Sudden Death

[Clanad]

How did Captain Hook die?

Jock itch...

[237SJ]

Hi Clanad, sorry to change the subject. I`ve just been looking back at a link you put up from fodors when I asked about the train from Toronto to Vancouver. I`m going next week. Fly into Toronto, a night at the Fairmont, train to Vancouver and fly straight home. I`d better get my thermals out!

[Clanad]

I hope you'll enjoy the trip! The descent into Vancouver out of the Canadian Rockies is something to behold... truly awe inspiring. Wish I could say the same for what precedes it across the area around Winnipeg... endless flat fields. It would have been a little better in late July or early August when the grain fields are ready for harvest.

They're not that far north of us and two weeks ago we had -22 (F) a couple of nights and we just had an "Alberta Clipper" blizzard that dumped 10 inches of snow with 50kt winds... several drifts are eave high.

Welcome to the U.S. (honestly though, PPT would have been a better choice.)

[237SJ]

I`m not bothered about the time of year Clanad. Got a half price deal on the train and I never take leave in late July or August. No chance of getting on a Toronto at that time of year - the flights are absolutely rammed. Last time I did one of those in the summer, we left 35 staff behind.

[Clanad]

That's about a 3 day, 2 night trip... are you staying onboard in a sleeper or off loading and staing in non-moveable quarters?

[237SJ]

It`s 4 nights on the train Clanad. We have got a 2 berth sleeper. I don`t think I would do it if I had to sit in a seat for 4 days. Should be fine. I`ve got my ipod and loads of books.

[237SJ]

BTW, I can hack 4 nights in a sleeping birth. Ever slept in the bunks on a Jumbo? :-) It will be luxury

[Clanad]

Good for you, 237SJ! I sincerely hope you enjoy the trip. (I see I welcomed you, mistakenly, to the US... so let me re-phrase (to avoid offending the patriotism of our northern neighbors) Welcome to North America!

You know how Canada was named, right? Early on the government was searching for an appropriate name for the new nation. Decided to hold a raffle contest and the winner would pull scraps of paper out of a box, each with a letter of the alphabet imprinted... time came, the honoree began pulling the letters... after the first one, he looked at it and said "C, eh?", after the next, "A, eh?", "N, eh?"... well, I'm sure you get the point. The Canadians absolutely cannot end a sentence without the national motto of "eh?" (ot sounds more like "A?"). A very friendly and welcoming people... much more atuned to their recent migrant past than we are here in the U.S. I know quite a few Captains for Air Canada, most with a military background...

Again, enjoy! Blue skies...

[Clanad]

Lastly... (really) to bad you won't have a little time in Vancouver, 237... You'd have a fine visit to Lion's Gate Bridge and Park as well as a tour of Gastown and an interesting stroll to all the shops, smells and sounds of Robson Street... Vancouver is one of my favorite cities...