Tuesday - Day 2 - An Unexpected Day Off

So, we had been told to arrive for 7am today - the first day that the RCMP security sweeping would be in place - but, uh-oh, technical difficulties. As over 500 Alpine "Blue Jackets" (See the Olympic Volunteer Uniform - pics to follow), waited, in the dark, yes, again, in the dark - the security team worked on getting the x-ray machine for our bags up and running. After an hour wait, we were all getting pretty cold by then, with no breakfast, and a headache from altitude sickness (I'm told that's why I'm super thirsty all the time too - will take 4-6days to subside), we were finally let in, then all lined up for our venue check-in, then all lined up for our breakfast, and then when all was said and done, found out that the Ladies' Course was too soft and precarious to let anyone on, even the practice racers, and officials, so we were let go for the day - okay then, back to bed, or...is it skiing time???

Well...I picked the latter, baby, and I am soooooo glad that I did...the sun shone from between large, fluffy, white clouds, poised against a deep blue sky, aaaaaall day long. I rode gonolas, I rode chairs, I rode the huge and super engineering feat of the Peak to Peak Gondola that swings you over, in 11minutes, from one mountain top to ther other - incredible! I skied steep stuff, I skied soft snow, I skied groomed trails, and even zig-zagged around a few moguls (bumps). I teamed up with a chairlift mate (Rene, from Montreal) for a few runs, and he was able to guide me to the most breathtaking vistas - pictures are coming folks - time is just short right now. It was so hard to challenge myself in doing one run without stopping, because everytime the trail turned, the view of the majestic Rocky Mountains changed with it, and I just had to stop and appreciate this beautiful creation - so powerful, so peaceful, so natural...

We have these two great facilities, in two different locations on the moutain, set up for all of the Blue Jackets while we work and ski, and they are our exclusive "Warming Tents" - big white marquee style, but with walls and a door, and inside, all day long, there are lovely catering people ready to serve hot home-made soup, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit, cookies - we just ski in, and ski out - right on the mountain, about half way up. Funny, tourists, even stopped and take photos of all of us basking in the sun, as we sip our soup outside the tent - I love it!

After my first full day of skiing, my body was pretty tired, (legs not quite as sore as I thought they'd be - thanks to Gord for my bike trainer for Christmas!), but I knew I was behind on blog entries, so had to forgo Weasel House apres ski today, and get 'er done. So, after asking everyone if they knew where I could gain computer access, and coming up empty, I hiked it to the Village to find an Internet Cafe - reluctant to spend my hard-earned money on online time, I tried the local Library, but it is closed to the public for the Games, and instead, is a "Lounge for Athletes and Their Families". So, that was it, I gave up. I saw some fellow lady-Blue Jackets in the Village and approached them to ask if they'd seen one (I knew there were a few, just not sure where), and as women do, we became friendly instantly, and within a minute, they offered their hotel computer to me - wasn't that so nice? We rode the bus back to their hotel together, and here I have sat, in the lobby of the lovely Nita Lake Lodge http://www.nitalakelodge.com/, and got all my ground covered! Thanks to Sue and Tara from Vancouver - they work at the Athletes' Village, with the Anti-Doping team, drawing blood samples, and sending them to the Lab for drug analysis.

From here, I'll walk back out the highway once again, but this time, I know what bus to take, and when and where to get it - it's 6:50pm - with wait and transit times, I should be home by 8pm - fingers crossed!!