I did make it to the top of Whistler’s. With more than a little help from the tramway. The last 600 feet were left to me. More than enough for my vintage body.
I did not do lunch at the top. I did do a KitKat bar. Back at the hotel I polished off the leftover chicken, tomatoes and avocado. Then I napped.
Tomorrow at 1730 it is back on the train. This time it is three nights and two days. Hope I have this whole train thing down. I have booked a sleeping “coffin”. Six feet three inches by three feet.
I was missing Mr C this evening. Found Canadian football on TV. Turned on football and it is like he is here!
I shall have my lunch on the top of that mountain tomorrow if the goddess is willing. No, I haven’t completely taken leave of my senses. There is a tram that goes almost to the top. And a bus that goes from town to the base station.
Today, I went on a tour on the back of a Harley. Great fun. The outfit was a little over the top. But I loved the electric vest.
Then I headed out on foot to find big horn sheep. Found no sheep. Got hailed on. Sure sign that I should spend the rest of the day on the sofa.
Woke up early and headed for the Dome Car.
It was a long train. 23 cars and 2 engines. I was in car 2. Right after the baggage car. They insisted that I take a golf cart to my car. I must have been looking really old!
I enjoyed a late breakfast and mostly looked out the window.
Got to jasper on time. Hiked to the hotel. Then went to the grocery store. This place has a kitchen. Got veggies, a chicken, some bagels, lox, and cream cheese, coffee, cream, yogurt.
View from my room at the YWCA. This is not your mother’s YWCA. One did not have to be young, woman, Christian or a member. The vending machine in the lobby sold KitKat Bars, wasabi peas, cup of noodles and condoms.
I went to Stanley Park and the aquarium. Not as good as the Chicago aquarium. But great exhibits from local waters.
After a little rest, then went to Granville island. Where the have a great market and lots of upmarket craftspeople. Splendid.
July 29 – on the train at last. I’ll do more with this on later.
Dawn’s early light in Spokane.
Finally got on the 1845 train at 2357. Hey, it was the same day! The train was supposed to get to Seattle well before noon. Giving me almost four hours before my Amtrak bus left for Vancouver. And the train ran out of food. Break out the Emergency Rations.
That is what coach folks got and a bottle of water. The sleeper people got a slice of processed cheese on a biscuit, a couple of strawberries and a juice box. The sleeper folk seemed to think we got a better meal.
The closer we got to Seattle the more it looked like I would just miss my bus. I was going to miss it by 10 minutes. But, Amtrak held the bus for me! Got to Vancouver on time. It was still daylight and I was able to figure out the Sky Train and find the YWCA Hotel without any trouble.
All is well that ends well. It was a fine sunny day and everyone in coach was a happy train rider. No worries.
After breakfast, oatmeal, I went on a little bus tour. We went on a little boat ride and “hiked” out to this nice water fall.
I had a cookie and coffee for lunch and will have an early dinner. Now, I do not need to eat early to get on the 6:45 pm train. Last time I checked the 6:45 had become the 8:48. Last night, the 6:45 didn’t arrive until 1:34 am. But it did get here. It didn’t go back to Chicago.
Back to eating today’s special is trout and I want to get some before it runs out and I end up with a veggie burger again.
I think it is nap time. This is why I am buying an extra hotel day.
The east bound train was 8 hours late. The west bound train went back to Chicago or something. It fell off the radar. It isn’t coming here. I am supposed to be on that train tomorrow at 6:45 PM. And my cell doesn’t work here. It should be interesting. Intrepid Little Old Lady Traveller may be in a pickle.
Well, just about everyday is laundry day. Today the Intrepid Little Old Lady Traveller is taking the day off. After eating everything in sight for breakfast I went on a modest four mile stroll to help giggle the eggs, hashbrowns, and toast down.
A hostel was having a yard sale of “left behinds”. Since I have been almost cold a couple of times, I picked up a sweater. It needed washing. I washed it and hope it gets dry before I train up tomorrow.
Today’s trains are 6-8 hours late. Doesn’t bode well for tomorrow. Tomorrow starts off with a morning bus tour.
East Glacier Park is inside the Blackfeet Reservation. The casino is in Browning about 15 miles away from here. I guess the elders want to keep the money close to tribal HQ so the can watch it. But, it means no sales tax. A $68 hotel room costs $68. This is a good thing.
Yes, I went on a little (6.82 miles according to the nano) hike up the Mt. Henry trail. There was a sign telling me that I would most likely be eaten by a bear. Sign said to shoot the bear as a “last resort”. OK.
Didn’t see a bear, black or brown. No sign of a bear either. Most dangerous thing I encountered was horse shit and a muddy pawed beagle.
Washed out my duds in the sink and artfully arranged them around the room to dry – which they did.
Had big breakfast. Skipped lunch. Veggie burger for dinner.
I am seriously impressed with the capabilities of the iPod Touch as a computer/phone replacement where there is wifi.
Continuation of iPod Empire Builder Notes. Tuesday July 24.
Pinky sunrise somewhere in ND thru a diry window.
0545. Somewhere in North Dakota. Awake. Pinky dawn.
0615. Sainthood for whoever invented the Wisp. You so don’t want to brush teeth in train potty.
0645. Seatmate still sleeping. Smell bacon. Saw a deer bouncing thru field.
0725. Coming up on Devils Lake ND. About 90 minutes late.
0756. Breakfast coffee and Luna bar. In lounge car.
0830. North Dakota is starting to get lumpy.
0836. Rugby ND. Cloudy today.
0937. Had a little nap.
My guess, This guy is not from North Dakota.
0900. Mountain Time. Nice stop in Minot. Had a nice walkabout. And it was state fair time.
0930. Road construction. Railroad that is. Sun is out.
And oil. Lots of oil.
0945. Approaching Stanley ND.
1049. Williston ND. Sleepy again. Had 3/4 of the Panera bagel and cream cheese that I bought yesterday.
1205. Well into Montana now. Looks like ND.
1230. Wolf Point Montana No more oil wells. But bigger farm stuff. My seatmate got off.
Ah, living large! No seatmate.
1300. Sagebrush. Horses.
1315. Ft Peck Indian reservation.
1333. Glasgow MT.
1350. Bathroom report. There are 66 passengers in this car. Well maybe 55 right now. There are 5 little airplane style restrooms. They are still remarkably clean. And one larger dressing room with more room. You really could fluff yourself up nicely. And it had its own restroom. Guess where I just was!
1445. Malta MT. Wetlands. Redwing blackbirds. And sheep. Still about 90 minutes late. That’s ok.
1525. On a siding in Dawson Montana waiting on the east bound Empire Builder to come thru. Finished the kindle book I was reading. No cell signal.
Lower Level of Lounge Car has tables and a person who sells coffee. She sells microwaved burgers and candy bars too. She gets boxed chicken dinners in Harve.
1625. Hanging in the lounge car. Will get off the train in Harve.
1655. Harve. Stuck on train while it gets gas. Then they will let us out for a smoke. “Just tobacco” they said. Thank goodness for the smokers. I love getting off the train. We are over two hours tardy now. Box chicken dinners are put on the train here. Think I’ll get one. Need some real food.
Main attraction of non-smokers is the Ice Cream Vending Machine. All the regular Amtrak riders seem to know about it and make a mad dash before their favorite frozen treat is gone…
1756. Just finished off my box dinner. Food wise it was just so-so. But satisfaction wise it rocked. A Montana bento. Maybe in 3 hours I’ll be in Glacier.
1845. Shelby Montana. Home of 3 or 4 grain elevators and darn little else.
Grain storage and windmills
1915. Windmills. Lots of them.
1930. Cut Bank. A little drama just by my seat. Two sleeper ladies stop the room service delivery person how can they get their ” free” dinner since dinner is running late and they are getting off where I am. Room service lady says lots luck. She was running late too. Don’t have those problems in coach. You just have to be in line for the chicken boxes in time. Mountains starting to show up.
Edge of Blackfeet Reservation
1950. Horses standing around in friendly little family groups.
2030. East Glacier Park Station – still lots of daylight.
Made it to East Glacier Park at about 8:30pm. Not too tardy. And it smells great. All piney crispy cool.
But you had to get past a lot of wheat to get here.
