Back to forests this morning, with lots of lakes, some of them huge. Have seen a number of lakeside cabins and boats and more beaver lodges on the small ones. There are a lot of dead or sick conifers like we saw in the Rockies. A beetle gets in and causes the damage. We were told that it is only killed by fires which will regenerate the trees.
We have continued to see lakes all day and very few roads. The train has to toot whenever it approaches a road crossing and we have hardly heard any toots. There are many many silver birches with their white trunks standing out against the green conifers and blue sky - yes, blue sky!
Another observation from the first few days of the trip (when I was too tired to write) relates to posing for photos. Once you’d just stand and smile but these days you have to strike a pose with the right angles and expressions for social media. Doesn’t matter if there are others wanting a picture at the same spot, you have to take lots so you can use the best one. I can’t tell you how stupid some people look, males and females, fluffing up their hair, trying different poses and faces, and not at all embarrassed about doing it in front of a crowd.
Later … The train had about a 20 minute stop at Hornepayne this afternoon and I was able to get off and have a walk up to the engine. At the last two stops I wasn’t game to get off because the step up on to the train was so high I didn’t think I could make it. It was about 27 degrees outside, a bit of a shock after the cool of the train. It’s actually cold in the dining car. I have no idea what it will be like in Toronto tomorrow. We are supposed to get in about 2.30 but they’ll have to make up the 2 hours we are now running late. We frequently have to stop and allow freight trains to pass and often have to sit for half an hour or so. This is a very busy railway!
I’m tucked up in bed for my last night on the train, having become an expert at putting the bed up and down. It’s really very cosy at night. Less fun trying to put shoes on to go down the way to the loo in the middle of the night but I’m even getting better at that.
Will hopefully be able to send this tomorrow night in Toronto.
Great to read you are back on line.
ReplyDeleteWe like your description of the posing for photos - made us laugh. It's almost as good as the toilet stories! It's good to be hearing from you again. It was VERY cold and wet for our last three days in Bright, but very pretty nevertheless and we had nice time. Found a Cafe on our last day with Spanish staff who helped me with some of my pronunciation!! 😁
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