Backpacker Buzz

On Saturday it was time to move on…and what a first few days and nights it’s been!

Where I have noted (P) there are accompanying photos to this blog here:

 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=151558&id=167745160661 

First of all apologies for being slightly off the radar for a few days, but there’s been lots going on and I had a few technical issues!!

I arrived in Whistler on Saturday afternoon and managed to find the buses I needed to get me out to Hostelling International’s original Whistler accommodation (a new 2nd hostel opens in July) located right on the edge of the frozen Alta Lake….. it’s a great place and I’ll bring you some photos and info during the week…

My first priority was heading into Whistler Village to get to the medals ceremony…. As I didn’t already have a free ticket (which can be picked up earlier in the day if you are there) I had to join the ever-growing queue (P)…… it took about an hour and a half, but I was determined to be there!! After a warm up from their resident DJ (P) I got to see Amy Williams receive her gold medal!!! (P) Totally amazing and you can see my real perspective in my video blog entry for it….

Thankfully I am not to be a lone traveller here in Whistler…. The Ski Club of Great Britain’s Betony Garner (P) is out here reporting on the games and so she was able to show me some of the nightlife and introduce me to some of the folk out here enjoying the Olympic Vibe…. We hit a place called “Buffalo Bill’s” for the evening and there were plenty of people out to party!! Many thanks to Bet and my new ski buddy Luke (P) for an evening ripping up the dancefloor….

As an avid people watcher my favourite visual treat of the evening were the Go Canada Go girls “massif” out in force…. Not because they were drop dead gorgeous or anything, but because they were funny to watch - the only way to explain it is that they were “on it” and “having it large”…… at one point three of their group started writhing against a giant poster (P)…. But when two soon stopped the third made that spot her own mini performance area… as the rest of us bopped about her screams blasted out above the music and she danced for about 20mins (P)…. Before moving off to the cage by the dancefloor!! Pretty sure she will have woken up next day with a sore throat from all the screaming and a sore head from all the drinks I can only assume she had!

So…. on Sunday it was time to strap on my skis and hit the Whistler slopes with my handy guide Luke….I was skiing with the giant GB flag flapping in the wind behind my rucksack and I got plenty of waves and cheers form fellow Brits on the slopes… It was while out and about that we bumped into Londoner “Sick Rick” (P)…. A name I have conjured up as he can ski so damn well…. He told us to come check out a ‘sweet drop’ and promptly disappeared 15feet vertically down before running out at his line at top speed into the bowl below….. myself and Luke didn’t follow…. We took a slightly more level-headed entry point to the side! Rick will be sure to feature in another post of mine where you’ll be able to see some of his antics….

Sunday was also a big day in the Olympics – the National game against one of Canada’s biggest Ice hockey rivals – the USA….. after our hard day on the slopes I headed into the Longhorn pub with Rick and Luke to settle in….. the place soon packed out (p) and there were a high number of USA supporters (P) so cheering levels were high! If you watched you will know it was a pretty epic match… Canada let a few silly goals in early on and that unfortunately sealed their fate….. I think they played better, but it seems that the USA has the best goalie in the game and he just kept blocking everything!! Victory to the USA and dismay and upset in the Team Canada camp!

While there we were joined by Ricks sister Rachel who also happens to be an amazing skier after turning from the dark side as she was previously a boarder ;-)……  we also met the tiny but feisty supporter Brenda (P) up from Vancouver with her brother for a bit of the games action…

After the game ended the tunes came on and there was dancing in the bar which was done in ski boots by some and socks by others (P) thank goodness I have uber-comfy boots that rock the dance world!!…..  it was also quite interesting to watch on as Brit Rachel decided to deck out in Canada gear so that she could take on a USA supporter in a bit of harmless fisticuffs! (P)

Once we’d had enough of the pub we decided to check out the nightly “Fire and Ice” performance where giant rings are set on fire for a set of stunning trickster moves to be thrown through them (P)….. all set to dance music with people in random costumes gyrating front of stage (P)….. we bopped to Bangra and Rick even tried to impress us with some break-dancing moves (P)..

After a quick stop at Zogs for a late night snack I sauntered off with my skis over my shoulder and hopped very happily onto the bus back to the ranch….. what a crazy start to my time in Whistler!!

This place rocks….

HB