SASKATCHEWAN

DAY THREE – Rivers – Saskatoon – Edmonton

A new day dawning. By now I had given up hope of doing any work. Not even pretending. Computer shut in bag. Forgotten. I was merely staring out the window and or chatting. It is possible to do both but absolutely nothing else. Unless you’re eating. No, really, you can only have two activities. Eat. Talk. Or ogle.

Someone saw a moose at breakfast! Wildlife enthusiasts fogged up the windows with their breath and after some nice views went by without so much as a sheep, started chatting again.

There is little to see in Saskatoon near the train station. Some of us bravely stepped out during our ‘Fresh Air Stop’. Many containers stacked nowhere near the sea.

Conversation with a couple of missionaries who had just completed thirteen years in Vietnam. All they wanted was a decent coffee. We chatted amiably as we strolled along the empty streets of Saskatoon but sadly their coffee hopes gave out before they returned to the train.

At breakfast an elderly widower of eight years (that’s how he put it) who had kept this trip on his bucket list for years confessed he felt dissatisfied somehow. After intense investigation from this author he finally admitted it wasn’t luxurious enough for him. The room was beaten up. (If it really had lasted from the fifties it wasn’t too bad, surely?) I’m super happy in my surroundings – almost art deco curves and angles, solid metal, tough frames and tough coverings, smooth lines rolling over so there’s no sharp edges.

Activity officer took us through the Prairie talk, explaining grain elevators and the useful leafcutter bees.

Talking about the weather, she remarked that if you can’t see your barn, it’s a snow day. That means you don’t have to go to school.

ALBERTA

At 04:47 a lot of stopping and starting. Again with the attempt to photograph the Supermoon.

Met Joris from Brussels, an art archivist with an adventurous mind and a drive to explore. He intended to walk around Vancouver Island. We found we had both travelled on the TransSiberian at different times though he’d been lucky enough to have the Russian train with the samovar. I had the Chinese train with the coal fired boiler.

In the Bublé car, cameras stretched over neighbours to catch the best views. I beg your pardon. De rien. We saw some birdlife, a fox and some cows. Nature red in tooth and claw. Time drifted.

A partial eclipse of the moon as we sat tight in Edmonton. Trains had to be rearranged and rewatered. Train number Two had priority. We were there three hours. There was nothing to do except watch a beer tasting with our activities officer. Late comers drifted in one by one and we had to watch her scoot back and forth to fetch each one her tasty offerings. (She didn’t want any help. Insurance probably.)

I decided the moon would be best seen from the Prestige Bublé so left the drinkers to it and hightailed it down to the caboose. Place empty, checked for internet and found son Felix had left a rare message. He had been awarded his degree! Master of Cultural Materials Conservation! WOOOOT! Rang immediately and had a great chat, thrilled to hear his relief and pride in his recognition. He’d realised he was now free to follow his bliss whereever the next thing would be. So proud of his persistence.

After an initially sleepless night, tossing and turning, we got moving at midnight. And THEN the driver was rough and jerky, either in a jagged rush or a newbie uncertain of the capabilities of the vehicle?

Joni Mitchell knows everything.

Just Like This Train by Joni Mitchell Lyrics