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Published: February 15th 2007
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Well it was some time ago now but we settled into our new home in Whistler on October 1st and started looking for things to do until the mountains opened for the season.
On October 8th Chris headed with Laura to see the salmon spawning (where salmon swim up the river to mate). The trip was made eventful by the dindgy looking suspension bridge which Chris crossed, the whole time thinking she was doomed.
We both started working and earning some much needed $$$. After spending time in the US and moreso lots of money it was great to finally have an income and be settled again for a few months before embarking on our next leg of the trip.
We managed to head to our first ever ice hockey match between Alberta Uni and Uni of BC. As we sat there and watched them bash each other against the wall the constant noises heard from our bench were... ouch, ohhh arrrrrr but the bald headed coach from Alberta Uni was only heard giving the referee a mouth full every few minutes until he was dragged away by his assistant before getting booted from the area. The match
was close but Alberta still managed to win and from that moment we all declared that we definately had to go and watch a NHL game before leaving Canada.
Through Shanes work we managed to organise to go Quad biking on October 28th. After getting our brief instructions and putting on all our safety gear (much to Chris dismay) we were off splashing mud all over each other. Shane got the hang of it quickly and got his motorbike fix that he was longing for since leaving home. Chris carved up the bends and kept up the pace even managing to get the wheels off the ground on a few occasions. Towards the end Shane worked his way to the front with the guide were they had a race full pelt for a few hundred metres each trying to outdo the other while Chris hung back and went up the wrong trail to turn around and find the guide chasing her down. Surprisingly the bikes do well over 60km/h and considering that this is in a trail no more than twice the size of the bike its a pretty cool thing to do.
We headed home that afternoon
with Shane glowing and saying that he can't wait to do snowmobiling once there is enough snow.
We had our first (and probably last if Chris can help it) snowy Halloween on October 31st with the intention of checking out all the costumes in the local area but Chris bailed saying it was too cold to leave the house... This has become a common theme for Chris, giving herself the challenge to see the longest she can stay in the house for. Unfortunately this quickly changes when she has to head to work but Shane normally cops a mouthful saying that a holiday is supposed to include sun!!!
It snowed for the first time on November 2nd. And people started going crazy in the Village... Shane started wetting the bed (not literally but you get the point) in the hope that the mountain would open earlier then the expected 23rd November.
We had a farewell for Steve (an Aussie we live with) who heaed to Iraq for work for 8 weeks on November 3rd. We headed to GLC for some dinner first and then onto The Amsterdam and finished by carving up the dancefloor at Maxx Fish,
until we all decided that we were way too drunk to be able to stand up anymore and thought it be best if we headed home. Thats though where the night got interesting. Steve and Ryan ended up trying to save the world and stop a guy from getting belted by a group of guys and proceeded to fight until they both got arrested and sent to the lock up for the night. When we finally got home Ben got on the phone to the police station demanding to speak with the Police Commissioner as it was a matter of National Security. Steve had to be released as he is going to fight in Iraq the following day. All the while Shane slept on the lounge in between bolting outside to the balcony every 15 mins for a few hours to pray to the heavens to make him never drink alcohol again. Nevertheless he managed to finally come to bed about 9am feeling very sorry for himself and not smelling the greatest either.
Shane, after weeks of deliberation by Canadian customs was finally able to collect his laptop after the 2 hour trip to Vancouver to collect it from
Erin's place. Whilst down there he searched far and high for a suitable present for Chris for her birthday coming up shortly after.
Well Chris birthday did come and although we didn't head out for dinner (Chris was sick) she still manged to get spoilt for her first ever birthday overseas. Shane thought it extremely romantic but moreso ... that the first underwear he gave her be thermals. Not sure if the idea went down that well. Chris also got a new beanie, which only lasted a few weeks before Chris threw it away (but she claims she lost it). Shane also did a collage for Chris of all her friends and family from back home from photos he got printed and put them into a photo frame for her. Finally she got what she had wanted for some time now - a diamond ring. It wasn't one to compare with the ring that Lleyton handed over but it was still a diamond.
We did manage to head out for dinner the following week at Trattoria Di Umbertos a really nice Italian place where we both managed to eat far too much food and Chris traditionally unbottoned her
jeans so as to not suffocate from eating too much.
We also got to stay at some of the nicest places in Whistler thanks to Shane's work and Fam nights (overnight stays where a tour of the hotel and then a room is provided for the night). Places such as the Pan Pacific Mountainside and the Four Seasons were definately the highlight. Even moreso for Shane who was wined and dined whilst Chris generally amused herself upstairs in the room watching the food channel.
Chris debuted in her first model show on Novemeber 17th at Showcase. It was a snowboard/ski modelling event where there was also a new movie release. Shane held back the paparrazzi and managed to get a few snaps of Chris strutting her stuff on the stage to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Next came the main event... the opening of the mountain...
Officially Whistler and Blackcomb opened on Saturday November 18th. Shane collected his season pass and headed up the mountain with Laura and Caroline. With a huge smile on his face and almost tears in his eyes Shane boarded for a few hours before arriving home and much to the delight
Shanes workmates dressing for Halloween
Shane dressed in his snowboard thermals for the day but fortunatley we don't have a photo to share with you (not) of Chris, explained in detail the events of the day.
Finally after years of dreaming of snowboarding Whistler Shane's dream has come true. It has felt like forever since we left home already and its not even half way through our trip but the season is shaping up to be the best ever.
We will get another update shortly with more news about the skills and spills of Shane on the mountain and Chris decision to start working 300hrs per week...
Hope that everyone is doing well and speak to you all soon.
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