Rocky Mountineer Train - Day 2 - Kamloops to Banff, Canada

July 5 

We were picked up around 6:45 at our hotel and it was like military ops. All the busses were in communication with a central scheduling lady that told each bus where to go and park, checking number of pax etc. We got to hear all the chatter back and forth. One said I’m one short and I have waited do I have permission to leave? Another bus said they had the extra person, so it was OK. 4 people were left and what happened. I waited 20 minutes, and they were not there. They sent someone to get them. On and on. Then before entering where the train was each bus had to be in a certain position not to block another bus and make sure we all were next to the car we would board. They handled our luggage which was nice.

We had our same seats the second day of the train and in my opinion the scenery was more beautiful. However, it was absolutely polar in there. The staff said that the cleaning crew cranked the A/C down and forgot to set it back. They said it would take hours to warm up. (it never really warmed up) They ran out of blankets for everyone that wanted them. 

We also had the same staff in our car, and we were greeted and presented (cue Julia Child voice) the menu for breakfast.

waving to the train as it leaves

a deer in someone's yard

starter

Over breakfast we got our first sighting of the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies. We also were told history and other facts of what we were passing by. We all were watching out for elk, eagles, & bears.

French toast

scrambled eggs & salmon

Osprey nest with baby

Osprey Nest

bad eagle shot

Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven

Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven

Craigellachie, where the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven

We continued eastward thorough Rockies and the province of Alberta. Now we saw more ranchlands, along rocky lakeshores, over high mountain passes and through the remarkable tunnels that form part of the rich rail history of the Canadian Rockies.

Highlights of the journey was the climb over Rogers Pass & the Kicking Horse Canyon

starter

short ribs

salmon

Finally, we entered the famous Spiral Tunnels – ascending slowly, round and round through the darkness, until, blinking, you emerge to find yourself high in the Canadian Rockies, surrounded by high mountain peaks.

lemon tart with berry compote

Since we were so late and were missing dinner, the chef had put together a cheese and crackers plate

the glaciers and snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies

alongside of the tracks

almost got photos of the elk - there was a lady out of her car alongside the road and she was creeping up on the elk to get a photo. (they kill more people than any other animal in Canada) There were quite a few of them close to the train, but not on our side of the car

room at the Elk & Avenue Hotel

It was a long day, and we were at least 2 hours late. We got in before 10:00 that night after being bussed to the Elk & Avenue Hotel where we would spend 2 nights.

Roy and Rondi (friends from the last world cruise) were waiting for us in the lobby with a bag of cheese curls and cokes for us, which was our dinner that night. They said they would have brought sandwiches if they had known we hadn’t been fed. They live in Alberta about 2 hours from Banff but made the drive and spent a few days. We had a jam-packed schedule, but we did carve out time for a couple hours for lunch with them. They are also on the 2023 WC so looking forward to seeing them again there.

Anyway, Greg made it to the mini-market in time to pick up some sinus meds for me just before they closed, and it was late to bed and of course we had an early morning tour.

Tomorrow we are doing a cruise on Lake Miniwanka, the Banff Gondola and an Evening Wildlife tour.

For larger photos: Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Banff  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2yGeSVpkGsp9ycd27