I found a group online about keeping the old railroads running, not just one in particular but all of them around the world. It wasn't a hugely active site but I agreed with the idea. Not only do we already have (or still have some) of the original tracks but railways aren't just an alternative or romantic way to travel. The modern trains are fast and use less fossil fuels.

Today I found an online magazine about graffiti in Eastern Europe with a campaign #SavetheSteel and images of streetcars on coffee mugs. One reminds me of the streetcars as I remember them in Toronto when I was skipping school to go downtown for the day instead. Traveling by TTC bus, subway and sometimes the streetcars too. There were no streetcars in my area, only when I was right downtown in Toronto. #SavetheSteel from Concrete magazine.

I tried to find the railroad group I remember, but I don't know the exact name any more. I hope its in an old post somewhere. I haven't got all of them back online yet. Meanwhile, I did find a few other links worth keeping. I hope the Canadian group is more active than it looks. I'll send them a note.

• The Canadian Railway Preservation and Restoration Association
• The Canadian National Railways Historical Association
• Heritage Rail Alliance
• Ahead of the Torch

This was part of a quiz about what type of author you would be/ are. I loved this question. Which answer would you pick?

Choose a place to pen your masterpiece.

1. A busy train station where you can sip iced coffee while people-watching
2. A secret garden full of wonders you’ve never seen before
3. A cozy coffee shop interior while gentle rain falls outside on a cold gray day
4. Your bedroom—you feel most comfortable there.

Although the train station was high on my list and its my bedroom where I usually do end up writing - a coffee shop on a grey and rainy day was my most preferred place, by far. I love a rainy day and looking out the window while working on something creative with a delicious (still at least warm) coffee is pretty much perfect in my books.

Source: What Type of Author Would YOU Be? - Underlined

I think the idea that walking through a cemetery is scary is created by the media. In reality, its usually quiet, tends to be damp, among the trees, or windy if there are few trees. I've photographed an old cemetery which was on the edge of a farm field, only one tree. It was very cold and windy. That was perfect atmosphere for a movie. But, they would have needed a story to make it creepy. The reality was just bitterly cold, not scary at all.

I found this post, which included a quote from Loren Rhoads, about travel and exploring cemeteries.

“I look at them as open-air sculpture gardens,” Rhoads said. “There are some places in the world where it’s museum quality, and it’s just there for anyone to visit and take a look.”

Source: A Guide to the World's Most Intriguing Cemeteries

Loren has written, "Wish you Were Here" and "199 Cemeteries to See Before you Die". The first is about US cemeteries and the second about cemeteries around the world.  Also, her site Cemetery Travel.

You can also find her Cemetery Travels Notebook, for your own exploring and notes, from her Etsy shop, CemeteryLibrarian.

Canada is the second largest country in the world.

Canada covers five time zones from one coast to the other..

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are the Maritime Provinces. The territories are north of the provinces: the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa, Ontario.

We celebrate Canada Day on July 1st.

Canadians speak English and/or French.

Bring Your Passport

Previously the border crossing did not require much (if any) paperwork. That changed due to US government restrictions on travel. As of 2009 you do need a passport to cross the border and travel in Canada mainly because the US border will require your passport to let you back in.

Top Ten Things to Know Before Travelling in Canada

There are a lot of differences in culture and traditions and laws between Canada and the US. Most are not so noticeable in everyday life. Things like Canadian spelling won't be an issue unless you want to work in Canada or stay a lot longer than the average vacation. This top ten list are the things a tourist from the US needs to know.

Many things are the same too. We tell time the same way, the clocks in Canada tell time the same as the US. We drive on the same side of the road as you do in the US.

Currency - Canadian money comes in coins and bills but we have coloured money and our one dollars (loonies) are in coin. We also have the two dollar coin (toonie). Our paper money is steadily being replaced by plastic money so you will still see a mix of bills in paper and plastic.

Metric System - You will manage with the old Imperial system but in Canada we use the Metric system: Mainly you will notice Celsius for temperature. (weather) and kilometres measuring distance when driving on the roads and highways.

Language - Canada is bilingual. This means there are two official languages: English and French. However, we do not all speak French. English is spoken across Canada, even in Quebec and the Maritime provinces where you are most likely to hear French. In Quebec, French is the official language of the province.

Politics - The main Canadian political parties are Liberal, Conservative and NDP. There are smaller parties like the Green Party but what you really need to know is Canada is not a communist country.

Smoking/ Cigarettes - You can not smoke in a public area in Canada. This includes indoors at restaurants. No one will ask if you want smoking or non-smoking because it is all non-smoking. Outside you need to stand far enough from public buildings and entrances to avoid having cigarette smoke entering the premises.

Littering - Canadians can get upset about littering. Sure there are some messy areas but, litterbugs are not okay in Canada. Many people will get upset with someone who litters.

Shoes Off - When coming into someone's home Canadians remove their shoes at the door. Even if they say it is okay to leave your shoes on, should you ask, it really is customary to take them off. I wouldn't have known about this difference in customs but for my Mother living in the US half the year. She noticed it.

Climate and Weather - Canada and the US have seasons at the same time of year. You won't need skis in July, no matter how far north you go. Canada is not the land of endless winter. Summer can be humid and hot.

Wild and Natural - Canada is not one big, wilderness. True, most of the population lives in cities along the Canada/ US border. But, it does not become a vast, unpopulated wilderness once you leave the cities.

Canada is Big - By land mass Canada is bigger than the US and you can not fit Canada inside of Texas, or Alaska or any other US state. You can not drive across Canada in a day. You can not even drive across most of Canada in one day, even if you take a shortcut around the Great Lakes.

What keeps you from travelling to Canada?

They all speak French. I'd have to cross the border. I don't like a lot of wilderness and camping. I don't like winter, snow and ice. Canadians drive on the wrong side of the road. Canadian money is confusing. I don't know how to speak, read or write in Canadian. I don't really know where Canada is. I don't understand the weather in Canada, it's not in Fahrenheit. I'll miss all my favourite TV shows. It's a communist country. I might not be able to get home again. I might see a moose. Buttertarts are way too fattening. I'd have to wear a parka. I'd have to wear a toque. I wouldn't be able to plug in my laptop or get cell phone signal. I'm allergic to maple syrup. They put vinegar, cheese and gravy on french fries. Shudder. Canadians drive too fast. It's a crime to harm the holy bird of Canada, the Canadian geese. A tree might fall on me from all those beavers. I don't think a trip to Canada is all that scary.