January 27, 1940

Well, we are on our way again after a stop of about an hour at Montreal. As per usual, we stopped in the yards but saw considerable of the city on the way out. We had a lot of fun with the girls there, they were quite friendly but avid souvenir hunters and nearly stripped some of the boys of badges and buttons. I would have lost my badge, but for the fact it was keyed on.

It’s too bad we had to take the northern route over the old Canadian Northern line, as I understand the Canadian Pacific takes you through the more settled country. Quebec is much more interesting as it is thickly settled with a village or town every few miles.

We passed over the St. Lawrence, which is certainly quite a stream, too bad it is frozen over, as I should like very much to see the river traffic.

The landscape of most of Quebec is just a maze of fences and farmsteads, usually long narrow strips, probably dating back to the time when most settlements were on the river banks. At present, we are rolling along at about 60 miles per hour and, as the road- bed is rough, writing is difficult. I planned to send a postcard from every important centre to have as souvenirs but found it hard to get them written and mailed at the proper time.

We had the sergeant wild last night trying to put us to bed. The cars are of the colonial type, having let-down seats and baggage compartments. Two men sleep in the seat and two above and of course there is plenty of rough-housing and the more the sergeant would say, the worse it would get.

The N.C.O.s expected the train to stop at North Bay and we were all dressed to leave the train, but much to their disgust and our delight, we went sailing right through. Well, we have stopped at a coal bunker in some little jerk-water town, so will close and take a look at the natives.