Some may recall my saying after our 1st trip to Whistler that we had learned we could take the gondola up and “get down" along the race course saving us having to buy an event ticket and giving us better vantages. Well, since now it’s done and I’m in a foreign country without marital extradition, I can admit that “getting down" is a euphemism for skiing. Yes, this 75 year old body on two artificial knees that haven’t downhilled since ’99 went downhill skiing. It wasn’t pretty….
First, a bit more on Valentine’s Day in Vancouver. There were folks all over offering “Free Hugs”, which were given galore. I even got one. Fun. And then last night we found a Safeway for some more eggs. Frank bought a Starbucks and I picked up a Seattle Times; God, exotic foreign travel is so broadening, isn’t it?
Michele went home today, having hosted for VISA and missing her family for four full days. There is little harder duty – smiling and being helpful from morn to night and never getting away from the guest VIPs, never getting to wander about sampling a venue’s fare. She earned her two tickets – to the opening ceremony and pairs dancing. We on the other hand, have yet to buy a ticket.
We stoked up on eggs, hit the the elaborate but empty highway to Whistler early, geared up, got on the lift and headed up. No warm up – the race was starting, and Bode Miller was off #4. We missed his run by about two hundred metres, but then past us they came. We weren’t allowed to crowd the course as close as at Innsbruck or Calgary, but pretty good views amid the crush of the fans and clanging cowbells. Lots of air on the curve we were on, but hard to shoot. I'll edit and add a pic tomorrow.
The ski legs did not come back as fast as I had hoped. By the time I got a bit rhythm and feel, my thighs were burning and the older knee was telling me that it had had enough; just get me the hell down it said…. I did, but it wasn’t pretty.
Rendezvoused with Frank , who had lifted up again and gone real skiing – he’s an expert – at 3 at the Lake Placid Center. Ate some lunch and wandered the town, listening to live music in squares, enjoying the crowd, watching for athlete stars, and generally savoring the camaraderie. Masses of RCMP’s wandering about with big grins; easiest assignments they have ever had.
This is great. It makes me feel like there really is something going on up there!
ReplyDeleteNBC, on the other hand, has nearly convinced me otherwise. Where? When? I don't even try staying up late enough to see what happened in their alternate universe "same" time zone.
Worse, I have to avoid my many channels of realtime information, so as not to spoil any tension and involvement in those events we actually manage to watch in the middle of the night. Excuse the rant, but will NBC ever join this century? A three hour lag is bad enough. But a decade? Inexcusable.
Anyway - thanks so much for a shot of same-time/same-place exhilaration!