Montreal to Halifax, VIA rail. July 15-16
On Saturday the Montreal heat was steamy. Claudine went to the market and picked up supplies for a picnic. We packed up and headed for Jarry park, about a 10 mimute walk away arriving at 11:30 just as the pool was opening. We picked a nice spot under the shade of a tree to set up. Rose loved the pool and enjoyed the water. The picnic was fun and relaxing. Stacy, a friend of Chris', arrived at the pool and sat with is for awhile and Rose loved playing "chase" with him. We headed back to the apt. around two so Bob and Chris could work on a few of the ongoing projects. A friend of Bob and I, Barb Clarke, who now lives in Montreal came by for a visit. It was great to see her. We ordered Indian food for dinner, which was lovely and a bit spicey. Nana bathed Rose and put her to bed. We sat outside on the front porch, enjoying the heat but made for an early night. I had trouble sleeping as it was too hot despite the fan in the room.
Sunday Rose was up just after 7. They were heading to a friend's cottage for the day so were leaving at 10. Nana certainly had a lump in her throat as she kissed, hugged and said "good bye" to Rose. When the car drove put of sight Bob and I went inside to the "quietness" and kept busy with some housework to drown our sorrows. We packed up our gear, loaded the bikes and cycled downtown to the VIA station. We were able to check in immediately as it wasn't busy. We also checked in the bikes but had to remove the panniers which we checked through as luggage keeping only a small bag which had our gear for onboard the train. Once checked in we were able to wander the downtown, malls etc. I found a pair of Clarke Privo sandals on sale which I donned immediately. We picked up some food for onboard the train and had something to eat as well. Next we queued for the train but discovered once inside the holding lounge that the train was going to be 30 minutes late leaving. Although it was a lounge it wasn't the sort of lounge Bob expected....non alcoholic. We did make good of the free juices though. Once onboard we found our car and "cabin"....my first time ever for booking one. It was cute, comfortable and well equipped and we settled in immediately. It was neat leaving the station and watching the tall buildings of the city fade away. I was tired and after we had a snack I was ready for bed. It was just after 9:15 !! The lull and slight sway of the moving train is comforting and puts you into an easy sleep. I was awakened after an hour to the sound of thunder and a great lightening show which lasted about 20 minutes. It is dark outside so you really can't tell where you are. That was my only disappointment of the ride as I wanted to recognize some of the places we had cycled through. I slept very well but would wake up every so often and look outside trying to figure out just where we were. The train can move along at a good speed and our seats were facing backwards so much of the landscape was a blurr. Dawn was breaking as we passed along the Matepedia river and through the valley, a scenic spot. At the Matepedia station those passengers heading for the Gaspe region switch trains and they depart heading on the opposite side of the river. Entering NB we switch our watches ahead the hour, Bob and I are up so we fold up the bearths and just sit in the cabin, enjoying our breakfast and Bob had found coffee at one of the canteen cars. From here the travel was on familiar territory, nothing exciting to see, so we read and I dozed, alot, must have been the lack of fresh air. When we got to Moncton I was looking for "maltmaster", who is an acquaintance I met on the internet a few years ago. We both play a word game and chat now and then. My mom and dad had met him as well and mom and maltmaster still play the same word game as well. Anyhow, Maltmaster (aka Fred Durette) is going to be driving the train from Moncton to Halifax. We connect to say hello but he is busy getting up to the front of the train so we don't have much time to chat. The train was late getting into Moncton due to the late departure from Montreal however we must have gained time with Fred at the helm because we arrived in Halifax at the scheduled time. We did get to see him and chat briefly while we waited for our bikes, panniers and tent which all arrived intact. It didn't take long to load bikes with gear and head off from the station and cycle through Halifax to Joseph Howe Drive to connect with the wonderful trail leading to Timberlea.
It was an 18 km ride to Trev's and we arrived just before 7. It was hugs and kisses for Jordyn who seemed quite excited to see us. Trev and Tam had eaten and cleaned up dinner before our arrival as they weren't sure when we would be there. Tam whipped us up a lovely meal in no time which we really enjoyed and appreciated as our bellies were empty. We played with Jordyn until her bedtime and I went to bed no long after. Slept really good as I never heard Trev get up to walk Sage (dog) at 6 or leave for work.
Jordyn was to start at her new daycare but was feeling out of sorts with a cold, so much to our delight Tam asked if she could stay home with us. I had called my childhood friend, Wendy, who lives near Trev to come over. When she arrived we called Jo-Anne and Bob who were home and they arrived about an hour later. We had a great afternoon around the pool with Jordyn being the centre of attention and seemed to be loving it!! Mike joined us when he got off work. Bob had picked up some meat, and Mike and I went to the market for veges. You can imagine the surprise Trev and Tam must have felt when they returned home from work to find a pool party taking place and their two year old in the midst!! We had a great dinner and sat outside ti 8:30 when the weather got misty. It was a great day, unplanned, and was such fun. Jordyn hadn't napped so was asleep within a few minutes of Tam putting her down to bed. A really pleasant day with great friends and family!!
On Saturday the Montreal heat was steamy. Claudine went to the market and picked up supplies for a picnic. We packed up and headed for Jarry park, about a 10 mimute walk away arriving at 11:30 just as the pool was opening. We picked a nice spot under the shade of a tree to set up. Rose loved the pool and enjoyed the water. The picnic was fun and relaxing. Stacy, a friend of Chris', arrived at the pool and sat with is for awhile and Rose loved playing "chase" with him. We headed back to the apt. around two so Bob and Chris could work on a few of the ongoing projects. A friend of Bob and I, Barb Clarke, who now lives in Montreal came by for a visit. It was great to see her. We ordered Indian food for dinner, which was lovely and a bit spicey. Nana bathed Rose and put her to bed. We sat outside on the front porch, enjoying the heat but made for an early night. I had trouble sleeping as it was too hot despite the fan in the room.
Sunday Rose was up just after 7. They were heading to a friend's cottage for the day so were leaving at 10. Nana certainly had a lump in her throat as she kissed, hugged and said "good bye" to Rose. When the car drove put of sight Bob and I went inside to the "quietness" and kept busy with some housework to drown our sorrows. We packed up our gear, loaded the bikes and cycled downtown to the VIA station. We were able to check in immediately as it wasn't busy. We also checked in the bikes but had to remove the panniers which we checked through as luggage keeping only a small bag which had our gear for onboard the train. Once checked in we were able to wander the downtown, malls etc. I found a pair of Clarke Privo sandals on sale which I donned immediately. We picked up some food for onboard the train and had something to eat as well. Next we queued for the train but discovered once inside the holding lounge that the train was going to be 30 minutes late leaving. Although it was a lounge it wasn't the sort of lounge Bob expected....non alcoholic. We did make good of the free juices though. Once onboard we found our car and "cabin"....my first time ever for booking one. It was cute, comfortable and well equipped and we settled in immediately. It was neat leaving the station and watching the tall buildings of the city fade away. I was tired and after we had a snack I was ready for bed. It was just after 9:15 !! The lull and slight sway of the moving train is comforting and puts you into an easy sleep. I was awakened after an hour to the sound of thunder and a great lightening show which lasted about 20 minutes. It is dark outside so you really can't tell where you are. That was my only disappointment of the ride as I wanted to recognize some of the places we had cycled through. I slept very well but would wake up every so often and look outside trying to figure out just where we were. The train can move along at a good speed and our seats were facing backwards so much of the landscape was a blurr. Dawn was breaking as we passed along the Matepedia river and through the valley, a scenic spot. At the Matepedia station those passengers heading for the Gaspe region switch trains and they depart heading on the opposite side of the river. Entering NB we switch our watches ahead the hour, Bob and I are up so we fold up the bearths and just sit in the cabin, enjoying our breakfast and Bob had found coffee at one of the canteen cars. From here the travel was on familiar territory, nothing exciting to see, so we read and I dozed, alot, must have been the lack of fresh air. When we got to Moncton I was looking for "maltmaster", who is an acquaintance I met on the internet a few years ago. We both play a word game and chat now and then. My mom and dad had met him as well and mom and maltmaster still play the same word game as well. Anyhow, Maltmaster (aka Fred Durette) is going to be driving the train from Moncton to Halifax. We connect to say hello but he is busy getting up to the front of the train so we don't have much time to chat. The train was late getting into Moncton due to the late departure from Montreal however we must have gained time with Fred at the helm because we arrived in Halifax at the scheduled time. We did get to see him and chat briefly while we waited for our bikes, panniers and tent which all arrived intact. It didn't take long to load bikes with gear and head off from the station and cycle through Halifax to Joseph Howe Drive to connect with the wonderful trail leading to Timberlea.
It was an 18 km ride to Trev's and we arrived just before 7. It was hugs and kisses for Jordyn who seemed quite excited to see us. Trev and Tam had eaten and cleaned up dinner before our arrival as they weren't sure when we would be there. Tam whipped us up a lovely meal in no time which we really enjoyed and appreciated as our bellies were empty. We played with Jordyn until her bedtime and I went to bed no long after. Slept really good as I never heard Trev get up to walk Sage (dog) at 6 or leave for work.
Jordyn was to start at her new daycare but was feeling out of sorts with a cold, so much to our delight Tam asked if she could stay home with us. I had called my childhood friend, Wendy, who lives near Trev to come over. When she arrived we called Jo-Anne and Bob who were home and they arrived about an hour later. We had a great afternoon around the pool with Jordyn being the centre of attention and seemed to be loving it!! Mike joined us when he got off work. Bob had picked up some meat, and Mike and I went to the market for veges. You can imagine the surprise Trev and Tam must have felt when they returned home from work to find a pool party taking place and their two year old in the midst!! We had a great dinner and sat outside ti 8:30 when the weather got misty. It was a great day, unplanned, and was such fun. Jordyn hadn't napped so was asleep within a few minutes of Tam putting her down to bed. A really pleasant day with great friends and family!!
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