Wow – It’s disheartening for me to see that I have not written in my blog since July 2023. Yet many of you are still reading! You can’t imagine how thrilled and grateful I am to still see so many visitors to my Site. Thank you!
Life must have really gotten the best of me, these last 8 months.
One day turns into the next, another week goes by, months and seasons whiz by on the calendar and next thing you know, your next vacation is coming up in a few months.
Our family too struggled with some parental health issues and the passing of our step mother in Sept 2023.
With spring here, longer days of sunlight and blue skies, my emotional health is lifting. Maybe too, I experienced some depression or seasonal affective disorder. I have not been diagnosed, but I certainly felt the effects of either. More time in bed, less time outside, not as much reading or colouring or crafting as I was prone to do. No blogging either…..
As I type this, I’m sitting at my local library branch, waiting for an hour, until I can head to our local pool for a swim. The best place to be to put words and thoughts to “paper” is inside a HUGE ROOM filled with books and words!
My next post, will detail how I accomplished Sandbanks Provincial Park Beach and my attempt to swim at Tobermory’s Singing Sands Beach. You’ll understand what I mean, when you read that post.
In July, I head to Vancouver, British Columbia, where I will swim at Long Beach, Tofino, on Vancouver Island.
Alas that will be my final Canadian Beach, as well as my last long journey with Via Rail. Yes, I’m travelling for 4 days on the train. I’m feeling rather melancholy about this trip, but I can also look forward to feeling the joy and sense of accomplishment of completing my 10 Canadian Beaches swims! Yahoo!
As I wrapped up this portion of my whirlwind East Coast vacation, I was very excited about the River Cruise I would embark on tomorrow. I’d never been on a river boat cruise before and with the goal of doing one in Europe in 2023, I figured I could get my sea legs on one in Canada that would also stay close to the shore.
My suitcases were packed, water bottles filled, hotel bill paid and taxi booked for transport to the Via Rail Station in Truro. I packed my casual hat and donned my pretty train/boat travel hat, which I bought recently and specifically for the boat cruise.
In my eagerness to “get going”, I got to the station at about 11:30 am and planned to sit and relax inside until my train departure at 1430 that afternoon. Well upon arrival at the station, the doors were locked and the lights were off. This station would not open until 13:00.
There I sat outside, with my suitcase, carry on, and my little lunch bag. Nowhere to sit and no Tim Horton’s close by to get a coffee. So I waited and I waited. Finally at about 12:30, a Via Rail employee turned on the lights and opened the doors. Relief and gratitude, as I now also needed to visit the restroom.
This return train trip would bring me to Montreal at 10:00 on Thursday morning. A 2 hour lay over and then I would continue onto Ottawa, with an arrival time of 1400. The marina is a 20 minute cab ride from the station and boarding would commence at 17:00.
At 13:30, we were advised that the train was delayed in Halifax and our scheduled departure time of 1430 was pushed back. The train finally arrived at 1530. I boarded and was taken to my Cabin. My attendant invited me to the dining car, as lunch was still being served. I was so grateful, as I had not eaten since early this morning and needed some sustenance.
I returned to my cabin to relax and freshen up a bit and then made my way to the lounge car, to meet the other passengers.
I opted for the 2nd sitting of dinner and made my way back to the dining car at 2100 for my evening meal. The quality of these on board meals are top notch and is one of the reasons I choose to travel in the Sleeper Car Class. I enjoyed a Merlot with this meal and then made my way back to my cabin. My bed had been turned down and a fresh bottle of water had been left for me too.
By Thursday mid morning, it became apparent that the train would be delayed in its arrival to Montreal. Now I started to panic. All my planning and researching were for naught. Via Rail has a heat protocol in place which dictates how fast they can travel, on steel rails for a continuous stretch of travel time, when the air temperature rises above a certain degree.
All I could do now was wait and tick off each city station as we arrived and departed. I did not have a contingency plan in place. I either made it to the marina before departure or I did not. With little else to do but read and watch the landscape from my cabin, I made the first of many calls to the office of St. Lawrence River Cruise lines. The kind and pleasant administrator connected me with the owner, who immediately reassured me that the boat would wait for me, regardless of what time I arrived at the marina. He gave me the cell # for Trevor, the Purser, so that I could keep him abreast with any updates.
Finally we arrived in Montreal, I missed my noon connection to Ottawa and sat in the business lounge until the next train departure. I cancelled my Economy Fare ticket and was provided a Business Class seat at no extra charge.
After a quick snack of peanuts and wine, I took advantage of the complementary meal served in Business class. Even though I would still get another meal on the boat later in the evening…..
I arrived at the marina just after 630 pm. I was Covid tested and then brought to my stateroom. I was here! The staff were all so courteous and kind and I was grateful to be onboard.
It turns out the boat had to wait for a few other passengers who were also delayed. One couple traveled from South Africa! and had missed their flight connection! They finally arrived on board and we started our cruise.
Suffice it to say, I had quite a few starts and stops on this trip:
The fear that Via Rail employees would be on strike,
the first train delay to Truro, due to heat,
the cancellation of my return Ferry trip from PEI to Nova Scotia, due to the engine fire onboard,
the subsequent journey to the Confederation Bridge, in order to get back to Nova Scotia,
then this train delay.
These delays were minor inconveniences yet I still got to my destination safely and was able to enjoy this whirlwind vacation.
I cannot imagine what all of those other travelers (internationally, domestic, transborder) had to endure during this same period. in both Canada and abroad – with flight cancellations and delays, with lost luggage etc. I can only hope that when I plan my European River Cruise from the Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland, all will go well and I will be safe.
As is so typical of me, I was awake before the sun came up and eager to get on the bus to start my vacation. The house was in order and my felines would be cared for by my neighbour.
My trip on Via Rail, would depart from Toronto Union Station at 11:30 am, by 10:15 I was already at the Station with coffee in hand and sitting in the lounge chatting with other travelers.
The first leg of the trip would be in Economy class to Montreal Central Station. It’s a five hour trip and as I’m prone to travel sickness, I always get a window seat. The train was packed as so many other Canadians were just as eager as me to be able to travel anywhere!.
Alot of the passengers on this car, would be travelling to the East Coast, in Economy class. I’m one of the lucky ones – I will disembark in Montreal and switch to the Sleeper Car for the overnight journey to Truro, NS. I can’t imagine, sitting in these small seats for another 19 hours and having to purchase a la carte meals from the attendant. As well as having to get up constantly to use the facilities.
We arrived in Montreal around 17:00 and I made my way to the Via Rail Business Lounge, where I could stretch my legs, have some refreshments, and wait for the priority boarding call to be escorted to the Sleeper Car.
This is my stateroom for the trip.
Turn down service while I enjoyed my dinner with a glass of red wine.
And the views – hands down – spectacular!
The weather during this trip was quite hot and humid. As such, Via Rail had a heat protocol in place, which prevented them from travelling at excessive speeds. To reduce friction on the steel rails, our travel time took a bit longer. We arrived in Truro late the next day at approx 6:30 pm. I hailed a cab for the 10 minute ride to my hotel and checked in. The evening was warm and calm, the sun started to set, I sat outside my room with a coffee and gave thanks that I had arrived safely in Nova Scotia.
Tomorrow I pick up my rental car and make my way, via Ferry to Prince Edward Island.
The duration of this adventure would be 17 days – starting on the Sunday with the overnight train ride to Truro, NS and ending in Kingston on Wed. Aug 3 before heading home on the train and the bus. Within the 17 days, I would take a trip on a ferry, that I had never done before, I would get up in the saddle again, after 30 years, I would conquer one more beach and I would explore more of the beauty and natural sites in these 2 provinces. Instead of flying back to Ontario, I once again would board the Via for the return trip to Ottawa.
All in all, these short 8 days would be filled with a host of interesting activities and excursions and swimming, eating, driving, wine consumption and sleeping etc.
Following are some of the activities I planned for, based on the myriad of options from all my travel/tourist brochures:
Day 1 – arrival late afternoon, in Truro, check in at hotel, dinner, swim in the pool,
Day 2 – travel day from one province, Nova Scotia to another, Prince Edward Island, by way of rental car and ferry across the Northumberland Strait (a mere 90 minute sailing ). Then an hours long drive to my motel, Lighthouse Beach and Motel, in Souris. My home for 3 days.
Day 3 – While here, I planned to have lunch at Dalvay by the Sea, a National Historic Site recognized by Parks Canada, perhaps a visit or two to some local Lighthouses, a stroll through Greenwich Park, PEI National Park, #PARKSCANADA,
Day 4 -a local touristy day in Souris and a swim or two, at Sheep Pond Beach, a 5 minute drive from the motel.
Day 5 – travel day back to Nova Scotia by way of Ferry, with a stop in to New Glasgow, NS to check out the Roseland Theatre, #ViolaDesmond.
Day 6 – I booked a horse trail ride in Parrsboro and would stop in to the Fundy Geological Museum, there too.
Day 7 – a day spent on Cape Breton Island, to visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and maybe a few waterfalls, that I found from my brochure research.
Day 8 – today would be the day to swim at Martinique Beach! Followed by dinner at a local sit down restaurant.
Day 9 – my final day in Nova Scotia – a day to play the local tourist and explore all the beauty and sights in Truro.
Day 10 – cab ride to the train station for the overnight trip to Ottawa and the next part of my adventure- a 6 day river cruise along the St. Lawrence River from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario.
Thank you for reading and for letting me share.
Come back again, would you? More stories to follow on all my experiences from this fabulous 3 week adventure.
With the River Cruise booked and budgeted for, it was time to source hotels in Nova Scotia and PEI, as well rental cars, activities, excursions, train schedules and ferry crossings.
First I booked my hotel in Truro, NS – the #WillowBendMotel. I had seen their ad previously and knew this was the hotel to stay at. Locally owned and operated, 10 min taxi ride from the Via Rail station and 10 minutes away from the local rental car agency. Plus they offered a complimentary breakfast as well as an outdoor heated pool just steps from my room.
For my stay in PEI – I decided I would visit only the Eastern portion of PEI – Eastern Coastal shore. Again, I found a locally owned and family operated motel in #Souris, #Lighthouseandbeachmotel. Perfect! Their nightly rates were reasonable and they also offered complimentary breakfast as well as a beach a 5 minute drive away.
Next- book the Ferry trips from Caribou,NS to Wood Islands, PEI and then back again.
I had called #Northumberlandferries in March and was told to check back in June, as Transport Canada had not yet approved their sailing schedule. Oh dear! I worried – making these bookings a month before my travel dates. What if they didn’t have any more space on the ferry for me and my car?? I would discover later, these ferries are MASSIVE!! You’ll see for yourself in my later posts about the mammoth “ships”.
Next – book my train travel – I planned to book in late April or early May to optimize any discounts and savings offered. Keeping in mind, all the train trips had to connect with one another- Toronto Union Station to Montreal Central Station in economy class, then disembark and wait for the next leg – Montreal to Truro, NS in a sleeper car.
However, already in early March, cabins were already being booked and I no longer had too many options available to me. Keeping in mind, I had to plan all this travel around my booked river cruise sailing dates – depart from Ottawa on Thursday July 28 at 5 pm with arrival in Kingston on Tues. Aug. 3.
So, by mid March, all the train travel was booked. There were no single person staterooms available, so I had to book a cabin for 2. At least I would have some more space and an extra bunk to keep my personal items on/under.
The return train trip was now also booked – departure from Truro, NS on Wed July 27 and arrive (just in time) in Ottawa on Thurs. July 28 at 2:30 pm. Perfect!
Stay tuned, as I share how I went about planning and sourcing all the places I wanted to see and visit, including Martinique Beach in Nova Scotia.
Single Older Woman - Living Life Passionately 