighborhood and all the way back to our hotel. I did stop off for some Thai soup on my way, because it feels like I may be coming down with Russell's cold.

By the end of my walk, it was so bright and sunny I actually needed sunglasses. Not at all typical Seattle weather.Read more
The last two photos are peculiar. Is there a tree growing through the tower? a bag of green onions?? You've covered a quite a bit of Seattle on foot. Good for you!! [V]
3/8/24Reply
Sarah McCabeThe tree is part of the sculpture. And the bags of green onions were just on the sidewalk like somebody lost part of their grocery order. 😄
3/8/24Reply
Very cool pictures! Just now got my copy of Train Adventures! This looks like a wonderful way to travel . When Paul and I get old ( stop laughing) we can travel by train . Thanks [Lynn]
3/10/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 5
Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 2:30 PM
☀️ 46 °F
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Denny Park 47.619869, -122.33883947°37’12” N 122°20’20” W
Zoom and dominoes
March 7, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F
I got back to the hotel in plenty of time to eat lunch and get set up for my weekly session of dominoes over zoom with my family.

Unfortunately, by the time we finished that, it was very clear to me I was sick, so I sent Russell off to eat dinner by himself, while I drank Airborne and got packed for our early morning departure.Read more
Oh no. Sorry you’re sick! Be well soon! [Sandy]
3/9/24Reply
Airborne👍 [Rhonda]
3/9/24Reply
Oh no! Get well soon! [Val]
3/11/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 6
Friday, March 8, 2024 at 7:30 AM
☁️ 41 °F
Altitude: 79 ft
United States Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 47.598311, -122.32990647°35’54” N 122°19’48” W
Train to Vancouver
March 8, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
[Written March 11. Sorry for the delay! The sickness turned into a cold that wasn't terrible, but it did sap my energy so much that I couldn't blog. So now I will get this caught up!]

Even though we did all the packing the night before We had to wake up at an ungodly hour (6 am) to get ready and get to the train station. Rhonda reminded me on the zoom call that we could take Airborne to try and get over our colds ASAP.

We had booked slack into our schedule that we ended up not needing, so we got to the station really early and before long we had our high tech (impossible to counterfeit) boarding pass. That's the pink card for 2 passengers to Vancouver (V2) in business class (BC).

The train ride went very smoothly, but I did wish I had known that most of the best scenery was on the west side before we grabbed seats on the east side. Note for the future.Read more
Glad that you are feeling better and rearing to move on! Those are LOL tickets! [V]
3/12/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 6
Friday, March 8, 2024 at 2:30 PM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: 30 ft
Canada Jack Polole Plaza 49.287533, -123.11755849°17’15” N 123°7’3” W
First meal in Vancouver
March 8, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
We arrived in Vancouver and there was a Canada goose there to greet us right outside the train station.

Before long we had made it to our hotel (Exchange Hotel). It was before checkin time, so our room wasn't quite ready, but we were able to drop off our luggage and head out into the city.

The hotel building was the original stock exchange in Vancouver. The building was completely remodeled, so there's no interesting historical architecture to be seen on the inside.

First stop was a cleaners to drop off our dirty laundry. Then, a few blocks away was Nightingale restaurant. I wasn't feeling up to drinking yet, so Russell drank for both of us. The food was great and just what we needed.

The hotel called with our room number before we had finished our meal so we were able to go straight back to the room.

I decided I needed a nap so Russell went off to rent a bike and bike around the city for a couple hours.

After he got back, it was time for him to nap. Our clean laundry was delivered, and I took a Covid test just to make sure (negative).

Russell told me about a bike tour that looked good that was run by the same shop that he rented from, so we decided to book that online for tomorrow morning and just call it a night.Read more
Russell, you're "SO Cute"!! [V]
3/12/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 7
Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM
🌧 46 °F
Altitude: 20 ft
Canada Harbour Green Park 49.290267, -123.12117249°17’25” N 123°7’16” W
Bike Tour Vancouver
March 9, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 46 °F
After a good night's sleep, we got up and dosed with Airborne. The bike shop is just a few blocks from the hotel, so we stopped at a Tim Horton's for coffee and a little snack on our way.

We got our bikes (I was the only one on an e-bike - I really didn't want to stress myself). It was an international assembly. Our guide was German (but she has lived in Canada for decades). Then there was a couple from Mexico, three people from Australia (a couple and a solo traveler) and us.

We biked through Stanley Park and then boarded a small ferry that took us over to Granville Island, where we had lunch in a food market. I was feeling good enough to split a beer with Russell for lunch.

Then we looped back through other parts of the city and ended up in Chinatown and then Gastown and back to the shop. All told it was about 6 hours and even with an e-bike, my legs were feeling it by the end.

The weather was cold and sometimes rainy, but it was never wet enough to be miserable.Read more
These are beautiful photos! Love them all. Blue berries are available in wintery Canada? maybe there from S. America. Are those tangerines. or something we're unfamiliar with? [V]
3/12/24Reply
Sarah McCabeI think they were labeled Golden Berries and the ones on the right are the same thing, but still in the skins
3/12/24Reply
I used to love biking around Stanley Park. And my cousin, Norm Hotson, and his partner, Joost Bakker were responsible for the Granville Island development (many years ago) - I hope it's still in good shape! [Stuart]
3/12/24Reply
Sarah McCabeGranville Island was great!
3/12/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 7
Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 6:30 PM
☁️ 43 °F
Altitude: 98 ft
Canada Robson Square 49.283408, -123.11623649°17’0” N 123°6’58” W
Steakhouse dinner
March 9, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F
We were both a bit tired after the ride, so rather than explore more, we headed back to the room to regroup and make dinner plans. Since it was Saturday night, and we hadn't made reservations, our choices were somewhat limited so we decided to go to a local steakhouse chain (The Keg) where we were able to get a table at 6:15.

We totally over ordered both food and drink but it was a delightful meal.

On the way back to the hotel, Russell stopped by a wine shop where he bought a couple of bottles of wine. We figure whatever we don't finish in Vancouver, I can take on the train.Read more
You're having incredible meals!! [V]
3/12/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 8
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 115 ft
Canada Gastown 49.283393, -123.11260349°17’0” N 123°6’45” W
Book shopping
March 10, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Patricia mentioned that there was an entertaining book set on the cross Canada train so I decided to head off to a nearby used bookstore to see if I could find a copy.

I wasn't very optimistic, because it was kind of an obscure book. I was gobsmacked by this shop. Not just full of shelves, but books piled all over the floor and on every horizontal surface. There were signs saying no photos, so you just have to take my word for it that it was amazing.

I gave the owner the title and author and he left out the back door, went to another storage location nearby and shortly came back with my book!

We then headed off to a coffee shop for sustenance before we rented bikes for a ride out to Capilano Bridges. But over breakfast (lunch?) I realized I was just too tired and needed a nap. So Russell went off to the bike shop and I went back to the hotel.Read more
Wow, what a great bookstore story. Also, sounds like a nostalgic book to read on a train. [v]
3/12/24Reply
Riding to Capilano? A bit of uphill riding, I'm guessing! [Stuart]
3/12/24Reply
Sarah McCabeI would be willing to join him with an e-bike, if I hadn't been sick. He loves hills, but he did NOT love biking over those tall bridges (Lionsgate and ??)
3/12/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 8
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 12:00 PM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 108 ft
Canada Waterfront Station 49.285667, -123.11583649°17’8” N 123°6’57” W
Hotel EXchange elevators
March 10, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
One cool thing about this hotel is that there are no floor buttons on the inside of the elevators. Before you get on, you select the floor you want to go to and you are directed to one of a bank of elevators.

So, before the elevator arrives, it knows its destination. This makes for a very smooth, and evidently energy efficient ride.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 8
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Canada Vancouver Harbour SPB 49.289083, -123.11440849°17’21” N 123°6’52” W
Vancouver water scenes
March 10, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
After my nap, I decided to go out and walk around the seawall to explore some of the sights we biked by in more depth. Russell was out biking so I went on my own.
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 8
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 59 ft
Canada Robson Square 49.278681, -123.1185549°16’43” N 123°7’7” W
Last dinner in Vancouver
March 10, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Russell had made dinner reservations at per se, which has nothing to do with the New York per se, but it was well recommended. Deservedly so.

On our way back to hotel, we passed a very high end cannabis shop. It looked as trendy as an Apple store.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 9
Monday, March 11, 2024 at 12:30 PM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: 82 ft
Canada Waterfront Station 49.284325, -123.11465349°17’4” N 123°6’53” W
1
Last morning in Vancouver
March 11, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
The next morning, we were in no hurry, so we leisurely packed up before the noon checkout. Then we headed back to the Trees coffee house for our morning sustenance.

Then we both headed over to the Sky Train station. Russell boarded one train to go to the airport and I took a different one to the main train station. It was bittersweet to say goodbye. I have been looking forward to my train adventure, but I will miss Russell.

After I checked in, I had plenty of time before boarding so I headed off to the nearby Costco. Yes, it is a full sized Costco smack in the middle of a City.

Many of the items for sale looked familiar, but the food court did offer poutine. The most odd thing was how quiet it was. I guess Canadian politeness extends to speaking very softly in public. Even the whiney kids were whining at low volume.Read more
Lynn Mccabe That’s a Great photo
3/16/24Reply
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 9
Monday, March 11, 2024 at 2:30 PM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Canada Pacific Central Station 49.273258, -123.09505349°16’24” N 123°5’42” W
All aboard The Canadian
March 11, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
By the time I got back to the train station, it was time to board. I took a quick look at the lounge for sleeper passengers and then headed out to my train car.

Each car has an individual name. My home for the next four days will be Grant Manor.

The bedroom is bigger than the Amtrak roomette that I am used to. Good thing because that would be tight for four days.

By the time I was all settled, with my train shoes on, the train was moving and it was time to head to the lounge car for a complementary glass of sparkling wineRead more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 9
Monday, March 11, 2024 at 6:30 PM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Canada Inches Creek 49.176417, -122.14483349°10’35” N 122°8’41” W
Evening on The Canadian
March 11, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
We left Vancouver and headed up the Frasier River valley. It was very pretty, but it was quite rainy, so it was near impossible to get good pictures through the raindrops.

The first person I met on the train turned out to be an MP from BC, who was taking the train to Ottawa to experience how legislators had to travel 100 years ago. This is the second random Canadian politician I have met while traveling. The first was the (former?) mayor of Toronto we met in China 20 years ago.

Then, later at dinner I met a Canadian journalist who was just beginning a yearlong trip around the world that he hoped to turn into a book. So in a couple years, I will have to look for Justin McElroy's book.

Before dinner they served canapes in the lounge car. They didn't taste as good as they looked, but that would have been hard, since they were so pretty.

Dinner was very tasty. I was in the second (of 3) seatings and before I was finished, they had already started the wine tasting in the lounge car. So I only got the tail end (reds). Nothing knocked my socks off but I'm just going for serviceable.

After the wine tasting, and the last of socializing, I headed back to my room, where my bed had been all made up. I had a nightcap from the scotch I had packed from home and called it a night.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 10
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:00 AM
☁️ 28 °F
Altitude: 1,965 ft
Canada Avola 51.803842, -119.31443951°48’14” N 119°18’52” W
Morning in BC
March 12, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 28 °F
I awoke to find that we had been transported to a winter wonderland. Even in the predawn light, the scenery was awe-inspiring.

I sat looking out the window so long, I almost missed breakfast. But I came to my senses in time.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 10
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM
☁️ 37 °F
Altitude: 3,399 ft
Canada Jasper Railway Station 52.875894, -118.07926952°52’33” N 118°4’45” W
Jasper, AB
March 12, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F
Shortly before 1 pm we arrived in Jasper. We only had about 45 minutes to wander around the town but that was enough time to do a little shopping and to sample a small beer (hand shown for scale) from the first (only?) brewery in a Canadian National Park.

The mountains that surround Jasper are so impressive, as they should be, because they don't put National Parks just anywhere!Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 10
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 2:30 PM
⛅ 41 °F
Altitude: 3,238 ft
Canada Morro Creek 53.024061, -118.08704753°1’27” N 118°5’13” W
More mountains
March 12, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F
After Jasper it was time for lunch and more phenomenal scenery, all afternoon.

At one point we passed a coal train that must have been over 100 cars long.
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 10
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 4:03 PM
☀️ 45 °F
Altitude: 3,455 ft
Canada Sandstone Creek 53.497481, -117.36834753°29’51” N 117°22’6” W
End of magical day
March 12, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F
The train enthusiast I met on the way to Seattle, said that when you are on the train, the days when you wake up on the train and then go to bed on the train are the most magical days. And at some level he was right. This was my first "magical" day on the Canadian train.

I forgot to take a picture of dinner in progress, or of the beer tasting that followed, but at least I got a shot of the dining room being set up.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 11
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 9:30 AM
☁️ 27 °F
Altitude: 1,657 ft
Canada Montgomery Place 52.104872, -106.73828652°6’18” N 106°44’18” W
Saskatoon SK
March 13, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 27 °F
I slept very well, and almost slept past breakfast, but I made it in just before they closed. I didn't take a picture, but I ordered the exact same thing as yesterday, so just scroll back.

We are now in the prairies so the scenery is not that interesting. Just flat fields of snow covered corn stubble as far as the eye can see.

We had a brief stop at Saskatoon. They warned us that the platform was extremely icy, but nonetheless one of the passengers (not me!) took a spill. Nothing broken but some painful bruises, from what I heard.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 11
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 3:30 PM
☁️ 34 °F
Altitude: 1,831 ft
Canada Melville 50.925919, -102.80700850°55’33” N 102°48’25” W
Melville, SK
March 13, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F
Our next stop was Melville. This was a very brief stop, so we were cautioned (ordered?) to not leave the platform. It appears that a local retailer was determined to lure passengers to their shop with a giant SNACKS sign.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 11
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 6:30 PM
☁️ 34 °F
Altitude: 1,368 ft
Canada Minnewasta Creek 50.230561, -101.10119250°13’50” N 101°6’4” W
Leaving the prairies
March 13, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F
In the afternoon/evening, the scenery started to get more trees and other interesting formations.

I ate dinner (alas, no picture again) with two women passengers I had met before. I had to make the, when shall we three meet again?" joke, but I don't think they appreciated the implications they were witches.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 11
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 10:00 PM
⛅ 32 °F
Altitude: 741 ft
Canada Union Railway Station 49.888833, -97.13313149°53’20” N 97°7’59” W
Winnipeg, MB
March 13, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 32 °F
After dinner, we had a late night stop in Winnipeg. This is a crew change stop so all the service staff got off and a whole new crew of sleeping car attendants, dining and bar car staff all got on board.

If we wanted to get off, we would have to wait about an hour to reboard, so I decided to skip that and call it a night.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 12
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 8:00 AM
⛅ 23 °F
Altitude: 1,358 ft
Canada Nesbitt Lake 50.195781, -91.01912250°11’45” N 91°1’9” W
Sunrise in In Ontario
March 14, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 23 °F
I had a pretty good night's sleep and didn't wake up until the sun was already up. Overnight we have transitioned back into forests.

It made me think of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, but we are tracking them in reverse. Yesterday we were Little House on the Prairie and this morning we are Little House in the Big Woods.

For breakfast today I went with the omelet. Still having ham and eggs, just switching it up a bit by adding cheese.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 12
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM
☀️ 32 °F
Altitude: 1,004 ft
Canada Bickle 49.878028, -86.61256149°52’41” N 86°36’45” W
Afternoon in Ontario
March 14, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 32 °F
I had a nice lunch (forgot the photo again!) with three new people: an older couple from Utah and a younger man (under 50) who is a Catholic priest from Delaware. All three are traveling in the Prestige class which comes with much nicer rooms amenities and slightly better food and free alcohol, but the price for is about 5x what I paid (and I was already paying a lot more than the people in the berths). They were fun to chat with. The priest, in particular was a big train fan and we swapped stories about our favorite Amtrak routes and tips.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 12
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 4:00 PM
☁️ 34 °F
Altitude: 1,027 ft
Canada Hornepayne 49.218894, -84.77477249°13’8” N 84°46’29” W
Hornepayne, ON
March 14, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F
Our next stop was a very very tiny town (about 1000 people). Normally, we would stop here for about 45 minutes, as they refilled the water tanks. But today, since we were early, it was more like a 2.5 hour stop.

I wandered about, but there really wasn't much to see. Two stores, a library, a credit union and that was about it.

Before we left, it was time to head into dinner where I was seated again with the same trio from lunch. They were still very nice people.Read more
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North America Circle Sarah McCabe
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Day 12
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7:00 PM
☁️ 30 °F
Altitude: 1,014 ft
Canada Ontario 49.206758, -84.42311749°12’24” N 84°25’23” W
Last sunset on The Canadian
March 14, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 30 °F
After dinner I headed into the Park car to enjoy some after dinner drinks and views. The sunset put on the best show I have seen on this trip. Since we we were in the last car heading east, we got some impressive sunset views views out the back and some cool views looking forwards over the train as well. I had a pleasant chat with some passengers in the lounge and then another nice chat with an engineer (a guy who drives a train) who was on a literal "busman's holiday" to take the train coast to Toronto as a passenger.

After chatting, I headed back to my room for a solo nightcap.Read more
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