i am thinking a bus trip to calgary in july. i will be travelling alone. has anyone any feedback about the trip, how to spend the time (tv on the bus?) where do we eat? are we allowed a beer on the bus? any ideas would be helpfull. i would rather drive but the gas prices will kill me. it is only $225 for round trip for the bus
bus ride out west
- Thread starter doinker
- Start date
Wow. That is one freakin long bus trip!
I predict you will hate the idea when you get to the prairies.
I predict you will hate the idea when you get to the prairies.
I'm sure you've already researched it but what is the difference between the bus and VIA or flying?doinker said:
Freight trains are fun. Jump a unit. Third or forth one back is better. Just don't touch anything. Some Quebecois boarded my unit one time somewhere in Northern Ontario, and i'm not sure what they pushed or pulled because I was sleeping (you sleep a lot of units, something to do with the motion it has a narcotic effect), but whatever they did, the effect was thoroughly negative, the unit went dead quiet in the middle of nowhere wilderness. The big engineer (they're all big, its the motion and the effect on their glands) that came bursting thru the narrow unit door grabbing the immensely huge steel wrench weighing about 15 lbs was extremely pissed, ready to kill actually. Watch out for it.
Lucky there was an empty coal car a few back...lol.. now that is a very low class way to travel.
Pack lots of survival type food, some sterno, water and a good bowie knife or two. You'll be fine. Make sure you deboard before the big cities ESPECIALLY Winterpeg, real nasty CP police there, no forgiveness whatsoever, Regina is more relaxed. Scenery is spectacular, take a wide angle lens...and whatever you do, never ever crawl under the cars of a stopped train. When the units move, they jerk the line forward..u can be cut in half in a second. Roll forward in a summersault when you exit.. 10 to 15 clicks is safe provided there are banks..toss the napsack first, then go for it. (Never at a crossing.)
You'll make the Calgary yard in three days, and the cost is zero plus the clothes you wear. Burn them.
Lucky there was an empty coal car a few back...lol.. now that is a very low class way to travel.
Pack lots of survival type food, some sterno, water and a good bowie knife or two. You'll be fine. Make sure you deboard before the big cities ESPECIALLY Winterpeg, real nasty CP police there, no forgiveness whatsoever, Regina is more relaxed. Scenery is spectacular, take a wide angle lens...and whatever you do, never ever crawl under the cars of a stopped train. When the units move, they jerk the line forward..u can be cut in half in a second. Roll forward in a summersault when you exit.. 10 to 15 clicks is safe provided there are banks..toss the napsack first, then go for it. (Never at a crossing.)
You'll make the Calgary yard in three days, and the cost is zero plus the clothes you wear. Burn them.
Yah... Take the train.
I did the bus to Thunder Bay years ago. Horrible trip. I can't even imagine all the way to Alberta.
Did the train twice to BC. A million times better then the bus.
P.S. If you get caught with booze on the bus they will kick you off. And it won't matter where you are. Smallest little town in the middle of bum fuck no where is of no concern... you drink, you are off the bus.
I did the bus to Thunder Bay years ago. Horrible trip. I can't even imagine all the way to Alberta.
Did the train twice to BC. A million times better then the bus.
P.S. If you get caught with booze on the bus they will kick you off. And it won't matter where you are. Smallest little town in the middle of bum fuck no where is of no concern... you drink, you are off the bus.
doinker said:
Sure, you can take your beer on the bus. Only problem is, if the driver catches you with it, you get evicted immediately. Then you have to ask yourself, there in the middle of northern Ontario, do you want to share your beer with the bear down the road
goodtime
Travelaholic
goodtime
Travelaholic
You can do it for less than $225 if you split the driving cost. Great way to experience Canada. One of the most memorable roadtrip.
Don't miss Jasper or the Columbia icefield.
Don't miss Jasper or the Columbia icefield.
goodtime said:
Thx. There were incidents from that trip more fun but one sketch is plenty for here.. I skipped the part where the 5 welfare bums from Montreal's south shore turned and went back after the big angry engineer, a bear of a man, with their knives peeled out just seconds later... down off the ladder, beside his dead engine, he stood his ground firm, his right arm hefting the big heavy railroad wrench high in the air. They considered it, then backed off. A nasty cowardly bunch but he would have beat them all with just his wrench. And I would have been forced to help him if necessary.
I didn't need to be traveling by freight of course but it was more exciting than the Greyhound for sure. Its a good motto. 'Life be in it.'
danmand said:
I proposed the same idea several years ago on TBD Van, although the party was at Christmas and was West to East. It was a good idea then, and its a good idea now. The theme was, the gals board the train at each stop, lined up in advance of course by special invitation. Its a fun fantasy. We'd need to book the train. We could invite Maher, Moore, Cheney, Bush and make a "who done it" film.
danmand said:
i.c., well sure, warmer weather is required then. Fairmont? I more lean to the Marriott chain. You have a special deal? We could have a stretch limo pick us up at each yard. This might not work for White River...ah well, breeze on thru to the lakehead.
Check with a company called 'toronto driveaway' by 411 bell info. They're located in toronto and they sometimes have cars going to points out west. They pay you just enough to cover most of your expenses, so the trip doesn't end up costing that much. I did it twice to florida, and it was alot of fun.
P.S. they have trouble finding people who want to go west, so they might look forward to helping you out.
P.S. they have trouble finding people who want to go west, so they might look forward to helping you out.
Similar threads
