Well...here is our first posting.
We arrived on Saturday...perfect flight. Picked up by Rocky, Stephy & little Gabriella (she took one look at the two of us and started screaming) That reaction lasted a few hours with Sue....with me it took a day or two.....we're cool now.
Up early on Sunday to head into Vancouver for our "driver training"....scared the beejumpers out of us. A lot of talk about "flying by the seat of your pants" having to change routes, etc "on the fly". We weren't the only ones curious as to why a couple from Southern Ontario would be chosen to drive performers all over the city. Luckily, we were given a vehicle to take with us and check out all the various venues (there is a ton of them....big and small) and all the hotels. These are the places we would be picking up and dropping off.....thought it would be a good thing if we had some idea where these places are located. Our "bosses" are terrific and very understanding. They recognized right off the bat that we were like a couple of deer caught in headlights.
Later on Sunday we went to the PNE for our accreditation and to receive our uniforms. That went really smoothly.
Monday the Olympic Torch relay went through Cloverdale and we were there to see it with Rocky & Stephy and Gabriella (she likes me now).....not quite the same event as when it came through Cobourg....wall to wall people.
Tuesday we headed into Vancouver to spend an entire day going from venue to venue to hotels, etc. Our first "shift" was to start on the 11th at 7:00 am. but while we were in the city we got a call from Julie (our co-
ordinator) asking if we could take a car to Whistler on the 10th. It was like living a dream. How's this for a tough assignment....Sue and I drive a brand new Buick Enclave up the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler and drop it off with a contact person in Whistler at 3:00 pm......up until 3:00 we are just a couple of tourists, doing whatever we like. We leave Whistler at 4:00 and are driven back to Vancouver.....tough days work, eh?
You can feel a "buzz" happening in downtown Vancouver that will continue growing 'til the 12th. We are really stoked about the Opening Ceremonies......there's a lot of speculation about what will be involved.....can't wait.