This topic is about a scenic rail adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer, including air travel and some practical tips for managing an ostomy during the trip. Here's a breakdown of the journey and some helpful advice:

- On June 15, the traveler flew from Calgary to Vancouver. At airport security, they were asked to remove their suspenders, but the wand search did not involve their ostomy pouch. In the cramped airplane lavatory, they changed their Coloplast pouch and noticed the flange's lower edge lifting, likely due to perspiration from extra walking. They used a Coloplast Brava strip to prevent leaks and re-boarded the plane.

- In Vancouver, they took the SkyTrain downtown and experienced temporary confusion with their hotel reservation, which was eventually resolved. They had a light dinner at the hotel bar.

- On June 16, they changed their bag in the morning and went on a rain-soaked outing to Granville Island, where they had lunch with a friend. In the evening, they enjoyed large portions at a Greek restaurant and had an early night in preparation for the train departure.

- On June 17, they boarded the Rocky Mountaineer. The train made slow progress due to freight-train priority. They enjoyed a two-course breakfast and lunch, along with snacks and drinks. While using the train's restroom, their jacket repeatedly triggered the automatic flush sensor. They spent the night in Kamloops and enjoyed bruschetta with balsamic reduction at a nearby brewpub.

- On June 18, the train split, with passengers heading to either Banff or Jasper. They continued to enjoy the scenery, including forests, rivers, snow-capped peaks, spiral tunnels, and wildlife like elk, bear, chipmunk, and bighorn sheep. They skipped some food courses due to fullness and had an Italian dinner in Banff. There was no clear pick-up time for the next day’s bus.

- On June 19, a miscommunication about the shuttle schedule led to waiting outside most of the morning before finally being bussed to Calgary. They gained 5 pounds over the trip but remained COVID-free.

Ostomy-specific notes:
- The traveler used a Coloplast pouch with a clip. The flange edge began to lift mid-flight, which was fixed with a Coloplast Brava strip.
- Tight, moving spaces like airplane and train restrooms posed minor challenges, but no leaks occurred.

Advice and insights:
1. Weight gain after a vacation is normal; consider post-trip exercise, like jogging, to shed the extra 5 pounds.
2. Driving the Calgary–Vancouver route instead of flying offers spectacular scenery, numerous dining options, and opportunities to meet people.
3. During extreme European heatwaves, cooler destinations such as Canada or Ireland can be attractive alternatives.
4. Avoid harvesting or consuming wild mussels, clams, or cockles during warm spells due to potential red-tide bacteria.