Aug 18- Train Home Day 2
August 18 was a full day on the train. This morning we had a rare chance to sleep in, getting some extra rest after all our work and activities in Churchill and Wapusk. We got up slowly and ate a relaxed breakfast of fruit and the random leftovers we had in our cooler. We then continued to relax for the rest of the morning while the chronicling group finished up a series of informational interviews with several students, while the rest of us prepared for our stop in Thompson in the middle of the day.
Arriving in Thompson, we had to say goodbye to Junior Canadian Rangers Clementine and Isabelle, who had joined us on the train until we reached their stop that afternoon. After lots of goodbye hugs, we all walked over to an Indian restaurant called Chili Chat for a delicious (and very filling) lunch. Garlic naan, mango lassi's, and rice were passed around while we ate, and we all left happy with lots of leftovers to save for dinner.
Back on the train, we went straight back to our seats to digest. Some students continued their work entering data for later analysis, meanwhile others relaxed or napped as the landscape shifted from tundra to forest outside our windows.
After spending the rest of the afternoon relaxing and finishing up work, we came together in the cafe car to have the Indian leftovers for dinner and chat together. We ended up organizing a family game night: an Uno tournament played by the Rogers Family rules, which included many extra reasons to draw cards as well as a wild card that forced players to do pushups. We split into four game groups and the winners from each (Julie, Vicki, Jess, and Nia) progressed to the final. The championship ended at 11:20 PM with a count of 50 pushups, 2 instances where a player had to draw 8 cards at once, and a new champion: Jess!
Sadly, the evening also saw the departure of the last Junior Canadian Ranger with us on the train: Aralin. When our train stopped in The Pas, we had to say our goodbyes as our group became the Baltimore Crew once again.
Our train continued on into the night, bringing us closer to home. Tomorrow, we will ride the train to Winnipeg, where we will take the next leg of our journey back to Baltimore. With our departure from Canada fast approaching, we want to say another goodbye to the Junior Canadian Rangers back in Churchill and to those who came with us this far. Thank you for all the memories, and we hope to see you all again soon!
Miles & Ezra