I awoke this morning to a very loud announcement making the second call to breakfast. When I raised the blind to look outside, I was nearly blinded by white. We were nearing Saskatoon in a snowstorm and the sky was nearly as white as the vast expanse of snow-covered Saskatchewan farmland.
We boarded the train at 5 p.m. yesterday after 48 hours in Jasper. Sunday, we rented a car and drove the Icefields Parkway along the Continental Divide through Jasper and Banff National Parks. We made a few scenic stops, including one at Lake Louise where skiers were crossing the frozen lake while teenagers played ice hockey. We had lunch and walked the streets of Banff Town before making the three hour drive back to Jasper for an excellent dinner at Evil Dave's Grill.
Sunday, Scott and I went for a cross country ski up Mt. Edith Cavell Road; Dad and Liz walked for an hour and returned to the trailhead to pick us up in time to shower, return skis and rental car and board the train. It was good to get the blood flowing before settling in for three more nights and two days on the train.
We signed up for the late dinner sitting and enjoyed drinks in our room as we watched the last of the Rockies go by in the waning daylight. My steak was melt-in-your mouth tender and the halibut was tender and flaky. I was eager for bed after getting up early three days in a row, but Scott stayed in the dome of the Park Car until after midnight, enjoying the solitude and quiet rocking of the train.
This train is much quieter than the first, with fewer passengers and a helpful but not overbearing staff. We made a brief stop during lunch in Melville for a train crew change. We lose the service staff tonight when we arrive in their home base of Winnipeg—too bad because we really like them.
This afternoon we get to sample Canadian wines and cheeses in the Park Car. The sun got really bright for a couple hours, but today has been a steady stream of white. It looks quite inhospitable outside!
