Passing the Torch

In the middle of writing up my last post, I looked out the window and noticed a crowd gathering in front of the rock. There was also a lot of police activity. Holy moly, I thought, the Olympic torch is about to go by! I grabbed a coat and ran down to capture this historic event.

Twenty-one years ago, I saw the torch being passed on in my home town ahead of the 1988 winter games in Calgary.  It boggles my mind that I can recall so clearly an event that happened more than twenty years ago. I’m getting a little long in the tooth. 🙂

first glimpse of the torch!

first glimpse of the torch!

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passing the torch

passing the torch

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the new runner takes off... walking

the new runner takes off… walking

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Ah, That Bracing Ocean Air!

I woke to rain this morning but, as mostly usual, it cleared up by mid-day. Needing to get up at, gasp, 5AM tomorrow I decided that a long walk in the bracing ocean air might be what I need to tucker myself out enough to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Norma left me a little project that requires a trip to the hardware store, so I decided to walk to the Rona, about three kilometres away. The store wound up not having what I needed, but I did get a few things for myself. It was an amazing walk and there were moments that made me feel that I was in either or both an alien world and a Harry Potter novel!

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there are wizards in Campbell River!

there are wizards in Campbell River!

I thought this was William Tell at first, but turns out it's Eve!

I thought this was William Tell at first, but turns out it’s Eve!

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The first of several fantastic wooden statues all set up in a park. They are available for 'rent' by local businesses and I had fun spotting them throughout the village.

The first of several fantastic wooden statues all set up in a park. They are available for ‘rent’ by local businesses and I had fun spotting them throughout the village.

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Oscar!

Oscar!

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Willowpoint Village has a grocery store, coffee shop, restaurants, pharmacy, pizza place, and just about any other service you could need

Willowpoint Village has a grocery store, coffee shop, restaurants, pharmacy, pizza place, and just about any other service you could need

this whimsical seaside cottage is almost a cliché

this whimsical seaside cottage is almost a cliché

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Driving down the highway, I saw Cookie Monster from the rear and knew I had to walk down and take a look at all the statues!

Driving down the highway, I saw Cookie Monster from the rear and knew I had to walk down and take a look at all the statues!

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first time I've seen a wooden inuksuk!

first time I’ve seen a wooden inuksuk!

a jetty

a jetty

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this burn pattern caught my eye

this burn pattern caught my eye

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I wear a size nine shoe, if that'll help with scale

I wear a size nine shoe, if that’ll help with scale

it also looks like that writhing mass of snakes at the bottom of the Well of Souls in Raiders of the Lost Ark

it also looks like that writhing mass of snakes at the bottom of the Well of Souls in Raiders of the Lost Ark

this is pretty much what I imagined Devil's Snare (from the Harry Potter series) looks like

this is pretty much what I imagined Devil’s Snare (from the Harry Potter series) looks like

yellow dogwood next to seaweed

yellow dogwood next to seaweed

that is some serious seaweed!

that is some serious seaweed!