Almost time to race!!

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Toronto is cool! Walking around the city almost makes us forget we are here to RACE. Almost, but not quite. We practiced on Wednesday and today for about an hour. The race course and venue are really nice. They built the course just this year for this race. It's a 500m course and has 5 lanes. We saw teams from China, Australia, Germany and Canada. The Chinese men's team paddles with a rate TWICE as high as ours! Other than practice, we have been eating really good food and doing general sightseeing around the City. The opening ceremonies are tonight and our first race is tomorrow!! YAY. FINALLY.

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Photos

Motivational bus speech
Chris, our caller, gives a motivational speech on the bus.

Gettin' on the bus
This is our bus, "Bus B", it takes us to the race venue from the hotel and back.

Mark
Mark, our tiller, doing business on the dock.

Heidi
Heidi resting her head on a Hawaiian boa snake.

Front of the boat
Thursday practice. Chris is experimenting with his new cox vox (the microphone).

Back of the boat

Margarita, Tony and Jamie
Wednesday practice

Chris and Jasmine
Our "management team" in action.

Mike and Officials
Mike chattin' up the race officials

Cocktail hour
Mike, Me, Matt, Teresa before going out for a really good Indian dinner.

Matt
Matt and his new apron.

St James Garden
Kathleen, Jamie, Matt and me in the St. James garden.

St Lawrence Market
This building was built in 1851 to serve as the Toronto City Hall but is now a huge produce and craft market.

Matt and Meat
This is one of the many meat vendors in the market.

Kat and Jamie

Union Station
Having coffee at Union Station in Toronto.

St Andrews Church
This church was built in 1876 and has some interesting stained glass...

Comments

[Dana]

Wow! Toronto looks like a cool place! Looking good, ET! Tomorrow is the big day. Good luck, and I KNOW we'll have to celebrate when you guys come home. Good luck again! DC

[Jet]

Great Pictures
Hi, Erin! I hope your folks have made it to Toronto safe and sound. I've sent your site around to others and they love it. Good luck in your race today--I hope you win! Love ya! JKC

[Kai Ikaika Paddler]

thanks!
ma and pa should be here soon. we got 9th in the 200meter. not great, but OK. will do the 500m and 2000m tomorrow. chia soon. et

[Justin]

Toronto Tower
Wow! What a wonderful picture of the Toronto Tower! It looks like you are all having a fantastic time. Can't wait to hear the results from todays race!!! We are all cheering for you back here.