Still Saskatchewan


Stardate 5/9/18. 
Boy this is flat country.  You can see that it is primarily wheat country, or we would be able to see that but the fields are all still brown.  Odd I am thinking.  On our trip to the Palouse to pick up Bryce, fields were at least 8-12” tall with wheat/lentils/what have you.  Green fields abound.  So why the brown fields.  Last frost date for Melville (an official city, even though its population is less than the ‘required’ 5000 to qualify) is 5/21.  Saskatoon?  June 1.  Too cold yet is the answer.  We were let off the train in Melville this morning for a quick stroll.  Defined as walking beside the train and realizing that the windchill puts the 45 degrees to about 30-35.  Brrr. 
We have been informed that while our posts are visible the photos are not posting.  The technology barriers are the likely cause.  I have been using my phone as a hotspot.  So will desist with posting photos until we have real WiFi.  So it may be of benefit to go back and look at photos again, once we can update the posts. 
Train population:  40.  Plus crew.  We will drop a bit more in Winnipeg.  The train length does not change because it is expected to be loaded for the trip from Toronto to Vancouver.  This makes it a quiet train, and we now are on conversational level with most.  Regarding Toronto, however, Lt Dan (who knows EVERYTHING, and in French too!)  says some will likely cancel as the departure time skews things somewhat and forces some cancellations.  The timing thing is a real problem, and the crew is well aware of it.  They are pulling loads of OT, and as the crew is expected to change in Winnipeg, and most live there, they want to go home, understandably. 
We have seen crews laying track, which suggests that the gov’t is trying to mitigate the problem, but it will take time.  

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