The first day of competition! We headed to the Canada Games Centre:





The competition was great and I really enjoyed the Special Olympics, as I thought I would.

On the way home someone pointed out the "Sun Dogs". I had never heard of this phenomenon, let alone seen it. The photo is dark because I took it through the window of the truck but it was certainly easier to look at that way! It's neat that in a photo I just think that it's a refraction of the light on the glass or lens. Apparently it's really rare to have the arc overhead as well. I was also told that there can be up to 4 dogs on each side of the sun.





Today I also heard some sad news. Sherry Drover, after a great remission period, had her cancer return and died 2 weeks ago. Sherry was my very first coach and was a ray of sunshine in anyone's day. It's wasn't possible not to smile if Sherry said hello to you. My day was a little darker thinking that she was no longer in the world. Paulo Paiement will be wearing a black armband when he competes, in her memory.

Great sleep! And I had a samosa left over from the airport in Vancouver which really hit the spot as breakfast. After a judges meeting at 10am, the day could begin. The judges who got in yesterday had already been to the ATCO Place and headed downtown, but those of us who got it late yesterday went to check it out. The locals told us that it is exceptionally cold right now (-37) so Kristy and Julie and I bundled up.







Can you tell that's me and Julie? Anyway, inside the tent are all kinds of amazing artisans around the stage where the opening and closing ceremonies are taking place, as well as on going cultural entertainment. This was one of my favorites. It's clay that she then fires and carves:



And let's not forget the food. I had an elk burger and would love to go back for the bison stew. I bought some amazing dessert sauces that Jeff may even get to sample if he moves fast enough. And they had a sugar shack with maple taffy. Yum. This is where we found Carolyn and Anne.





Of many performances during the day I particularly wanted to see the Throat Singers. I had heard of throat singers but never heard them... They are in traditional dress and they explained how the hoods held their babies and kept them warm and they showed how the babies would just be brought forward, within the jacket, to nurse, as it would be too cold to take them out of the clothing! They didn't explain their posture while singing. It seemed important that they hold each others arms...



After a trip to the grocery store, which is conveniently right next door to the hotel, we were off to supper at Georgio's. Delicious food and generous portions:






Followed by an Officials Mixer. This everyone who isn't MIA from the East Coast (Erika is as far as Calgary at this point but there's been no word on Guylain), or who isn't a diligent Tech Panel member attending practices:



(Sorry the pictures aren't my usual quality but I still haven't figured out how to make the Mac do everything I want it to)

First day at the rink tomorrow!

March 3rd

So, we are at 24,000 feet, about 15 minutes out of Toronto. The weather forecast says I left -1 in St. John's and am heading for 9 in Vancouver and then to -25 in Whitehorse. I remember buying a notebook in Heathrow, I think when I was travelling around Europe after high school, and writing to Cathy during boring airport/airplane times. Now I have a laptop. My how times have changed. That was pre-internet! Remember those times. How did we ever survive!

My wish of my travels being uneventful with good in-flight entertainment is partly coming true on both accounts. There were many people at the airport when I arrived and I gather that there was bad weather yesterday out of Toronto and flights were delayed and cancelled. That means that the planes either can't take off to get to Toronto from Newfoundland or the in bound plane doesn't arrive to take us out again. Either way the airport was full and people were stuck. Luckily I was already booked on this flight. I passed Kevin on the way, heading to WestJet, I heard rumours of a charter for the athletes. They work so hard to prepare, it would suck to not be there.

On the good entertainment side, the flights out of St. John's to Toronto have all been on the new planes with the personal TV's. That means I got to select my movie. There was one called "A Good Year", which I hadn't heard of featuring a good cast (Russell Crowe, Albert Finney). Should that be a warning? I selected it because it's about Russell Crowe's character inheriting a chateau and vineyard in Provence. I figured there would at least be good scenery and it would remind me about my time there. But it turned out to be decent and I would definitely recommend it! Very Shirley Valentine. Except a stock broker not a housewife, France not Greece, 2007 not 1987, but they both leave England on their adventure. And find their true selves etc. Reminds me once again I need a vacation. A proper one. Spending a month drinking wine and eating bagettes and cheese in the South of France. Or the south of anywhere. Perhaps I've got a rich uncle somewhere that's going to bequeath me a chateau. Anyway, "A Good Year" is also written by Peter Mayle, who wrote "A Year in Provence".

Unfortunately, the in-flight movie for this segment is "Happy Feet". I've seen it and I wouldn't know where to start to begin to discuss what's wrong with this movie. Luckily, this whole laptop thing means that I can watch a movie of my choice and I've brought Aladdin! See you in Vancouver...

...

Vancouver. Well, I didn't watch the movie. And I feel vindicated because the father sitting in the row in front of me said that his children didn't watch the movie either. They didn't like it and thought it was stupid. Ha!

I slept and got an incredibly bad back. But it did eat up most of the flight and we were only about 300 miles out of Vancouver when I woke up.

But I'm tired and hungry. And there's still 3 hours before the connection to Whitehorse. There's a pub kinda eating place in another wing of the terminal so I'm going to go investigate. And then maybe a nap.

...

Food in Vancouver was great! I slept on a piece of floor in the airport, and even did a bit of yoga. And now I'm here. Yay for the uneventful trip. I still don't know what's up with our athletes but I hope they make it. There seems to be two other judges who are not yet here either, coming from out East as well...

Sabrina greeted me and gave me some alcohol (what a great roommate!) and filled me in on the days events. They've begun to get the place scoped out so I'll hopefully get to see a bit of the town tomorrow. The northern lights are out in full force I'm told but I am going to the tub and then bed tonight. It's 9:30 local time so I've done really well but my head is splitting and it's time to call it a day.

But here are the first pictures: Can you tell which is mountains and which is cloud? It was pretty spectacular. I was sleeping coming over the Rockies, hopefully I"ll get some good shots on the way home. These are on the way to Whitehorse.




There's a reflection from the window because it's dark out but the glowy thing in the sky is actually the moon. It's incredibly bright!





Here's the airport upon arrival. I was really happy to not be in airplanes anymore!




I was met by the ladies of the night! They told me that if they wore a hat it meant they were available. The feather meant you were more respectable.

Getting Started