Day 4 April 23rd Vancouver to Kamloops

dawn in Vancouver

the lobby at the Four Seasons

As we were warned, our first day on the Rocky Mountaineer started early with a 0500 alarm with our luggage being picked up by 0555 and us meeting the representative in the hotel lobby at 0630.  The Four Seasons hotel seemed very good but we did not have an opportunity to use most of the facilities.  We have a day there at the end of the tour and hopefully we will see more then.  A coach took us to the train terminal and we boarded by 0730 with a bit of a fanfare - piano playing, bagpipe playing etc. 



the Rocky mountaineer station

boarding the train

leaving Vancouver

a distant Mount Baker

The route out of Vancouver was rather slow but eventually we were clear of the city and could enjoy the mountains which were in the background.  We could see Mount Baker which was over 40 miles away in America.  The seats in the coach were very comfortable  and we were treated very attentively by the staff.  Most of the passengers in our coach were from Australia in an organised group and we were soon interacting well.  The train route followed rivers and there were some picturesque gorges and old bridges along the way.  We had a good commentary at all the important points.  Breakfast and lunch were served in the downstairs dining area which was below the domed glass observation deck where we spent most of our time.  The food was presented very well and the quality was very good. 


A river gorge

an original bridge

As we progressed we saw more local wildlife which made the journey even more interesting.  We saw ospreys on nests, a bald eagle on its nest, some wild deer and several groups of wild big horn sheep.  Eventually, about 1730, we approached our destination Kamloops which means meeting rivers in first nation language.  We can see where the rivers (now called north and south Thomson rivers) meet from the balcony of our hotel.  We have had so much good food on the train we decided to go to a local supermarket to get the ingredients for a plain snack.  This hotel seems very comfortable but perhaps not so luxurious as the one in Vancouver.  We have to have an early night again in order to enjoy tomorrow which again starts for us at 0500.

Christine's chicken lunch

 

chocolate brownie desert

 

osprey on its nest

 

wild deer

 

wild long horned sheep