FIS World Cup Nordic event at Whistler

I got up early to get a lift with Bruce and Patty to Whistler. They rang and arranged that I would meet David and his wife Kim at the shopping centre near the highway so that we wouldn't loose too much time at the events were only on in the morning.

Again there was a blanket of fog over Vancouver, but the Upper Levels Highway was above it. It was a beautiful sunny day with a blue sky and not a cloud in sight. The road to Whistler is known as the "Sea to Sky Highway". It travels along the coast, past old mining, and port towns before it starts to climb into the snowcapped mountains. There were amazing views all along the trip and I appreciated being a passenger. I have travelled along this road back in 2001, but I was the driver. You need to be able to look around to appreciate the views.

We stopped once to take in the views and then continued on to the Callahan Valley which is where several of the 2010 Olympice events will take place. You have to turn off the main road to Whistler and travel about 10 km to the event area. As we entered you could see the 2 ski jumps and signs to the bi-athalon area. Blue skies and not a cloud in sight. Definitely a day for sunglasses.

Bruce and Patty's daughter Lyndsay is working for the Vancouver Olympics group, and is the interviewer that is seen on the big screen at the events. We tried to find where she was, and kept meeting people that they knew. There was a team event on in which Australia was competing so I undid the zip of my jacket to display the Aussie flag t-shirt I was wearing. It didn't help because we came 8th in the event.

We moved around the track and up the hill so that we could get a good view of the higher parts of the track as well as the finish area. Patty had brought some food for a picnic, so we sat down on the snow to enjoy the event.

The last event was a men's team event that had some interest for them beacause Canada had a team competing. As it turned out there was a fall on the final bend and the Canadian pushed hard to the finish line and they came in third for a bronze medal. This was apparently unexpected and the course announcer was going crazy because it was his son who was the final skier for Canada.

Great views on the way home again. This time we stopped in far a "Canadian tradition" - a coffee and muffin from Tim Horton's. As we got closer to Vancouver we could see the wall of fog, It was still there and had not lifted at all during the day. It was eerie to see the BC ferries appearing out through the cloud.

They dropped me off at my car at about 3:30 pm and I decided to drive up to Grouse and check out the price of a ride up to the top. I thought that it would be a good opportunity to get some great photos. It was $34.95 per adult for a return ride on the gondola, but only $189 for a 12 month family pass. This also gives 50% discount for up to 4 guests each time, and complimentary ski/snowbord, skate and snowshoe hire. I filled in the forms, got my photo take, my ID card issued and took the ride to the top. Amazing views all the way up, but even better ones from the top. Vancouver was beginning to light up and you could see parts of it through the fog as the sun set behind the mountains of Vancouver Island in the distance. It looked tlike there was a blanket of cotton wool in between.

Magic sunst and views.