Rocky Mountaineer

Sunday 8 June
Up again at 6.00 as we have to have our bags out by 6.45 to be picked up and taken to the train station across the road.  Bring one to follow instructions I do as we are instructed.  We are not having breakfast this morning, breakfast is provided on the train.  Anyway, with all our luggage gone and nothing inspiring on TV we decided to go downstairs.  Down there we find our bags & the RM representative, who checks us in - i.e. gives us a boarding pass and tags our bags.  She tells us to go across the road to the station and wait for boarding at 8.10.  Our bags are being taken care of and will be in Kamloops when we arrive this afternoon. 

Well, that is the plan, but as we found out shortly after leaving Jasper, plans do not always work out.  A once in a decade event has just taken place and there is a slip ( they call it a mudslide) on the road between Jasper and Kamloops.  So what? We are on as train.  Ah ha that is the problem, because RM plans to be super efficient and have luggage in room before we arrive, the luggage all goes by truck!  The news is that because trucks can't go through National Parks, the only way to get to Kamloops is via Calgary - a long, long way - about a 12 hour drive instead of 6.  End of story our bags should arrive about 10.00 pm.  Just in time to be reloaded for the onward journey to Vancouver.  The funny thing is that this only affects Gold & Silver passengers, as Red class were required to pack an overnight as their luggage was never going to be available in Kamloops!

Sooo, while we wait we decided to explore Kamloops and armed with a map we headed down to the river.  The good news is that the temperature was 27 this afternoon and a bit breezy. Pleasant conditions and enjoyable walk shared with English couple from Battle, who were part of our original 18.  On our way back met up with Christine & Peter from Timaru, talking with our Adelaide friends and we were then joined by another English couple from our train coach.  All in all quite a gathering.  Walked back to our hotel with Christine & Peter and had another hilarious meal with them.  The restaurant would have done Fawlty Towers proud.  A good cheap meal as we were not hungry after all the food on the train.

The trip from Jasper was a disappointment in some ways, as most of us had an expectation of snow covered peaks etc. somewhat similar to what we had seen from the coaches on our various trips.  This was not the case and really all we saw were more and more trees PLUS another bear!!!!  The food and hospitality has been great and I really think that we have to accept that the Rockies as such are all over  after Jasper and this is just a trip back to Vancouver, with sights as a bonus.  Christine & Peter confirmed that their view from Gold Class is no better - just higher priced trees ☺

Just to touch on yesterday, beautiful day again, great tour but ABC. We seem to have moved into canyon country now.  Saw some lovely lakes early in the morning before the breeze got up.  At one lake we got trapped in a wedding party at 10.00 in the morning.  There was a long causeway and the bridal party started at one end just before we arrived to cross back to our bus.  We didn't stay for the reception though.  Saw another black bear just down by the river, but he wandered behind a bush before we could get a photo.  Just a half day tour, so had the afternoon to wander, but after a long lunch with Christine & Peter, we wandered back to our hotel, waylaid by Led (92) & his daughter Christine from England, so very social afternoon.  Watched our train arrive in anticipation of the morning, had a spa on the roof of our hotel and had dinner at the same restaurant we had lunch and dinner in the previous night.  Great salmon!

Well we are fed & watered and it is currently 10.30, with no sign of our cases. The issue is now whether to just go to bed in undies and get some sleep or keep waiting.  Given that we have to be downstairs for our shuttle at 7.15 tomorrow, I think 11.00 will be our cutoff point.  So here we are, sitting, waiting, wondering.  Ah, tomorrow is another day and a new set of adventures as we arrive back in Vancouver.

Latest update - 10.45  1 out of 3 bags delivered, so at least we have nightwear!