For years I have wanted to ride the steel rails across Canada from coast to coast. Sadly this dream is no longer possible as the route became a financial liability and short sighted politicians were quick to dismantle sections before exploring creative solutions.
While trying to find alternatives to counting perforations in hospital ceiling tiles, I came across a 'Canadian Geographic' television program where hostess Valerie Pringle rode the rails from Vancouver eastward while chatting it up with vacationers and highlighting the incredible beauty of the land.
The tunnels, the trestles, the mountains, trees and waterfalls! Rivers and Rapids! CRT came to mind! Perhaps I won't be able to join you in a wheel chair but what a perfect way for Corfidians to celebrate Gord's 70th.
Crazy I thought. Perhaps so crazy that I'd be told to find a Boathouse on Lake Couchaching that had a short pier and take a long walk. But the idea persisted.
There are many more talented members of this group than myself who would be able to make this dream a possibility, but here is a start...
The passenger trains of the Canadian National Railroad (CN or CNR) are operated by the subsiduary called VIA Rail.
Their web site is not all that user friendly for asking questions of our complexity so I'll contact them by the 'snail mail' address provided.
Now don't let the following "ball park" figures scare you for several reasons.
(a) we would have some two years to save up for expenses.
(b) the figures are based on published individual rates and I'm sure we could negotiate a better deal with a larger group of travellers.
(c) This would for many of us be a trip of a lifetime as the train trip price would include sleeping facilities, scenic stops with incredible beauty, our own entertainment, a chance to strengthen old friendships and to make new ones. (sadly, like the railroad, many of us aging 'Corfidians' may not be around long enough to have another chance at such an adventure - and may God preserve Gord's health as well!) Take it from my personal experience. Life can change forever in an instant. Enjoy the moment to the fullest!
The highlight of course would be to see Gord in concert around his 70th and perhaps to present him with a heartfelt video of his most dedicated fans living out his tunes.
The most expensive one way trip from Vancouver to Toronto would provide a private sleeping room and would cost $1269.88 CND which would be about $1116 US. Now, before you call me as "loony" as a Canadian $1.00 coin, that would work out to $558/year or about $1.50 US per day. So, if you can give up your Starbucks double double extra foamy latte each day, you may well be on your way.
Now, the same trip (per person) but sleeping in an upper berth would cost $841.64 CND or about $740 US. That is $340 per year or less than $1.00 a day.
There are even other options and again, group rates might help us significantly. Hiring our own pullman car might be feasable if reducing costs.
Getting to Vancouver is yet another problem. Those overseas can calculate their own best deals.
Just for an example, a flight from NYC (JFK) to Vancouver could cost as much as $269 (taxes and charges included) for a direct flight or as low as $218 {charges included) for a flight with two stop overs.
As this coast to coast flight should be the most financially demanding, those on the west coast and in between should find deals proportional to their distance. (air prices quoted from Orbitz). Of course there will be the price of travel home from Toronto, the price of the concert ticket(s), accomodation while in town (Delta Chelsea's Lightfoot rate?) and of course food. Moose steaks, fried beaver tails, Canada Goose au jus (just kidding).
So, for probably less than two grand per person you could spend sleepless nights bouncing around the tracks in a snowy Canadian winter, or waste it on drinks with umbrellas served on some tropical beach getting sand in your shorts and developing a skin melenoma.
I started out sharing a dream. Never thought it would get this much interest. If it never gets further than this, it has been a blast dreaming about it while studying those ceiling tiles.
The late Canadian historian Pierre Burton wrote a two volume epic work encompassing the construction of the Canadian National Railroad. History that reads like a novel! So don't let the word "history" scare you.
Check out
'The National Dream' (1970)
'The Last Spike' (1971)
I'll keep you infomed as I get info.
Dream on!
Yuri
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