Planes, Trains and.... busses

We're barely home and someone invariably asks, "Where are you going next?"  Ironically, we usually have an answer of some sort. 

NOVEMBER

Just as soon as we were back from the Epic Journey in October, we were already planning November.  That involved Dave going to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Partners Worldwide Summit and then following up with a visit to our family in Sioux Lookout.  I joined him there and we spent a couple of weeks helping with childcare as Katherine had gone to Zanzibar on vacation with a friend, and Devon was working his usual shifts.  All the flight arrangements were like a house of cards.  If you remove one, everything collapses.  Other than a few hours of delay here and there, it all came together.

Dave at the Partners Worldwide Summit

Hanging out with our family.

As I said in the previous post, we were birds, not snowbirds.  We stayed home all winter long.

MARCH

In March we made another trip to Sioux Lookout, in time to celebrate Elliott's 5th birthday.  To change things up a bit, we flew to Winnipeg and then took VIA Rail the rest of the way. The price was competitive with the busses that run from Winnipeg to Dryden. The bonus though was that VIA stops right in Sioux Lookout, only a few blocks from where our family lives.  Unfortunately, VIA has a reputation for being notoriously late as freight trains take precedence on the track. We were going for the adventure. 

Going there was a night train so we didn't see much.  It left Winnipeg, at midnight, on time, but we were barely out of the station and then we sat on the siding for almost an hour waiting for the freight trains to pass.  It's not easy to get comfortable in Coach even though we each had a double seat and thus we didn't sleep much.  Morning came and it wasn't long before we pulled into Sioux Lookout - only about 1 1/2 hours late.  After greeting the grandkids and having breakfast it was nap time - for us, not them.

Sun's up and Sioux Lookout is just ahead.

Sioux Lookout Train Station

We had a wonderful time with the grandkids, building memories and enjoying all their antics.  They grow and change so quickly.  

The return trip was a day time trip, leaving at about noon and arriving in Winnipeg in the early evening - again about an hour behind schedule.  Train travel is relaxing and quite enjoyable.  We could wander up to the dome car, buy some snacks, and people were interested in talking to one another.  A couple of people were heading to the JUNO's in Edmonton.  Others doing the whole cross-country tour.  One gentleman was reading The Last Spike by Pierre Berton.  How appropriate.

Union Station in Winnipeg

With train travel one is advised not to make tight connections and so our flight home wasn't until the next evening.  That gave us a full day to visit family in Winnipeg.  It was different being there without our own wheels so, for old time sake, we got reacquainted with the bus system! Thankfully, the weather was agreeable for waiting at the bus stops, and with the web-site we could time our travel so not to wait too long. But to be sure we arrived on time, we took a cab to the airport. 

Now that we're home again, we're making more summer plans.  It won't be a long epic journey this time but a series of shorter camping trips, heading off in all directions.  Literally.  Stay tuned.