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I'm embarking on a train-related writing retreat, heading out today, and returning home on Monday. Like another trip, back in 2018, I'm going in a bit of a circle: VIA's Canadian (in coach) from Toronto to Sudbury Junction, Ontario Northland bus from Sudbury to Ottawa, two days in Ottawa to attend Can*Con, and then VIA Rail from Ottawa to Montreal. On my final day, I board VIA again, to ride from Montreal back to Kitchener. Except for the stretch between Kitchener and Toronto, there will be no doubling back (or, at least, no substantial doubling back) over roads or tracks I've taken before on the trip.

Back in 2018, I did a perfect circle, riding VIA Rail from Kitchener to Montreal, Amtrak's Adirondack from Montreal to New York, then the Crescent through West Virginia and Kentucky to Chicago, then Amtrak to Detroit, the Tunnel Bus to Windsor, and VIA Rail back to Kitchener, via London. It's become harder to accomplish this trip in the years since, as the Tunnel Bus is no more (but may be replaced by a private venture), and where there used to be two trains linking London to Kitchener, now there's only one. No late evening arrival from the west for me.

Why a circle trip? Maybe it's a means of packing in more value: more new scenery per mile travelled. Or maybe it's just the challenge. Another challenge is to make this trip on ground-based public transit only. No private cars. No airplanes. No ubers. Except I did take Waterloo Taxi to get to my early GO Train from Kitchener.

I could talk about how rushed and inhuman plane travel can be, compared to the leisure and restfulness offered by the train, but really, I've said that my transit trips are like long walks with assistance, and so there's value to me in keeping my feet to the ground.

See you in Sudbury tonight, then in Ottawa and Can*Con this weekend.