Risks of Olympic Travel

Dry roads and no precipitation made for an excellent drive to Vancouver on February 14. Just east of Golden on the famous hairpin turns however an 18 wheeler (count them) had taken too much speed into a corner and this result left us with a 30 minute delay. The truck had slid to the brink of the cliff and the top of the trailer was just hanging slightly over. The drivers apparently had minor injuries. We escaped injury!

Wednesday Feb. 17 Olympic Update

Yesterday was my first full day of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The experience was awesome beginning with successful parking in the morning....the organizers insist that no vehicles should be driven to Olympic Events!!!
Men's Curling in the morning (first day of competition)...Canada Men won in a very tight 11 end game over Norway, with Kevin Martin drawing to the "button" on his last rock to score one and take the game.
Women's Curling in the afternoon (first day of competition)...Canada Women won over Switzerland...we had to depart before the last rocks however to get to the hockey rink.
Men's Hockey in the evening had Canada playing their first game against Norway. It was a bit like a scrimmage for the Canadians, winning 8 to 0. The rink was "electric" with exuberant Canadian Fans. My son Michael in Calgary saw me on TV looking in on the TSN crew! We sat in a 500 level sky box so had some unique views of this extremely talented Canada Team and met some awesome people...including a very Swedish guy claiming to be the father of the Sedins! His Henrik Lundquist Team Sweden jersey made us suspicious!!!!
Pictures are to follow if I can find an internet connection for my own computer by which to download the pictures.

Wednesday January 20, 2010

On this day, the journey to Vancouver gained genuine emotion. The Torch relay returned to Canada Olympic Park, to one of the original 1988 Calgary Olympic sites.

The pre-announced location of the festivities was at the "bottom" of the hill, but as a olympic veteran I was certain the real action would be at the top of the hill. I was right.

A small crowd of specators were scattered around the entry to the Bob Sled Track where the official sled sat waiting. I was literally at the heels of the four athletes who pushed the sled, bearing the torch and torch bearer, down the track.

When the lit torch re-appeared on the chair lift some twenty minutes later, I was there to welcome and "high five" the torch bearer.

My new friend, the Snow Boarder, received the flame at the top of the Half Pipe. After absorbing the applause of the small but boisterous cheering section, he disappeared.

The seeds of anticipation were planted. My next Olympic Flame encounter would be in Vancouver.