Rose and I were two of 800 passengers on a fully loaded one-day train excursion from Sault Saint Marie, in early October.
The fall colours were all there to see, fresh after two days of rain and storm, now under sporadic sunshine.
We flew in on Monday, walked the city and visited many sites in the pouring rain. Little did we realize it, but by nightfall, we were both wetted to the core and chilled to the bone.
Even a Canada Goose looked wet
We eventually returned to the hotel to warm up again.
Day two was cloudy, but no more rain. Again, we walked to get a feel of this very lovely northern Ontario city of 75,000, the centre of a large surrounding wild forest area.
We went to the Canadian bush plane museum - with many really old airplanes on display, even a Fokker Tri-motor, the same type of airplane that Adolf Hitler used to travel around Germany in during the 1930s.
A 3D movie about forest fire fighting really enlightened us.
Sault Saint Marie is the city where forest fire fighting by air started in the 1920s. The museum gave you a feel for how we, the people, treat forest fires.
All forest fires are not bad, they serve to refresh the forest and are needed, occasionally, every 50 - 100 years, or so.
What is not called for are the huge fires that engulf entire communities and do serious damage to the fauna. This is where Canadian fire bombers are now used all around the globe.
Helicopters as firefighters? The first one was bought in 1946 and served as the fire fighting director's observation plane for a full 25 years before being retired to the museum.
Oh no, a Casino.
A curse on mankind and a tax on the poor and the stupid?
Not this time, I wagered $ 50 and won $ 270 within the hour. At that point, I instantly cashed out and we left.
Part of that paid for an enjoyable dinner at one of the best restaurants in town that night.
Sybarites, are we?
Day three opened with sun and mixed clouds, perfect for fall colours.
The food for the day came from the hotel. The train left at sunrise.
The four hour train ride was very comfortable with many nice tourists to talk to. Most were pensioners with a sprinkling of "world travellers" working off their bucket list.
The vistas were supreme, mostly forest and lakes with very few dwellings to be seen.
Rose used her mobile phone
On arrival, I brought out the heavy artillery for some serious picture taking.
I was not disappointed.
We were back at the hotel to enjoy a quiet dinner at sunset.
Where are my photographs?
Here:
