I'm not sure whether this day includes our 1:30 am stop in Winnipeg but we went out in search of wifi and got a good look at the interesting station and more. The train is running around 6 hours late due to all the freight traffic.
Winnipeg has some interesting attractions right around the renovated station. We couldn't visit any of them but are especially interested in the brand new Human Rights museum that is just about to have a grand opening. Two rivers come together near the station and their are a collection of attractions and activities there to explore. This is where another train goes up to Churchill where polar bear viewing is possible around seasonal ice flow formation. That trip takes several days and is on our list for a future trip.
We spent more time at the station in the middle of the night than expected but I enjoyed the stop and it was hard to say what time zone I was operating on then. It also provided the only chance to send messages to family and friends for several days.
Getting up at 8 am was more work as was keeping track of the time zone. We had breakfast with a reserved couple that had been married for 60 years and had some good stories to share. We went back to relax next but Laurie was soon off again for a few workshop. I continued to study the scenery going by the window. We are out of the plains and in Manitoba with many lakes, forested woods and thin soil with basalt rocks. The birch and popular are turning yellow and some of the ground cover is bright red. Hey, that was a moose in a lake with its head submerged. In many places the pole-like conifers look Kedest burned in some small to very large patches.
Lunch came early due to another pending time change, our third of this trip. Ron and Margo gave us tips on a Toronto and other places over lunch and they will be in Halifax while we are. They participate in a curling league that involves margaritas and we have been invited to come by for watching and drinking I think.
More rest with some napping after lunch as we catch up from our late night in Winnipeg. Laurie went back for more felt work and is learning quickly while she enjoys the company there. I'm back in an observation car looking for white Pelicans and enjoying cloud shapes. The discussion there focuses on the train running late, FOOD, other trips and similar chatter. Some folks prefer to knit, read, nap or lookout the windows. Often this is combined with moving around the train n looking for the right combination.
Tomorrow will be our last day on the train as we should reach Toronto at some point
but not in the morning as scheduled. This won't affect our plans much but will impact others that have connections to make.
Earlier today the shimmering sun across the frequent lakes ringed by birch, popular and conifers has provided post card type views everywhere. We crossed the Jack Fish River bridge where white Pelicans are sometimes seen but if you blinked you could miss it. I didn't. I also saw s lone kingfisher flying far out over a larger lake.
The dark rugged rock outcrops and infrequent bare areas starkly contrast with the forest, meadow and open waters that cover most of the landscape. It appears the soil is shallow at least in these exposed areas.
We had dinner with Ron and Margo who we had lunch with. They live in Victoria and volunteer to help ship medical supplies to other countries. We talked more about curling, pickleball and other fun things too. Ron is from Finland and speaks it as we saw when a waiter overheard and gave him the opportunity to demonstrate. We exchanged contact information in case we someday might travel to Churchill for a polar bear curling event! Dinner was another rich treat.
We ended the day reviewing the schedule ahead as we will move on to Toronto for a shorter visit as the train continues to fall behind due to heavy freight traffic. It will be good and necessary to move around more between meals soon but this trip continues to be FUN.
Laurie nearly had the Winnipeg station to herself late at night
A window view in the afternoon
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