Dec 3rd – 9th Train tracks leading us home

It was an exciting evening as the Tundra team boarded the train scheduled to leave Churchill at 7.30pm. Leading up to our departure, we had a final blast of Churchill fun as Belinda (Tundra Inn owner) gave each of us a ride on her snow mobile. By the time it came to Dean and my turn she was cold and ready for a break therefore handed the machine over to us. The sun had already slipped below the horizon so we took the trails somewhat lit up, around the back side of town keeping within the city limits. The temperature was minus 20 degrees Celsius and the stabbing pain in our frozen hands and cheeks made for an unbearable spot of fun. We zipped along the snow trodden trails and soaked up the thrill of this wintery night.
Eventually we all gathered at the train station to say our farewells to the nutters that were staying. Once aboard we each found a seat keeping in mind that we would be on board for 48 hours (two days and two nights).
Dean had a grand set up when he journeyed up here by train in early June. With my added suggestions and techniques (me being the one that doesn’t sleep all that well even in a bed) we had the perfect seat by day and bed by night in economy class.
It was a long train ride, particularly when we stopped for four hours in The Pas at 11pm in the evening. We were all up, not yet sleepy and since we had four hours where we could potentially be off the train we decided to make the most of it. Sunday night is a little slow in The Pas, however we eventually found some action. A billiards bar was open for business and we were up for a game of pool and a pint of beer, followed by pizza from the pizzeria next door. By 2pm we ready to be tucked up in our train-side beds and be on our way again.
It was a relief to see the city lights of Winnipeg, and just as we were getting our hopes up that the train would arrive on time, we came to a complete halt and remained so for 90 minutes. There was an electrical malfunction which needed attending to. It was a restless time. Finally we pulled into Winnipeg, collected our luggage, squeezed it in a taxi with an agreeable cab driver and landed at the doorstep of a nearby hotel. It felt like we were home, at least halfway home.
The following day we were truly home when we arrived at Winnie, our neglected home on wheels who sat like a fridge, cold and unattended to. She started with ease, was warmed up in a jiffy and after a cup of tea with Deb and Reid whom were kind and generous enough to take care of Winnie since mid-June, we were on the road again.

Gearing up for Christmas we decorated Winnie, with only one decoration - the most important one :)

We had a few chores to take care of in The Peg: Insurance, BCAA, mechanical touch ups which we did at Selby’s Truck Services, yep Len, the same fella who took care of us last December. In fact when we called to book an appointment we mentioned that we were in his shop with our Winnebago last year which he vaguely remembered. It was when Dean mentioned the Albatross on the roof which we used his shop to wrap it and secure it on the roof, the light bulb went on. “Ahhh, you guys, hi, great to hear from you, yeah come on in, I’ll have some time to do a few checks ups”.

Six hours later our oil was new, the two front tires were replaced and a few other odd jobs were taken care of. We were just about ready to say ter-ra to Winnipeg.

I had a meeting set up with Ivan and Angela, the editors and film makers who are working on the documentary Soul of the Sea. Dean and I joined them for a glass of wine, we viewed the latest version and offered feedback. It was necessary that Ivan and I worked on some narration which we planned to do the next morning. It was easy for Dean and I to remain parked outside their house, head to our home for the night and rendezvous the next morning to complete the narration task.
By 10.30am all was completed and with a travel mug filled to the brim of our hot beverage favorites we were literally on our way.
It felt so good to be on the highway, sitting at a comfortable, conservative speed of 95km/hr, frequently being passed by trucks and numerous cars. We had no time restraint and no destination, it felt like pure freedom. And Winnie was running like a dream.
It was freezing! Thank heavens for our newly hung curtains which separated the main body of the motorhome to the driving compartment. Even still I wore 3 pairs of socks, two down jackets and ski pants over my thermal trousers. Fueling up was a task we wished we did not have to do. While standing at the gas bar fueling up, our hands and cheeks stung and throbbed as the well below 0 temperatures nipped and stabbed at our skin.
814 km were covered on our first day, we just kept on driving and it felt great. By 11pm we had the stove on, dinner was just about ready and Manitoba was well and truly behind us. We spent our first night in Swift Current with plans of making it to Banff the following day.
However…..
We were delayed by a Snowy Owl. In fact five Snowy Owls!!!! We were absolutely blown away.

A great white bird caught my eye as it flew along the side of the road. Dean identified it as a Snowy Owl so my wish was to pull over as soon as I could…not easy in a 30ft motorhome with trucks on ones tail. By the time I had safely pulled over to the shoulder we were 600 meters away from where the Owl had landed and perched itself on a hydro pole. Dean and I agreed to do the following maneuver. What one does when wanting to take a closer look at one of the most staunch-like and beautiful birds of prey.
I slowly and carefully reversed Winnie along the shoulder of the Trans-Canada highway for the entire 600 meters. The photos will tell you that it was well worth the effort.

One after another we saw perched on a pole and each time we pulled over and every time the individual allowed us to view it as it showed no fear. At one stage an Owl flew directly in front of us, flying low and landing along the side of the road, so close to the road which made me nervous. Even as trucks sped by and shook our motorhome, the Owl remained stationary unperturbed by the traffic.

We dedicate this part of our journey to the Snowy Owl and have re-named this section of highway as Owl Alley.

All this stopping and starting wasn’t appreciated by Winnie. The timing was strange when our first breakdown occurred. It was soon after I had sent a few text messages to friends and family letting them know that we were only one province away from British Columbia and that Winnie was running superbly, that the alternator fan belt completely snapped off. And it happened right at dusk – the bewitching hour we had named it after all the breakdowns that occurred at dusk on our previous journey last year.
And even though we had spares and Dean knew exactly how to install it, the spares we carried did not fit. They were a touch too small or a yard too big. I called CAA and asked if they could simply deliver the right sized fan belt. They could only assist us by tow to the nearest town. Ugghhhhh!!!
The tow truck arrived and the driver offered to take Dean into Brooks, a town only five minutes away from where we sat, to buy a belt. Fifteen minutes later Dean was back and seven minutes after that the engine was running,the tools were stowed and we were on our way again.

By the time we arrived in the Calgary region it was already 8.30pm and both Dean and I were ready to call it a day. Another delicious meal was prepared on the stove and as I write this our bed is being warmed by two hot water bottles, a new addition to the ‘most important items aboard’.
Tomorrow we will make our to Banff and visit friends for the day and stay for the evening. Both of us are looking forward to entering into our home province and enjoy the scenic jaunt through the Rocky Mountains.