First Post - Feb 2nd 2010

Well I decided to start writing early. We leave a week tomorrow. Wanted to let everyone know exactly what our schedule is and who we are.

Our group is as follows:

Reuben Greenspoon - Manitoulin Island, ON
Dana Bateman - St-Augustin, QC
Corey Karn - Manitoulin Island, ON
Shannon O'Reilly - Innisfil, ON
Nicole Fraser - Magnetawan, ON
Jarrod McNeely - Orillia, ON

We are all very excited to begin our once in a lifetime journey across this great country we call home. For a few of us (including myself) it will be our first time going to western Canada. For others it will be a return west and their first time without their family - but rather their extended SPAD family. But for all of us it will be our first experience at an Olympic games. For 11 days we will be a part of the biggest sporting event in the World. For 18 days, there is no bigger event on earth. The eyes of the world will be on Vancouver, and we will be a part of it. We will be a part of the games in which Canada wins their first Gold Medal on home soil and maybe even be a part of the celebration.

As of right now we will be leaving Sudbury on the 10th after school and will start the long trek towards Manitoba, through the prairies, over the Rockies, and finally into the City on the Sea - Vancouver. Since there are 6 of us we will be driving all day and night, taking turns driving, navigating(keeping the driver awake) and of course sleeping. We have given ourselves 3 days to drive there so that we can stop and take in a few tourist things(hopefully take some pictures of Canada's "BIG" landmarks). We will be staying at the Sandman Hotel in Richmond which is right next to the Olympic Speed-Skating Oval and a short sky-train ride to downtown. So far we have a few tickets and will likely be splurging on more once we arrive.

Please follow our blog and comment and give us any tips or advice to make our journey as amazing as possible.

More to come once we get on the road!