August 15
Our train wasn't leaving until later in the evening, but we needed to be checked out of our room. It was a rainy day, and the first break in the heat for several days. The first break in the smoke as well. We weren't really sure what to do with ourselves with all that time on our hands, and all of our objectives completed for this trip. We drove out near Cape Merry to watch the whales in the river. Very soon afterward, we both fell asleep in the truck. That answered much of our question.
With some time still to run out on the clock, we drove around a last little bit, had a bite to eat, and eventually made our way to the train station. It was still closed, and wouldn't open until shortly before it was time to start boarding. Again, we waited.
Finally, the station opened to a crowd of people headed south, and we were able to check our bags and find the seats that would be our "home" on the train for the next few days.
The train seemed a fantastic way to start the trip, as I mentioned, it now seemed like an awfully long ride back. Anyone reading this, I encourage you to experience the ride up, but be maybe find another, faster, way back.
August 16 - 17
Once again, we enjoyed pizza in Thompson on the 16th. The next long stop wouldn't be until The Pas late at night. I was sleeping when we pulled in but was startled awake by a loud banging sound. As the sleep cleared my brain, I was no longer sure I'd actually heard it. I decided to wander down the train to stretch my legs. When I arrived at the dining car, a couple of the rail staff, one from our train, one from the railyard at The Pas, asked me if I had been woken by the banging. So, it was real. I said yes. They told me a group of girls had climbed the train and ran its full length on the roof before running away. Life in a small town. I was told that The Pas could get dangerous too. After a while of chatting with amazingly friendly people, I returned to my seat and went back to sleep.
August 18
We at last rolled into the train station in Winnipeg, happy to finally be off the train. We gathered in a corner where the checked luggage would be released when we heard a sound familiar from our last visit here... The fire alarm. Once again, we were forced to evacuate the building as the person from VIA Rail attempted to convince us that this almost never happens. We weren't convinced.
Eventually, after half of the Winnipeg Fire Department had responded and checked over the building, we were allowed back in. After some time the carousel started and our baggage finally appeared and we took an Uber to our hotel. This is where things got... interesting.
As flawless as this trip had been to this point, I feel the law of averages had to catch up. When we arrived at the hotel, we were informed there had been a problem with our reservation, and rather than the room with two queen beds that I'd reserved, they only had a room with one queen bed and they could put a cot in for me. I refused. I asked why this situation had happened, and was informed vaguely that there had been a problem. I could see that. But it seemed more to be their problem than mine. After getting his manager, they offered us two rooms with single queen beds, and would give them to us for the same price as the one room I had initially reserved. Now we were getting somewhere.
We spent the rest of the evening, enjoying the company of fellow guests in the lounge before calling it a night as our flight was to leave early the next day.
When we arrived at the airport, the law of averages continued to balance itself out. Our flight was delayed due to heavy rains and flooding in Toronto. Our delay continued throughout the day. I had purposefully booked my father's return flight to Nova Scotia the following day to avoid him having to rush if flights were delayed. This situation, however, was pushing our arrival time dangerously close to his next-day departure time.
Finally, we were able to board and with a tiny shred of luck, the gate we arrived at in Toronto would be the very same gate from which my father's connecting flight would be leaving. He didn't have to rush anywhere, which worked out well as he had less than an hour before boarding time. We exchanged our farewells and I continued on to the baggage claim area and on to meet my wife for the drive home.
This was the end of a rather epic journey. It was a trip I'll never forget, seeing things I'll cherish forever, and of course, time spent with someone important in my life.
