The day began with a smoke haze around Kamloops but cleared as we went
along.
We left at 7.55am. All the Gold Class double-decker cars have been put
in the middle of the train, with the Silver Class single-level cars before and
aft. It is now quite a long train.
We had the first sitting for breakfast today. It was delicious. On the
way we saw some deer and long-horn sheep.
An osprey had a nest on a bridge, pointed out by out carriage hosts.
Now the countryside is a little like we’d see in outback Aust, except
for the occasional fir tree. We saw a number of bald eagles, sitting in tree
tops waiting to collect a feed. One of our group was able to photograph one
catching a fish from the water.
We are following the Thompson River. The train followed the sides of a
Black Canyon, through which the river flowed, so called because of its black
shale walls It is rather desolate-looking, very bare. It was in this area that
the Rocky Mountaineer was caught by fire only a month ago. The train knew, when
it left, that a fire was in the region but it was nowhere near the track and
not a danger. However it gained speed and was both sides of the track by the
time the train got there. The train got through safely but it was a worrying
time for all, and we saw how close it would have been.
We went through a number of tunnels and avalanche barriers.
We went over a long bridge and saw something swimming in the water.
Turns out it was a beaver, but by the time most of us had our cameras ready to
click away, the beaver had ducked under water and that was the last we saw of
it!
The Thompson River joined the Fraser River, but at the confluence it was obvious which river was which because for a km or so the waters didn’t mix. The Fraser River is glacial, so is colder than the Thompson, and is also carrying a lot of glacial silt, or flour. Eventually the waters became one.
For lunch we had the first sitting again, and as usual was delicious.
Our chefs are doing a great job! Most of us feel a little roly-poly now, with
no exercise to wear it off.
Of course the Rocky Mountaineer has a product catalogue, so most of us
bought items. We bought lots (it’s only money after all!), so the children will
benefit a bit (and perhaps drive their parents mad? Wait and see!).
Some of our group had been on the free alcohol so were a little active
after lunch. Unfortunately a few were a bit obnoxious, but others had fun with
a small boom-box speaker, dancing up and down the aisle. They also sang ‘happy
birthday’ to a few staff (we had done it for the chef yesterday who actually
did have a birthday), much to the bemusement of the staff concerned. After a
while they all settled down and we had some relative peace. Free alcohol not
always a good thing!
The ca host had a poem competition, and we heard four ‘entries’. A
Pommie guy won, having a dig at the Aussies. We all thought it was good,
though, so voted for him. He won the ‘Salmon Pin’, a special pin.
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| coming into Vancouver |
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| mini version of Sydney's harbour bridge! |
The Rocky Mountaineer staff have customer relations down pat. They all
line up and wave with big smiles and one waving their flag when the train
leaves, and they do it again when the train arrives at its destination. Must
say, it left a very good impression.
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| saying goodbye to us |
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| our suite at the hotel!! |
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| near where we will board the ship tomorrow |
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