On the Train to Churchill
Today we board the train to Churchill, but it doesn't leave until noon,
so there is time to do some sightseeing.
Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Center features a large restored prairie
marsh used by a large number of migrating birds. We didn't see many
while there; they must have been having breakfast in a neighboring
farmer's fields.
We boarded the train to Churchill in Portage La Prairie, which is about
50 miles west of Winnepeg. The route taken by the train goes to west
into Saskatchewan before turning northeast to Thompson, then west and
finally due north to Churchill. Traveling by train from Winnepeg to
Churchill is a trip of 1055 miles, althougth it is only about 620 miles
as the crow flies. The train trip takes about 45 hours.
Our accomodations for the daytime was a private bedroom with its own sink and toilet.
While we were at dinner, the porter set up the room for sleeping; the
bunk beds came down out of the wall and out of the ceiling. It was
1950s technology - crowded, but functional. Having our own private toilet in the middle of the night was a godsend.
The Roadtrekkers got together for a "on-train" happy hour to consume
food and beverages left over from the happy hour in Warroad.
Don't they look happy? Especially Dave with his box of wine!
We got off the train in Wabowden to board a bus for some sightseeing.
We reboarded the train in Thompson, which is about 70 miles away. This
excursion was possible because the train lays over in Thompson for
about 5 hours.
Pisew Falls, which is roughly halfway between Wabowden and Thompson.
A huge mural of a wolf on the side of a ten-story apartment building in
Thompson. Thompson, with a population of about 15 thousand, is the
third largest city in Manitoba. The highway to Thompson is paved, but
beyond this it is only gravel, and then no road at all.
Wolf sculptures are the dominant art form in Thompson, reflecting the
far northern latitude (55 deg north), and the float plane is the preferred method of
transportation in the area.
Our tour of Thompson took us to this curling rink, where our local tour
guide explained the basics of the curious sport of curling. He then
gave us the opportunity to try throwing a curling stone. Here Janyce is
showing us how it is supposed to be done. It is not as easy as it
looks; after releasing the stone, I lost my balance, tumbled on to the
ice, and finshed it off by crawling to get off the ice. It is really
slippery.
After a second night on the train we arrived in Churchill, where it was
slightly above freezing, but very windy, and snowing.
Touring Churchill