From Jasper to the Coast - 27 July



The trip, which should have been overnight 26/27 July started at about two in the morning on the train.
We were on the train until Kamloops (where we arrived at about 0900). From there we
were loaded on busses and proceeded to Vancouver from there. There are two main routes
from Kamloops to Vancouver - one follows the Thompson River to the Fraser river
(at Litton) - the other takes a more direct route. The view as quite nice, but would
have been better from the train, as you are completely in the valley for most of the trip
on train. On the other hand, had the train been on time, we would have gone through
this part of BC during the night...

Picts of the Thompson/Fraser Rivers (the right hand pict is of the Fraser - all the rest are of the Thompson)

At noon the bus stopped at Litton for 30 minutes at a Chinese restaurant. One would have expected that
Via would have given instructions to its staff to ensure that their passengers were fed; unfortunately,
they had not. The staff were quite embarrassed and tried to contact the management to no avail - there is
little cell reception in the middle of the coast mountains. We were the only ones to take
advantage of the stop to eat at the buffet. The rest of the passengers wanted to go to someplace more
upscale and wanted to depart quickly. We had started eating on the basis of the stop being
30 minutes and, unfortunately, the rest of the passengers were somewhat put out that they had to
wait for us. There wasn't an easy stop until Hope (at 1400), and by that time the passengers were getting
peckish (to say the least). The staff still had no victualing instructions for the customers. They held
an impromptu vote to decide whether we should stop for coffee, etc... We ended up stopping in
Chilliwack for 15 minutes, then it was on to Vancouver - we arrived at about 1600.

We rented a car at the station and proceeded to New Westminster - I would have thought the rush
hour traffic in Vancouver would have been bad, but it is easier that traveling in Ottawa in our rush
hour.

Joan and I went to Abbotsford to pick up my bike up on the 28th - it arrived in good condition...
The weather here is hot (low 30's) and riding with the leather jacket is warm to say the least...

We are staying until July 30th (to visit grandaughter & family) then Joan and Liz fly to Edmonton, then back
to Ottawa. I start back the same day on my bike....

Bike trip back to follow...


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