Train of Fools

Train, Train, Train...

The Second Leg of my trip home

10am

We depart for Toronto in the second train. This train is not as nice as the first one. Breakfast was a McCrepe and Hash Browns from McDonalds. It was wonderful. My friend Meghan is also on the train to Toronto, it’s such a small world

The woman across the aisle from me is speaking very expressively in French. It’s incredibly comical.

We have wifi on this train, which means that I could post up the first half of by blog. Now that Katie and I have internet, we are much quieter.

10:30

A direct quote from the father and son in the seats across from us

Son: “I really don’t like being in the same clothes two days in a row”

Father: “No, it really cramps your style”

I’m looking forward to seeing my Dad again.

10:45

That storm I saw coming in Drummondville seems to have hit us here too. I can barely see out the window. The train is moving much faster in Quebec than it was in New Brunswick. Katie has a theory that it’s because the soil is looser in New Brunswick, and it makes driving much slower. I’m not sure about this.

There is a refreshment cart on this train, just like on a plane. I’m not sure if this is good or bad.

Katie just tweeted me rather than speak to me in person, even though she is sitting right beside me. The internet can be such a curse sometimes.

11:11am

11:11, I made a wish. The snow covered scenery is back. It’s super pretty. We are almost in Cornwall and I’m super excited to be in Ontario again, it’s such a pretty province

11:23

We have been delayed for the past fifteen minutes waiting for another train to leave the station. The people are starting to get restless. Maybe there will be a coup

11:45

We’ve finally left Cornwall. There was no coup. This train ride is considerably less interesting than the other one. I blame then internet

12:15

I’ve officially been on a train for 24 hours. That is a very long time to be on a train.

12:21

Heading into Brockville. The father and son across from me are arguing over text messages. Father wants to send a message to his wife, son doesn’t seem to think that father can type on a phone. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to give up control over his phone. I’m very rapidly learning that technology ruins everybody.

12:39

The son across the way from me has been chatting with us throughout the train ride and using our computers for charging his iPod. In return he gives us candy. Momentary friendship of convenience? Don’t mind if I do!

Apparently Son’s sister hit a deer with Father’s truck. They are now going over the cost of repairs. Father doesn’t seem pleased.

12:50

The train is apparently broken. Sweet.

1:10

The train is no longer broken. The snow has turned to rain. Thanks Ontario.

Katie is balancing her moleskin on one finger. Apparently even the internet stops being interesting. This apparently is much more entertaining.

1:21

They came by to collect cans when I had garbage to get rid of; my pop can was still full. When they came by to collect garbage, my can was empty. I just can’t win

The closer we get to Toronto, the less snow is on the ground. I’m not too happy about this. I did however, see the first completely frozen over lake, and that was fun.

1:37

We’ve been stopped in Kingston forever. There are so many delays on this train. It’s the universe laughing in my face. The closer to home we get, the more delays there are

1:54

Katie just pulled out a mystery envelope full of cash. Which is not as fun as carrots because I don’t think she’ll share this time. Also the presence on Wifi on this train means that I’ve gone back to my regular habits of obsessively checking my email.

I just saw some Cows. Entire trip made.

2:05

We just stopped in Napanee. Katie loudly exclaimed that this is where Avril Lavigne is from. The entire train car just judged her taste in music.

The expressive French woman keeps switching places with her husband. Probably because he was giving us dirty looks.

We just went past a recycling plant. I loudly exclaimed that all the compressed plastic looks really cool. No word on how the train car judged me.

2:52

The Father just offered to lend us some old national geographic magazines to occupy us during the train ride. Adorable.

If the train is delayed 11 more minutes, we might get a refund on our ticket. I’m not sure if the ten minutes is worth it

The sky looks gross. I suspect there will be a blizzard. Katie hopes it will slow us down by 11 minutes

We checked the via rail website. They give themselves a 5 minute grace period, so in reality we need a 16 minute delay to get a refund. Katie is infuriated by this. She says that’s like promising them a gift under conditions you set yourself, then changing the conditions in a way that you hope will appear inconspicuous.

Did I say blizzard? I meant rain storm. There’s no snow here, we’re in southern Ontario! How could I have been so naive?

3:16

In coburg, driving past lake Ontario (?) It’s pretty, but I kind of miss the ocean.

According to via rail, we’re picked up six minutes. Even though we were delayed going into the station again. I guess there will be no refund.

The official sounding guy on the train says we are 40 minutes behind schedule. Now we really won’t get our refund.

3:23

Direct quote from a man on the train

“I don’t understand how a train can be late. There’s no traffic, no lights, no weather. It’s just pure incompetence if you ask me. Forty minutes late? That’s ridiculous”

Why don’t you try to drive the train buddy?

The Father told us a story about an 11 year old Russell Crowe in a tutu. That just sounds adorable.

I’m finding I’m not too concerned about the delay. When you’ve been on a train for 26 hours, an extra 40 minutes doesn’t really make that much of a difference

I just checked the weather for while I am in Toronto. It will be frigid and snowless. Lame.

MORE COWS!

3:49

Waiting to pull into Oshawa, there is a guy behind me talking about a giant graffiti tag and wondering how people would get it done without being caught. He is speaking like he has an intimate knowledge of the art.

There is a man behind me who keeps burping. It’s gross

Speaking of Graffiti, the tags on the cargo train beside us are pretty fantastic. They are my favourite part about cargo trains.

4:12

We’ve pulled into Guildwood. It’s on the GO Line. So we must be close to home. There is some snow on the ground, I have hope.

The sun is gold and setting behind some grey stratus clouds, it’s really pretty.

They announced that we’ll be there in 15 minutes! Yay! I’m so ready to get off the train and see my family

4:30

In Toronto! Finally I’m so happy. Now for sleep and food and family.