Chill and damp does put one in the mood to prepare to sail south on Thursday.
And then there are the “theme nights.”
One of the evenings is “80s Night.”
I am entirely prepared for that.
I am 80s.
OK. Got that covered.
So now:
What about a “Summer Adventure”?
How am I going to escape DC and 47?
NASCAR? Cage fighting? Who knows.
I consulted ChatGPT, AKA Robot.
Robot suggested Victoria, BC.
Sounded reasonable to me.
Then I discovered that VIA Rail had a solo sleeper cabin available on The Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto on July 6.
These cabins usually sell out a year in advance during the summer.
There was exactly one available.
I wanted it.
That is when the fun began.
First, I had to log into the VIA Rail website, which I had not visited in years.
Password reset.
That should have been my warning sign.
Then my credit card was declined.
GRRRR.
Immediately, emails began arriving informing me that my card had been cancelled. Excellent.
So I launched an assault on Citi.
First chat. Then phone.
At one point, I may have yelled: “F-you!” at the automated phone system.
The automated phone system responded by hanging up on me.
On the third attempt, I finally reached an actual human being.
Important life skill:
Do not yell at the human.
I immediately switched to:
“Oh, I am so sorry. I am sure this was entirely my mistake.”
After five attempts, the human finally managed to force the charge through.
Oddly enough, I think the breakthrough occurred shortly after I said:
“Thanks for your help. I’ll just use another card.”
And now, dear reader, I am the proud owner of a Vancouver-to-Toronto VIA Rail solo sleeper cabin for July 6.
For the record:
The ticket is 100% refundable up until departure.
Most likely plan:
-
- Fly to Seattle
- Ferry to Victoria
- Ferry to Vancouver
- Train to Toronto
- Fly back to DC
I last took the Canadian in August 2012, also traveling east.