Well every good thing must come to an end, and what a good thing this past 17 days have been. We have had lows and highs over the Olympics, and I wanted to get down what this Olympics have meant to me.

I was like many at the beginning, I wanted to stay away from Vancouver because it was going to be a zoo with the traffic and endless amounts of crowds downtown, Then something magical happened, a torch came through. I missed my first chance to see the flame as it passed a few blocks from my home. I was too late coming home from work, but I did see the results as lots of people were heading home with their flags and red mittens. I knew the torch was heading by my office in White Rock the next morning at 6AM and I was not going to miss it.

I woke up early and was at the office just after 5am, and saw people were already starting to line the streets. With my coffee in one and and camera in the other I watched as people from all ages and nationalities gathered. People had their faces painted, flags ready and everyone was glowing.

Just after 6 the sponsors came through, and everyone started to get excited. Then it happened, there was the flame, the Olympic spirit! It filled me with the sense that something was happening, something big that I needed to be a part of. It joined all of us on that cold dark morning, it lite a flame in our hearts and made us believe!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Michael Buble, originally uploaded by BigA888.

Got a great shot of Michael Buble behind the stage of the Colbert Report on location of the Vancouver 2010 games. He was looking a little rougher than usual, I guess it is his masculine Canadian look.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The scene from Abbotsford BC yesteday after the hockey game. Repeat this for every town across our great land, and you have a moment that Canada will never forget!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

One of the highlights for me over the Olympics was seeing Wintersleep perform blocks from my home! Fantastic!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Vancouver 2010 – Winter Olympics, originally uploaded by BigA888.

Caught the rings changing colour when Joannie Rochette won her bronze medal!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Viewing the East Lion, originally uploaded by BigA888.

Just looking over my pictures of all the hikes I have done over the past 2 years, and think WOW!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

We conquered Mount Outram at 2400 Meters. What a hike, took use 10 hours, which included a long stay at the top, and some first aid treatment on my knee.

It was a hike of endurance, and having that energy left to scramble up the rocks to the peak. I slipped on the rocks heading down, and had a nasty cut on my knee, and thanks to Steve, I was patched up.

I

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

What a long day of hiking. I started out at 5:30am to meet up with the group of 7 other hikers to try and tackle the Welsh Peak in Chilliwack BC.

Did not return home till just after midnight with a sunburn, scraps and bruises and that exhilarating feeling of a day long hike! I dd not get to the peak, as I did not feel confident with the exposed class 5 scramble to the top, one wrong move and you are dead!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Just another day in paradise!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

This is just cool!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites