Lynda, Mitch and Marianne in downtown Vancouver!

Lynda and Mitch arrived late last night. We met up downtown Vancouver this morning on yet ANOTHER sunny, warm day. There was no use trying to get into any attractions as there were huge line ups for everything. Wait time for free zip line was 7 hours. The line up for the Bay to buy Olympic clothing was at least 300-400 people; sorry family!! No go.

Lynda, Mitch and I agreed to just walk around downtown and the waterfront and soak up the atmosphere. Almost everyone was in some kind of Canada attire; it was very neat! We visited the cauldron, and walked around the waterfront area. We came upon a marina with some very nice boats; and then we discovered a great restaurant overlooking the marina and the float plane base. We decided it was time for a drink.....Lynda and I went over the top & had a "grand cosmopolitan"; I think that was what it was called! anyway it was very good so we decided to try another girlie drink; I think the next was called a "royal hibiscus". It was very good too and then Lynda and I just became silly so we thought best to stop there. (Mitch has a lot of patience!) We then walked up to Robson Street and joined what seemed to be like a million other people. It was neat to see the zip line in action and all the people having so much fun. We parted ways around 3 p.m. so Mitch and Lynda could make it back to Surrey to see the Canada/US hockey game.

We will meet up tomorrow as we have tickets together for the women's semi final hockey against Finland. Lynda says our seats are about 20 rows up to the left from the visitor goal. We will take a big Canada flag and yes we'll be dressed in red! (like everyone else!)

Just a little explanation about some of the pictures. When you see a picture of 7 women that Lynda is holding up..that is our small but close knit group of team members from work. Lynda wanted them to be included in our Vancouver experience.

Hope you are all well. Take care. Go Canada Go!

Marianne

SUNNY AGAIN in Vancouver.....

Hard to beat a ride on a harley but back to reality.

I had a shift from 11:00 to 5:30 today at the women's aerials. Today was just qualifications; no medal event today. The qualifications started at 10:00 a.m. so when I started my shift the qualifications were over and the crowds were leaving. Luck was on my side as I was let go at 2 p.m. as there wasn't much to do! No complaints from me! (the picture of the aerial - look for the little red spot-that is an athlete!) The athlete in blue is a Swedish athlete. The water view from the barricade is from the trip up to Cypress.

I decided since it was so nice out that I would go out and explore a bit when I got home. I've been told there is a pretty little cove close to Rebecca and Scott's house. I hopped on the bus and found "Deep Cove" ; a very scenic, pretty cove. (pictures above) There were cute little shops around so I loved it.

When I got home Scott and Rebecca were having an open house. This couple is amazing and it is nothing for them to entertain 20 plus people at the drop of a hat. That was just today. Tomorrow they are doing the same thing! I said to Rebecca "are you nuts" and her reply was "well I only have to clean the house once and the left over food from today will feed the crowd tomorrow! I wish I was so relaxed in entertaining! They always encourage me to be part of their parties and their friends are very nice.

Tomorrow I will meet Lynda (my job sharing partner) and her husband Mitch down town. We will probably just walk around and soak up the spirit because there are several hour waits for most attractions. Pre Olympics Lynda suggested we consider the free down town zip line... well it is pretty popular..the wait time is now 8 hours! I think we'll just watch considering they only have 2 days to tour around!

Hope all is well, love all your comments, take care...

Marianne

Day off - Granville Island, dinner in Horseshoe Bay, ride home on a Harley!

Hello:

It was a great day to be off...sunny and 10 degrees. Got to take it when we can as this is Vancouver! Rebecca (the girl I am staying with) her 2 boys and her parents took me down to Granville Island today. We walked around there and soaked up the Canadian spirit. Everyone here is in Canada clothing. There was even a scalper selling Canada clothing from the Bay as there is nothing left in the stores here as it is selling like hot cakes. The scalper's wife lined up downtown at the Bay for 6 days in a row at 6:00 a.m. to buy the clothing. She sold $50 jackets for $90 easily. The entrepreneur spirit! Scalping is legal in Vancouver.

After we left Granville Island, we drove around Stanley Park which was beautiful. Got a great picture for Bruce and Kath of a float plane coming in over the Lion's Gate bridge. It is just like summer here; everything is in bloom and people are in shorts.

We then took the scenic drive along the water to Horseshoe Bay and had dinner at a local fish and chips restaurant.

Earlier today I had mustered up the courage to ask Rebecca's dad for a ride on his Harley at some point during my stay. Rebecca's husband Scott brought his Harley and met us for dinner at the restaurant. He brought Rebecca's leather jacket & leather pants (she has a Harley too!) and I was offered a ride home with Scott. Thank God I had a glass of wine at dinner; I was a little more relaxed! So I donned the Harley gear and I got on the back with Scott (thank god you didn't know Mom!) and we drove home from Horseshoe Bay to North Vancouver. (20 minutes) It was beautiful coming into Vancouver and seeing all the lights at night. I had a great ride and enjoyed it very much.

Tomorrow I am working up at the woman's aerials. Hopefully I'll get a position close to the action.

Just saw our gold win by Jon Montgomery in skeleton, we are great! With every medal we win, the buzz increases!

Looking forward to Lynda and Mitch arriving tomorrow. Lynda is my job sharing partner and the 3 of us have tickets to see the semi finals of the women's hockey, in which Canada is playing. Our tickets are for Monday at 5 p.m. Try and watch for us on TV!!

Take care, love the comments.

Marianne

Another Sunny Day at Cypress!

Hello all:

I had an early morning shift at Cypress today; leaving the house at 6:00 a.m. to catch the bus. It was dark as I walked to the bus stop but as I was walking a car pulled up beside me and rolled down the window. At home I may have been a little nervous in this situation but I had a feeling it must be a fellow volunteer (they call us volunteers "smurfs" because of our blue jackets.) and sure enough it was a blue jacketed volunteer & she offered me a ride to catch the bus to Cypress, which eliminated me taking 2 more buses. The local volunteers have been great in giving rides to us out of "towners". Above is a picture of all the smurfs arriving for their early morning shift.

I enjoyed my shift today the most of any yet. I think that was because I could sit all shift! I was welcoming and directing the spectators before they entered the security area. I was sitting in one of those elevated chairs; like you see on the beach that the lifeguards use! I loved it. It was sunny and warm so it was great. I am working on my tan. I got some photos of some of the enthusiastic fans also.

I just found out that my shift for tomorrow is cancelled so I am very HAPPY... I will venture out down town probably. The weather here is suppose to be sunny and 10 degrees for the next 3 days so I need to take advantage of it. I would like to try and get to Granville Island. I'll let you know what happens.

Take care, keep the comments coming. That is the first thing I look at!

Marianne

Sunny and warm at Cypress - the "summer" olympics!

Hello all: Men's halfpipe today. It was just a gorgeous, sunny day at the mountain. It felt like summer!

Today I had a great job outside. I worked on the pathway that the spectators took to enter the venue. My job was simply to greet all the spectators, welcome them to Cypress and show them where to continue walking to reach their seats.

"Walking" is the name of the game at Cypress. Spectators can only access Cypress from motor coach buses that leave designated areas in Vancouver. No cars are allowed on the mountain. Once spectators (and volunteers) get off the bus at the mountain, they have at least a 15 minute walk (uphill) to the stairs that lead them up to their seats. There are 209 more steep stairs to reach the seating area. (see picture) Then there are more stairs if you are sitting higher than the first section. It is a work out in itself to reach your seat; I really felt for the people with small kids and some of the older people. I don't think the spectators had any idea the workout they were in for that day.

It is suppose to be sunny for a few more days in Vancouver which is unheard of.... I will take full advantage and try and get an outside job tomorrow at the mountain.

Hope you are well and enjoying the Olympics. I am just watching the half pipe finals on TV (as my shift ended before the finals) and it is an incredible event to watch. The camera shots are amazing.

Darcie, you win the prize for guessing the country of the team members I accosted to get a photo op! It is the Ukraine.

Take care,

Marianne