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| Andrea at team meeting |
At 7:30, I left to watch the first race of the day. It is a different kind of race than what I have seen before. It is a 1,500 meter race, close to a mile. Also there are six boats with staggered starting times based upon yesterdays race results. The Jade Dragons, Andrea’s boat, is the second. Also instead of a straight course, it is a loop. They start at the finish line, go around Deadman’s Island-sounds sort of ominous, doesn’t it? Then head down to the bridge where they started yesterdays 500m race. They have to make a sharp turn there and come back to the starting/finish line. Just the length of the race and amount of paddling I would think would be a challenge.
The Jade Dragons started second about 10-15 seconds behind the first boat. By the time they rounded the first buoy, they were catching up. When they reappear after going around the island, they have caught up and passed the first boat. By the time they disappear from my vantage point, their boat has pulled ahead.. When they reappeared having made the far turn, there was not another boat in sight. They crossed the finish line a good 15 seconds or more ahead.* Celebration and Happiness.
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| Jade Dragons |
We have an 11am check out time. Sherri and I continue to pack the car. We then relaxed for an hour or so, then checked out. We are leaving the car here and walking down to the race area. We meet Andrea and she says the race will be at 12:45. So we still have over an hour to lounge around. We eventually ended up at SOL Fine Foods Cafe. and Sherri has another London Fog .
This last race is a relay race. Two boats per lane, one 200m down the water. The starting boat has a flag and races down to the waiting boat who receives the flag and returns back to the starting line. The Jade Dragons are in second place when I lose sight of them. The hand off is clean and the receiving boat, another team, comes in second as well. A fun twist to end the day for the Jade Dragons. As a note: the teams are chosen, not selected by the boats.
After the race, Andrea says her goodbyes to her teammates. Sherri and Andrea get some Greek food; I have a peanut butter sandwich. While I eat, I walk back and pick up the car, then pick up the two and we are off to Tofino. Our starting time is 1:45.
The idea is that Andrea got up early and has already exerted herself. By me driving, it will give her a chance to relax and get rested. I drove for about an hour and a half. We went pass by Nanaimo. There are some peculiar things about this section of highways. There were signs indicating where U-Turns are allowed. Many of these places had actual areas where there were paved turn around sections. Interesting.
Also interesting that these highway speeds are slower than south of the border. The highest is 90km/h which translates out to about 55miles/h. Also there are stop lights every couple of miles.
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| Andrea and Dinner |
Once past Nanaimo, it rained, not hard, but it did rain. About half an hour past Nanaimo, I pulled into a Petro Canada station and we switched drivers. Andrea got to drive the curvy section, across the island. I take this opportunity to read a bit. Still, there are many lakes and forests. At one place it looked like it would be a beautiful trail to walk.
We get to Tofino, or at least the Best Western called Tin Wis. Apparently this hotel is owned and operated by a First Nation Tribe. We check in at 6:45. I had told our family we would not be on Zoom tonight. Right after we unpack, we all decided we wanted to eat. At the hotel is a place called Brown’s Social Club. Andrea has eaten at one before and says the food is good. After we have eaten, I would upgrade that to being really good food. I had a chicken alfredo which I would consider to be one of the best, if not the best I have ever had. Sherri had a Southwestern Chipotle Chicken bowl and Andrea a West Coast Poke. All good.
One of the goals was to make it here in time to see the sunset. We did. Andrea and Sherri went down to the beach to observe it. I am tired and observe it from the balcony of our room. They got the better views based upon the pictures I saw.
We hit the bed about 10:30. Sherri and I have a King bed; Andrea has a pull out sofa.
One note before I go to sleep: In checking my pockets, I find that I no longer have my key ring, not that I needed it for this trip. That will be my mission tomorrow to see if I misplaced it in the car or left it at Robin Hood Inn this morning,
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