GRT Olympic Team Blog

We are flying on a Boeing 767-300R

As Victoria suggested, I’ve gone to www.aircanada.com and have picked up my boarding pass. You input your confirmation number to start. There is the option to change your seat, which I did, and picked a forward window seat, 14K. I love flying, and usually get a sore neck from staring out the window so much. I hope we have clear skies in Vancouver when we land.

There was also the option to go paperless and have your boarding pass emailed to your internet enabled wireless device. So, of course, I went for that. They sent me a link to website with a weird image on it and your seat number. They suggest printing your baggage tags at a kiosk once you arrive. We should be there 2 hours ahead, which I plan to do.

My dad is driving me to the airport. Des Fitzgerald is car pooling with me, as we are on the same flight out.

I’m all packed and can’t wait to feel the push into the back of the seat as we take off tomorrow.

Here are the shifts I signed this morning.

Week 1 (Mon. Feb. 1 – 7): Job# 5037 (Mon. to Wed. off)

Week 2, 3, 4 (Feb. 8 – 28): Job# 5103 (Thurs and Fri. off)

 The bidding process was fairly complex with every day being a different shift. Also, the website didn’t get updated, so we had to rely on a last minute email update. I choose my shifts based on what my room mate, Reto Swaniga, choose. He is an early morning person, so I’ll end up getting up around 3:00 am to catch a 4:00 bus to Whistler to start around 5:00 each day. We both would have preferred the 4 day week, but only the night shifts were left on those shifts.

 Now to start memorizing my routes. I’ve posted all the routes here: http://caw4304.ca/olympics/routes. I’ll be doing about ¾ of all the routes, so that will be a nice variety. Since my shifts usually end around 13:15, there should be time to see some of the games in Whistler.

I’m quite pleased with my shifts.

My accomodations have finally come through, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ll be staying at the Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites. It is also known as the Super 8 Hotel, and is located at 38922 Progress Way, in central Squamish. Map here.

The description is as follows: The Mountain Retreat Hotel is a true 3 Star hotel. There is an in-house restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a Tim Horton’s and Wendys a block away. There is also a very good exercise room, hot tub, pool & water slide, sauna and wireless internet in the rooms. Plus there is a microwave, mini fridge, coffee/tea maker and a coin laundry. This property is an excellent location as it is relatively near the bus stops, and is near Walmart.

I may not want to come home!

Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites

Whistler Transit has issued their seniority list, based upon the return date of our offers of Employment, more or less. Here is how the GRT drivers rank, out of 330 drivers total.

My airline tickets arrived today by email from Victoria Wood. I’ll be flying out on Air Canada flight AC161 on Jan. 27 at 16:00 hrs. I’ll be returning on Sun. Feb. 28th. I had requested to return on Mon. March 1st, but apparently that day is set to be the busiest day in history for Vancouver International Airport. So we have to fly out the day before.

So glad to get this finalized.

John A.

Team GRT at Torch Run; from L to R: Marc Reilly, Debbie Elliott, Steve Mann, John A. McDonald, John Livingstone, Warren Schnurr, and Fernando Bralha.

What a privilege to be able to witness the Olympic torch relay passing through Waterloo Region. And what better way to join the celebration than with 7 friends from Team GRT? 

Video of Kitchener Olympic Torch Run – Dec 27, 2009 

 We met on Duke Street behind the City Hall Rotunda and watched the torch pass by around 6:40 pm. People were spilling onto the road, and it was hard to get a good shot. What a festive atmosphere! 

John A. with Olympic Torch runner at the rally. Each torch can be purchased by the runner for $350.

 We then went in search for some of the free Olympic flags, but they had run out. I met Des Fitzgerald in the City Hall. The show was very well done with a choir and some short but very good speeches. Apparently this torch run will be the longest in history with 12,000 torches custom+made for the occasion. 

It is one month from today that most of us fly out to begin our Olympic adventure in Vancouver. What better way to get into the Olympic spirit than to be able to witness the torch relay?  

Olympic Flame Caldron that was lit by the final runner on the stage on King St.

The Olympic Torch run will arrive at Kitchener City Hall at 7 pm on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. Let’s try and get all of the members of Team GRT together to watch it.

May I suggest that we all meet on Duke St. directly behind Kitchener City Hall at 6 pm? After the torch passes perhaps we could all get together for a group photo, and then move to the front of City hall to see the reception. Then perhaps we could all go out for a bite to eat afterwards.

If you would like to join me, please email me at caw4304@rogers.com or text me at 519-241-5623.

More info here:
http://www.kitchener.ca/pdf/olympic_torch_relay_map.pdf
http://www.kitchener.ca/living_kitchener/olympic_torch.html
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/torch/#/Home
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay/

See you there!

John A. McDonald

My shifts are finally covered!

After a bit of confusion between Vacation Lieu Days and Day Off Lieu Days, I finally had to give one day away. While this really hurt my Scottish nature, I signed the shift over to Tony Bissonette on Friday. This is the only shift I’ve ever given away. I still have to plug in one more lieu day for Feb. 18 after I earn it on New Years Day, but that shouldn’t be any problem. So, I’m finally all set to fly off to Vancouver.