Prairies

Wow – Manitoba is flat…and straight!!!! I don’t think I turned my steering wheel once after crossing the border into this province!!! I really don’t understand how people can say that Saskatchewan is flatter? Is that according to a level? Regardless, very flat.

After crossing the border for the first time, we headed straight to Winnipeg. I was aware of the abundance of Ukrainian culture in this area, so what do I do? Go looking for food!!! I am always skeptical of other people’s Ukrainian foods (like perogies and cabbage rolls), cause nothing ever tastes as good as my mom’s or baba’s (grandmother in Ukrainian). I was determined to get a taste of local Ukrainian flavour, so I asked one of my colleagues (who is from the area) to recommend an establishment, and he told me about this “famous” Ukrainian restaurant, which the comedian John Candy used to order from….when in L.A.! So I ventured from the hotel into downtown Winnipeg, looking for this local relic. I wasn’t even hungry at the time, but I just really wanted to get a taste! So I drove for about 25 minutes (lots of lights in Winnipeg), eager to have a traditional sit down dinner at the best Ukrainian restaurant around (maybe even in Canada), I pulled up to the building slowly straining to see a sign that was not very pleasant – CLOSED!!!! I’m obviously not a very good Ukrainian girl….forgetting that it was Ukrainian Christmas Eve that day. I deserved it…I guess. So for now, my mom’s perogies and cabbage rolls reign supreme.

On to work stuff.

I hopped on to one of the torchbearer shuttles one night in Portage de la Prairie (as I normally do) to congratulate and excite the torchbearers, and they were watching the “video” – the one I cry to every time I watch. I always assure the emotional torchbearers that crying is a normal reaction to this video – as I’ve seen it many times and fight to hold back my tears….still. This spurred a conversation with one of our drivers, Patrick, while we were waiting for the convoy to catch up. Now Pat is responsible for our transportation logistics on the relay, so he doesn’t get to see the actual relay on a day-to-day basis. He asked me what my most emotional experience had been so far on the relay. I associated this question to the intensity of my “cry”, so that would have to be the arrival of the flame in Victoria (the Chiefs carrying the flame passed me in the torchbearer corridor). Everyone’s moment is completely different; Pat’s was about a woman who was running for her daughter, who had passed away recently. The story of their connection really touched Pat…enough that it made it his moment on the relay.

Off to Regina, Saskatchewan! At this point, I had done really well at NOT shopping. It started to get to me though. It was the only thing I could think about when we got to Regina. I really wanted to treat myself to something unique (or maybe different from what I have, cause you really do get sick of wearing the same clothes all of the time!). So I did….now to get rid of something….

Not only did the prairies satisfy my shopping craving, it beat Ontario in having the most “Big” things. Yes, you name it and the prairies have it made in larger then life size! Fire Hydrants, pumpkins, golf putters, lima beans…the list goes on. One of our staff from the RON (hotel prep) team has made a point to take a picture of every large object on the route. Needless to say he had his work cut out for him during prairie week!

We came into Alberta on Day 76 (apparently I can’t consider Alberta a “prairie” province because it has mountains…this is coming from some locals). We had a few days off in Edmonton – which was great because I was able to spend some much needed family time with Janet (my mom’s best friend) and Richard. That’s the one thing that I’ve truly really missed while being on the road. Travelling in general really makes you realize how comforting familiarity is in your life. Spending the day with people who KNOW YOU, your history, your story. It’s fabulous meeting new people, don’t get me wrong – but being able to really relax and let go is healing, in a way. So thank you Janet and Richard, from the bottom of my heart!

After leaving Edmonton (following a much deserved crew night talent show – wow we’re a funny bunch), we got our first peek at the majestic Rockies. Much different then the view from the plane! We had a fairly leisurely drive to Calgary so we took advantage of it and were tourists for the afternoon. We visited a small place called Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump – yes, that’s the real name. It’s named after an individual who literally had his head smashed in trying to get buffalo to jump off a cliff (which was a normal practice in this area). I obviously had to buy a t-shirt! In all seriousness, the museum they have set up there is great. It is beautifully done with creativeness strewn throughout. We took a lovely drive through the badlands (Turner Valley); and Janet you were right – you really do just want to jump on a horse and go! And speaking of horses, we visited Spruce Meadows in Calgary (it’s like the centre of the horse world in Canada) - which was amazing! Lot’s of moula there!

We did have to make it back to Calgary in good time, however, because I had a date with the bank….Royal Bank that is. As one of our partners, they make up the “spirit squad” that we (as pilots) lead in convoy. They have a big blue vehicle (appropriately called Loonie) that people dance on to get the crowds going and torchbearers even more excited. I was fortunate enough to dance on Loonie for our arrival into Calgary. It was about an hour or so of dancing on a float – ladies, I know you’re jealous right now. It was awesome to get a perspective from above the crowd – and to show off my dance moves too!!!

It’s actually one of my goals to get a taste of as many roles in the relay as possible. I’m slotted in to drive the command car (directly behind the torchbearers) soon, and I’ve already ridden in our Police escort car, done celebration advance, acted as 2 hour advance, experienced the torchbearer shuttle, and now danced on Loonie. Not bad for job diversity!!!

So we’ve just finished our last day in Alberta (in Banff – which was a fabulous pilot route being able to look at the mountains all day!). We’re officially in BC now – last stretch….bringin’ er home!!! It’s completely crazy to think that we have less then 20 days left. We have 6 piloting days left, 12 RON dinners, and 10 more hotels. We’ve driven 28,000 km since leaving Newfoundland, stayed in 39 hotels, I couldn’t keep track of how many phone calls home I’ve made – I’m going to guess about 180, met close to 200 people (I still have some teammates to get to know in the next 20 days!), and have now been to every province in Canada (realizing full well that I’ll have to visit the Northern Territories to consider myself a “cross country’er”).

It’s a little overwhelming!!

With my pending return into “normal life” there are a few things that I’ll have to get used to:

- cooking

- cleaning

- driving a standard car (I’m sure it’s like riding a bike)

- pulling over if police throw on their cherries (we’re surrounded by flashing police cars all day – just part of the gig)

- not having cautionary lights (I’ve fallen in love with my flashing orange blinkers)

- sleeping in (I’m sure this will take me a day to get used to)

- not answering “10-4” or “copy that” to a question

- not having to pack every night

- going to bed late!!! I go to bed at 10pm every night…

- eating breakfast after 8am

I’m sure more things will strike me as I get back to the everyday….