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Published: February 10th 2006
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I am homeward bound
Three hundred and nineteen days
To circle the Earth.
Six hours of sleep, contorted on a two seater train seat. I'm surprised that I actually feel refreshed after a big stretch or two. I guess the excitement of getting closer and closer to home has helped. It is currently 06:34. No idea where we are since it's still really dark out and I can't see a thing except the outline of various trees.
Hopefully we made up some time last night so that we're not too far off the time table. Oh hey, there's water and mountains to the right. I should switch seats...mind you it's still dark out. Never know what scary things I might see. haha
Hey, is that a ferry out there?? I do see some cars driving but not too many other lights. It'd be nice to know where we were but at times like this can you find a train attendant? No!
According tot he schedule, if we were on time the last stop before pulling into Vancouver at 07:50 is Matsqui/Mission at 0504. Wow, it takes almost 3 hours to get from Matsqui to Vancouver by train? I didn’t realize it was that far. Especially since at the present moment the train is going quite "fast" for Via Rail standards. Perhaps once we're in the ‘burbs of Vancouver the train will really slow down.
Now all I see at 0641 is a bunch of farm land. In the distance it looks like hundreds of white sheep are in a field but as we get closer it's just what I think are hay bales wrapped in white plastic...hey, that's what you get when looking at things in the dark!
I guess I'll start in on my breakfast. I have found some great "staples" of food that are good for you to eat on a long train ride. Here are some musts you should pack if wanting to avoid the expensive food choices offered by the train. Fruit (lots of it), a bottle of water (always refillable onboard the train), a couple of fruit juice boxes (just to mix it up if you're tired of drinking water), seasoned tuna packs with crackers (for a bit of protein), chips, cookies, a bit of chocolate, pop tarts (make for an easy and awesome breakfast), sugar snap peas (these make for a great crunchy snack and also go towards the "5-10 a day" that I haven't been getting. lol)
Ohmigawd! It's pouring rain outside. Hopefully it'll die down by the time I get into Vancouver. I'm so excited to surprise everyone. Being the long weekend and with my luck everyone's gone away for the weekend. And as Margaret pointed out, I'll get arrested trying to break into my own house (I don't have the key on me.) and the neighbours won't recognize me because it's been a while. lol
Man the train is going at a snails pace at 0727 through the industrial areas...Patullo Bridge Industrial Park. I'm not joking when I write I could probably run faster than the train right now and I really dislike running! But hey, at least I'm getting closer to my final destination.
Oh! I see the Alex Fraser Bridge in the distance! This is the first major landmark that I recognize. Mind you, travelling through the industrial areas makes it tough to see much else. Plus it is really cloudy, grey and wet so there isn't much to see in the distance. lol No! Not another stop. Phew, just for 10 seconds and now we're rolling again. I guess slower than slow is better than full stop...this is almost torture...We must be more than 15 minutes away because nobody has come around to make that "We'll be there in about 15 minutes" announcement...To add to the torture, the smelly old guy (go brush your teeth!) decides to try and strike up a conversation with me. I employ my, "I'm not too interested in the conversation without being too rude" tactic and it works after a couple of minutes. Phew!
Oh, we're in warmer climates again since I see leaves on trees unlike when I was in Winnipeg and Edmonton. lol
07:41. Announcement from the snack bar that it's last call for the take out and we're 40 to 45 minutes from Vancouver station...the longest 45 minutes of my life! haha Okay, not that bad but it sure take a long time...
We’re in Burnaby right now. I see the McDonald's on Willingdon. Not too far away now! It’s about time to pack up and be the first one off of the train. Well, actually there's no point in that since I have to wait for my checked bags to come out. lol
Now we just passed McDonald's on Boundary. Hmm, once I see the McD's on Terminal I'll know that we've arrived at the station. lol Geesh, McD's sure has been a good marker for me. lol Mmm, Big Mac. haha
I'm getting excited and anxious...no not for a Big Mac! It’s literally minutes before we get to the station now...
I see BC Place and Science World - is that a rain jacket on Science World? What 08:19 and we still have about 15 minutes to our station stop...doh! So slow! We've stopped but now I see the train is backing up. It's been at least 8 minutes and counting now. Did they miss the station? lol
08:35 The eagle has landed! Finally!
08:38 False alarm. We're moving again. Forwards and back. Make up your mind! It's driving me crazy...
0844 The eagle has landed for real this time.
Geesh, if I had known it was gonna take this long to get into Vancouver Station I would have asked to be let off at the Skytrain Station in New West and I would have paid the $2.25 to take the Skytrain home. It definitely would have been faster. LOL
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Robyn
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Fun story Bonnie!