An early start at 6.30 for 7.am bus departure to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island.
This was a bitter sweet moment as we met Keith for the first time since his accident – and we were leaving him behind. Hard to put our thoughts into words. We hope to see him soon.
Morning class on board the ferry from Tsawassen to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
We started with a tour of Cathedral Grove in MacMillan National Park led by Rob Findlay. It is reputed to be one of the top seven sights to visit in Canada – to see the tallest tree at nearly 300 ft and over 900 years old.
We arrived at Qualicum CC and were greeted with a full blown pipe band performance to march us up the road and into the club. Hearts were pounding as much as anything from our collective sense of pride. Tom Pendreigh’s cousins had travelled a long distance to join the road as we marched by. (They later joined us for dinner – a nice touch)
Robert Jensen led the welcome, with support from Vern McShane, long term curler and sponsor of lunch (Boston Pizza) and Sandy Horseland, founder member who returned early from vacation to be with us.
A tough curling session, but a spirited second half fight back from the Scots yielded two wins and two losses, with a small shots deficit. After a quick drink onto the Bayside Oceanfront Hotel and changed (no 2s) for dinner. The evening was compered by Rob Diack and we were served by the junior curlers of Qualicum CC.
Daniel Boisvert made a short speech to describe the first recorded instance of curling in Paisley in 1540, as it seemed there was some confusion in Qaulicum about whether Scotland or Canada was the home of curling. Rob Findlay followed the local dignitaries to recall some of his experiences on the 2018 Canadian tour. The assembled crowd enjoyed the two verse version of the tour song – so much so we might add the third verse when it goes so well.
Local entertainment was provided by local students performing songs from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, followed by guitar and singing by Bruce Feltham, one of the Qualicum skips. The planned departure at 10.00pm was forced back by popular demand – a great night of raucous singing and dancing. On return to the hotel the bar was closed. Alternative arrangements were made for some, who were later to bed than others.
Steve McClymont