Day 9: Train Jasper - Vancouver
19/09/19 03:15
Today started again early as I am supposed to catch the 9:30 train, the "Canadian" , for Vancouver.
Outside temperature at 7:00 a.m. was just above 0 C and the mist was still covering the base of the surrounding mountains when I made my way into town. Filling up the car with gas, checking in my suitcase at the station, finding out if the train would be leaving as scheduled ( YES ), returning my car.
Having completed all chores there was still enough time left to enjoy one last breakfast at the "Bear Paw Bakery" and take some pictures of Jasper Station ( a historic landmark ) and the stations forecourt with its vintage steam locomotive on display.
More and more people gathered at the station, many of them already passengers on the Canadian who pulled into Jasper just about I returned my car. Everybody having a stroll along the train ( 22 coaches plus two engines = 2022 feet or 620 m ) and catch some fresh air.
Coach 121 Unit 4 was allocated to me.
Bang at 9:10 the boarding began and the Canadian pulled on time at 9:30 out of Jasper. So far so good !
Weather was ( again ) fantastic: blue sky and sunshine. And that's how it remained for the rest of the day so that again I could enjoy an awesome journey through the canadian landscape with its mountains, lakes and forest.
Again I will let the few pictures ( via the pictures link at the end of this blog entry ) speak for themselves. But like all the other pictures I took whilst on board of the trains during the last days be considerate: they are all made whilst the train was moving through the window. But at lest they should be a very good impression.
The service on board the Canadian was again great ( as I experience already in the past when I did the complete West-to East journey twice ). Coffee, Tea and biscuits, lunch in the dining car ( the train had two ) on an first come first served basis and in the evening dinner for which one had to reserve. Choice: 1.sitting at 17:30 or 2.sitting at 19:45.
I skipped lunch and had a very nice strawberry-White Chocolate scone I bought in the morning at the bakery instead.
Mid afternoon champagne and appetisers in the panorama car. Sipping some bubbly somewhere in the rockies. What a life !
The 5:30 call for dinner came and I made my way into the dining car where we where greeted by Chef George and the head steward. The former made later on also a litte speech during which he introduced his team normally "hidden" in den kitchen. Nice touch which everybody getting by clapping ones hands.
Dinner ( one could choose from two starters , three mains and two deserts ):
Tomato soup with crusty wholemeal rolls and butter
Rack of Lamb with roast potatoes and vegetables ( the lamb was cooked to perfection ! )
Cheesecake with raspberry sauce and a bit of whipped cream
Coffee
No, I was NOT travelling on the Orient Express !
With me at the table a canadian couple and a single canadian traveller. We all had a very good discussions and surprise surprise I was asked about, you guessed it: Brexit. The canadians turned out to be very well informed about this subject and not like the various americans I met who are totally ignorant and to be honest simply naive.
Anyway: by the time we had finished it was getting dark and after a small excursion into the dome car to have a quick peek at the pitch dark sky I retired to my bed knowing it will be a very "moving" night and continuous sleep will be at a premium.
Good Night
If you want to follow me: Track My Tour or see some more pictures
Outside temperature at 7:00 a.m. was just above 0 C and the mist was still covering the base of the surrounding mountains when I made my way into town. Filling up the car with gas, checking in my suitcase at the station, finding out if the train would be leaving as scheduled ( YES ), returning my car.
Having completed all chores there was still enough time left to enjoy one last breakfast at the "Bear Paw Bakery" and take some pictures of Jasper Station ( a historic landmark ) and the stations forecourt with its vintage steam locomotive on display.
More and more people gathered at the station, many of them already passengers on the Canadian who pulled into Jasper just about I returned my car. Everybody having a stroll along the train ( 22 coaches plus two engines = 2022 feet or 620 m ) and catch some fresh air.
Coach 121 Unit 4 was allocated to me.
Bang at 9:10 the boarding began and the Canadian pulled on time at 9:30 out of Jasper. So far so good !
Weather was ( again ) fantastic: blue sky and sunshine. And that's how it remained for the rest of the day so that again I could enjoy an awesome journey through the canadian landscape with its mountains, lakes and forest.
Again I will let the few pictures ( via the pictures link at the end of this blog entry ) speak for themselves. But like all the other pictures I took whilst on board of the trains during the last days be considerate: they are all made whilst the train was moving through the window. But at lest they should be a very good impression.
The service on board the Canadian was again great ( as I experience already in the past when I did the complete West-to East journey twice ). Coffee, Tea and biscuits, lunch in the dining car ( the train had two ) on an first come first served basis and in the evening dinner for which one had to reserve. Choice: 1.sitting at 17:30 or 2.sitting at 19:45.
I skipped lunch and had a very nice strawberry-White Chocolate scone I bought in the morning at the bakery instead.
Mid afternoon champagne and appetisers in the panorama car. Sipping some bubbly somewhere in the rockies. What a life !
The 5:30 call for dinner came and I made my way into the dining car where we where greeted by Chef George and the head steward. The former made later on also a litte speech during which he introduced his team normally "hidden" in den kitchen. Nice touch which everybody getting by clapping ones hands.
Dinner ( one could choose from two starters , three mains and two deserts ):
Tomato soup with crusty wholemeal rolls and butter
Rack of Lamb with roast potatoes and vegetables ( the lamb was cooked to perfection ! )
Cheesecake with raspberry sauce and a bit of whipped cream
Coffee
No, I was NOT travelling on the Orient Express !
With me at the table a canadian couple and a single canadian traveller. We all had a very good discussions and surprise surprise I was asked about, you guessed it: Brexit. The canadians turned out to be very well informed about this subject and not like the various americans I met who are totally ignorant and to be honest simply naive.
Anyway: by the time we had finished it was getting dark and after a small excursion into the dome car to have a quick peek at the pitch dark sky I retired to my bed knowing it will be a very "moving" night and continuous sleep will be at a premium.
Good Night
If you want to follow me: Track My Tour or see some more pictures
