My Trip through the Rocky Mountains

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 3, 1 July 1922, Page 125

My Trip through the Rocky Mountains

We left the Ferry buildings, San Francisco, and crossed the Bay in the ferry to Oakland; here we were ushered into our train "Shasta Limited" by the negro porters (who wait any length of time for the inevitable tip). Once seated, we looked around wondering where on earth the beds were coming from, but it was not long before we found out. We .were sitting for about three-quarters of an hour, when to our surprise we found the train had run into a huge ferry, and the whole coneern was moving towards Benocia, a small township on the northern estuary of San Francisco Bay. Before long the night shadows came down, and then our eyes opened to the whole carriage converted into a sleeping-car. Upper and lower berths with curtains down in front, making a long passage through the middle of the carriage. The next .morning we were in Oregon and making our way to Washington. It is quite a scramble for people to dress in the small dressingroom provided at the end of the carriage. During the day we went into the observation car, which has big padded chairs, magazines, etc., a carpet on the floor and great big windows at the end of the open space where you can see the whole of the track as you travel along. Nine o'clock next morning we arrived at Portland, and as we had a wait of 1J hours we left the train and went up the town, had some refreshments at a pretty bungalow room which looked like a Japanese garden, and arrived back just in time for the train again. The train wended its way up the Columbia River, which looked pretty with the lights each side shadowing the water. Next morning awakened to find ourselves in Seattle, Washington. We went into town for breakfast, afterwards looking round the city, taking the elevator to the top of the S. C. Smith building, fortytwo stories; this gave us a general idea of the lay of the town. After 2-J hours in Seattle we went down to the steamer for Vancouver. Tt is a very

pretty run up Puget Sound, and we enjoyed immensely the stop at Victoria Island. There are some lovely residences, and quite a number of retired army men live here. We had time enough to motor round to the various parts of the city before boarding the boat for Vancouver. On arrival, out* passports were examined (for the second time), and we were allowed to land. We had two days in Vancouver, and stayed at Vancouver Hotel. While in this city we took the trip to Gapeline Canyon. You can go all the way by motor ferry, the automobile runs on to the ferry boat, so one has no transferring to do. We enjoyed the Canyon immensely, and, on our way, the driver stopped at the cottage of an old Frenchman who came out and told our fortunes. T will not go into details here. Vancouver seemed small after San Francisco, but I felt like saluting the Union Jack after not seeing it for eighteen months. We started at 8 a.m. from here through the Rockies for Sicamous, where we spent our first night. After leaving Sicamous the beauty begins. The wonderful little lakes and huge mountains towering above and the straight pines shadowing in the lakes. It was not tiring at all this journey — we ever marvelled at the beauty and grandeur of it all. The weather began to freshen a little, and towards night we were in a snow storm. We arrived at Lake Louise at 9 p.m. The snow had ceased to fall, but formed a carpet and covered the trees. We left the train and boarded a car which took us a couple of miles back through the snow-clad trees to the C.P.R. Hotel. Coming on it at night, with its hundreds of Chinese lanterns shin'ng forth, the place looked like Fairyland. One is ushered in by dapper looking Japanese porters in suits of brown and gold. The living rooms, music rooms, etc., with the big log fires give it all a very inviting appearance. We tumbled into bed very tired. Next morning when we looked out the window, oh, what a sight ! A blue lake and snow-clad hills

shadowing in the foreground a long promenade. We had breakfast and decided to hike to the glacier. We soon found ourselves very warm, and wishing we had left our coats behind. In about two hours we arrived at the Glacier, and then returned home. We were caught in a snow blizzard, but arrived with a huge appetite. At 10 p.m. the same night we left for Bauff. Bauff Hotel is very imposing, situated among the hills"; Sulphur Mt. and Bow Rover Valley in front. It had been snowing here, so we did not take a swim in the tank which looked so inviting. There is a glass partition between the hot and cold tank, but they are both out in the open. We had some snow-balling here. The next night we left for Chicago. Two nights in. the train found us in St. Pauls, Wisconsin. We had a few hours here and looked over the city; Avent through the city hall and looked in at a very fine picture palace. Two galleries of boxes, and th« lighting effects were fine. We arrived in Chicago and were xcry disappointed. It was so noisy we coukl not sleep. Being the largest railroad

centre in the world, naturally it was dirty and noisy. The noise of the policeman's whistle directing, and the elevated trains, well— "nuff sed. M _ They have some fine buildings in this city, and some large factories. It is right on Lake Michigan, which becomes very rough at times. We looked all round Chicago and decided not to stay, so came on via PennsJyvania to New York. I shall be able to tell you about this greal city when T have looked around more. The people are keenly interested in my photographic views and illustrated papers; itis really amazing the ignorance that obtains regarding New Zealand. One of tin* nurses here (Ellis Hospital) asked me to-day what language was spoken in New Zealand. We shall have to obtain a commission from the government as advertising agents. If postage on Xew Zealand papers were not so expensive, these arc the things to advertise a place — illustrated papers. Stella C. Aston, trained AVellington Hospital; Muriel L. Harvey, trained Auckland Hospital. Present address: Hamilton Hospital, Brooklyn. Xew York.