The Canadian to Jasper

   
Travelling on trains in both Canada and North America has lots of opportunities for photos from the train. You regularly stop to let freight trains pass. They have the right of way…….so expect a leisurely trip.
Now the Canadian is not as upmarket as the Rocky Mountaineer but it is more affordable for most travellers and the staff are equally attentive. Your journey starts with champagne and canapés.Lunch and dinner are 3 course affairs and you get to meet different people. French( a somewhat limited meal conversation……I should have been practicing) , German, English and of course Canadiens all of who are doing a holiday on their bucket list. We fell in with a Canadien group who were certainly lively. A quick train tour:

Lakes,marshes and lots of larch and conifers are the sights today. I believe there was a bear sighted but I rather think the train whistles as it started off frightened it into the trees.
They were actually checking that we were awake!  

You can do yoga, play games and there is some type of alcohol tasting in the afternoon. I’m up to beanie number 3.
Occasionally we stop to pick up a passenger who may have been waiting for hours for the train. Passengers can signal the train if they want to travel.In some places ,the train is the only transport unless you have access to a seaplane. At a few small communities,you get to stretch your legs for 15minutes. Got lots of money, you can get a small plane and then hire a floating lodge.
Four hours in Winnipeg and when you wake up , it sunrise on the plains.. Lots of crops just harvested. Two fields had sunflowers! Periodically there is a dam or natural lake. Plenty of water for crops, livestock and birds filling up on food before flying south. The plains are not totally flat…..the closer you get to Jasper and the mountains, the more hilly the land is. Fields are plodded following the contours.

Sunrise and we are nearly to Jasper…..only 3 hours late.
Spotted big horn sheep but just as they posed for a photo, a freight train passed….oh well. Have you survived without wifi? Some had such withdrawal symptoms,they got up and went outside at 3.00am at Edmonton. You and I didn’t.

Wow, I was speechless at our first sight of the Rockies. You were pretty quiet too😁

We have arrived in Jasper…..30 degrees so summer still here. You will have this afternoon to explore Jasper then off tomorrow to Banff. Enjoy some fresh air and walking!