Vancouver (Day 106)

I'll be back!

The crew was short and I was activated first thing in the morning so I ran another 35 km today. What a day! Our first celebrity was the Governator Arnold. I met him briefly as we assisted his team to get him out of the crowd.


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

As the day progressed the crowd became bigger and bigger. On Georgia Street there must have been close to 150,000 people. As we were navigating in the sea of people I couldn't believe the amount of people that came to see the Olympic flame. I also briefly met the Premier and the Prime Minister at two different venues. They both thanked us personally for our work several times.

As we moved along, the crowds were great and it was nice to see the Canadian spirit along the way. As we brought the final torchbearer to rest you could see in the eyes of our security unit the sense of accomplishment of what we had done.

I am proud to say that the torch did not get extinguished on our watch, except by mother nature. Our unit looked after 12,000 runners and ran countless miles. I can honestly say that my BC teammates were great and I will be sad to see them go.

If the spirit that I saw in every community is an indication of how Canada will do during the games we should be showered in gold!

I really believe that the Olympic flame united Canada and showed how patriotic Canadians can be. As the cauldron gets lit tonight, I will be able to say that a part of us travelled with that flame. Let the games begin! Go Canada Go!

I hope you enjoyed my journey, I sure did.

Carpe Diem,

Chuck,

P.S. I want to take the time to thank NWPS for allowing me to go on this detail. They have always been very supportive of my endeavours at work as well as my races. Thank you!

Belcarra - Vancouver (Day 105)

The day started very early for us with a 0445 departure with our first torchbearer scheduled to run at 0545 in Belcarra. We made our way through Anmore, Port Moody, Coquitlam, POCO, Burnaby and Vancouver. It was raining on and off today but that did not deter the crowds!


Big crowds gather in Coquitlam to watch the torch

I was on the bike and I now know how the Tour de France riders feel going through big crowds! This was my last official day on the relay. Tomorrow I will be with my teammates but only as a spectator. Stay tuned for my last post after the relay ends as Vancouver prepares to receive the world!

Carpe Diem

Chuck

North Vancouver - West Vancouver (Day 104)

My day started in North Vancouver and again the crowds were great. I was initially driving until one of the runners injured herself so I was hitting the pavement for the last 12 km. We made our way to Grouse Mountain where a torchbearer was strapped on top of the gondola. What an experience!


The torch on the Grouse Mountain gondola

We finished our day in West Vancouver where people were ready to welcome the flame. It is a quick turn around for me as I'll be on the morning shift riding the bike. Only 2 days until the Opening Ceremonies!

Carpe Diem

Chuck

Surrey - Richmond (Day 103)

Today we got to run through my community - New Westminster! Although I'm on the afternoon shift I ran the morning part in New West, what's another few kilometres when you're running 35 already?!


Me running in New West

I have to admit, the crowds were great and came in big numbers. The sun was shinning and we were greeted by the sound of the cannon in front of city hall as we ran by. As we came into Queen's Park the crowd was awesome and it was nice to see my co-workers from NWPS looking after the site.

We left after lunch and got on the paddlewheeler for a cruise across the Fraser River.


The torch travels by paddlewheeler over to Queensborough

We slowly made our way to Richmond where my relay friend and co-worker Randy ran with the torch. His little girl had a sign saying "my daddy has been with the relay for 103 days" she was also wearing a Quatchi hat. It was very cute. The crowds were massive in Richmond and it was hard work tonight. Our last torchbearer was Rick Hanson and it was nice to see. Only a few days left. I'm driving tomorrow which will give me a rest on my tired legs!

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

Mission - Surrey (Day 102)

What a day! I have never seen crowds like that. I started at lunch today in Langley and would make my way to Surrey. The road was lined with thousands of people. This was by far the biggest crowds I have seen. I'm not sure what hurts more, my legs after running 35 km, my ears from the scream of the crowds or my hand from the hundred of high five given along the road. The last torchbearer was Daniel Igali, famous gold medal winner. The crowd was massive - there must have been around 20,000 people.

Tomorrow we will be in my town, New Westminster. Although I'm working in the afternoon (running another 35 km or so) I'm coming early to bring the final torchbearer in. I hope the Olympic spirit will be alive and well in New Westminster tomorrow.

Seize the day New West!

Carpe Diem

Chuck

Merritt - Abbotsford (Day 101)

My day started after the lunch celebration today in Chilliwack. They had a great crowd and the roads were lined with people. I was driving, and as we were moving towards Abbotsford the crowds became bigger and bigger. I even saw some members of the Russian Olympic team at one point lining the road to see the flame. The night celebration in Abbotsford was packed, probably closed to 20,000 people! I will be running tomorrow in the afternoon, it will be a long one with close to 35 km of running. We're in New Westminster on Tuesday, I can't believe it!

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

An Experience of a Lifetime!

I finished my morning shift in Lillooet at the lunch celebration and was told that I would get to carry the Olympic flame! What a surprise, and an unexpected one! Some runners were unable to make it. Even better my co-worker Bal was also chosen and we would get to do the exchange, which is even more rare. I was to become runner 79 out of Ashcroft!



Jeff, another of my co-workers drove us to our collection point and was going to be our official photographer. We had our pre-run briefing and it was nice to see how happy and proud the other runners were. I was given my own torch, uniform and famous red mitts. There were 6 of us in total. As we boarded the shuttle they played the video that is posted on this site. It was very inspiring knowing that I would share the flame that left Greece back in October and has made its way through so many communities with so many great stories.

After the video was done they played the famous song from U2 "Where the Streets Have No Name". I was getting so excited!

I got dropped off at my number. It was so interesting to see people taking photographs of me with my torch. As I waited, the Coke promotional truck stopped and all their staff came to congratulate me and to take photographs. It was nice to see as we have seen them day in and day out. As my co-worker and friend Bal approached with the Olympic flame I could not stop smiling!


Bal passing me the flame

I have logged long hours and many miles running with many torchbearers (300 meter at a time to be more precise)! Only this time it was different. For a brief period of time I was going to be the only person in the world to have in his possession the Olympic flame.



My torch was lit and time stood still for me. As I started running I was now enjoying the moment, leaving my co-workers to do their job and listen to their encouragement. For that moment I was an Olympic torchbearer! People were cheering and I could not stop smiling. For me this is the closest I will ever be to being involved with the Olympics. I will cherish and remember this day for the rest of my life. I seized the day!


Running with the flame!

P.S.
If you're wondering, I did purchase my torch!

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

Whistler - Merritt (Day 100)

My day started in Whistler and we made our way to Lillooet for the lunch celebration. Eight flame blessing were on the schedule this morning through various First Nation communities. We saw some breathtaking vistas on the way. As usual, great crowds were lining the roads even for an early start. I was on the running crew and we averaged about 12 km this morning. The relay will stop in Merritt tonight. As for me, I'll be working in the afternoon tomorrow and will bring the flame into Abbotsford for the night celebration. We will be in New Westminster in three days! Hard to believe the Olympics are about to start!

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

Squamish - Whistler (Day 99)

I'm driving today and as we left Whistler it was lightly snowing. We
were greeted with rain in Squamish which was the start of our day. The
crowds were great and the rain stopped. I was really amazed at the crowds
that were lining the road. We made our way to the Whistler Olympic Park
and it was quite nice to see the snow and some great photo opportunities.


The torchbearers at Whistler Olympic Park

My shift is done for the day but I will go to the night celebration in
Whistler as I think it will be a great one to see. I'm on the running
crew tomorrow morning. I can't believe we will be running in New
Westminster in only 4 days!

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

Powell River - Squamish (Day 98)

I was off today and took the opportunity to go for a 10 km run with some of my co-workers up at Whistler.

Found this great video on You Tube, check it out: Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay Preview

Chuck

Kwakiutl - Powell River (Day 97)

Our day started at the Kwakiutl Band longhouse. It was a great site with the fire burning in the middle, the drums and the dancers. The weather was also good and I was part of the running crew this morning.


Me (on the left) with the torchbearer in Kwakiutl

We were greeted by great crowds in Port McNeil where we finished with of my co-worker being the last torchbearer - he holds the Canadian record for 800 m. He had a great smile and it was nice to see.

We got into convoy mode to catch the ferry to Powell River for more torchbearers and an evening celebration. Tomorrow the flame will make it way to Sechelt, Gibsons and Squamish, I'm on a schedule day off but will send an update as I will be on the ferry with the flame.

Carpe Diem,

Chuck

Bella Bella - Port Hardy (Day 96)

We ferried our way last night and arrived in Bella Bella this morning. Only a small crew went on into the town so I took the opportunity to go for a nice run. We then departed for Port Hardy where I will be driving.


Me and the torch on the ferry to Bella Bella



The torch on the ferry

We were greeted by rain which I haven't seen since I rejoined the relay. A great crowd was waiting for us and we had a flame blessing ceremony at Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda First Nation. One of our First Nation flame attendant got to run with the flame!


The flame is carried on a traditional First Nations canoe in Port Hardy

Tomorrow we will travel from Port Hardy to Powell River. Only 7 days until the flame arrives in New Westminster, hope you are excited!

Carpe Diem

Chuck

Fort Nelson - Prince Rupert (Day 95)

My day started in Fort Nelson this morning and it was -20! The relay began at a First Nation community and the last torchbearer brought the flame to the celebration site in Fort Nelson in an antique vehicle.

We only had a 5 torchbearers this morning and then we were off to Terrace with Air North for our last flight on this leg. It has been a great experience up north! As for me, my day is over and I'll be catching the ferry in Prince Rupert to Bella Bella and Port Hardy with the rest of the crew.

Carpe Diem.

Chuck

Dawson Creek - Fort St. John (Day 94)

I woke up this morning at 0 dark hundred (that's early) for a flight from Smithers to Dawson Creek with the Olympic crew for the first celebration. It is a balmy -16 here and snowing. Crisp air and the crunchy sound of the snow under my feet feels great as we are running.

Today would see a lot of driving (300 km) and 13 km of running. We saw a moose and some deer too. The crowd was great in Fort St. John and the final torchbearer was 93 years old! I'm off on another plane tonight to Fort Nelson for tomorrow's morning celebration.


Coke's "Happy #1"


The flame attendant with lantern


Carpe Diem

Chuck