The earliest start of the tour yet saw the team rising shortly after 5am. Fighting the lifts in the hotel, once again, luggage was transferred from rooms to the waiting wagons. The short journey to the airport passed without issue and soon the team found themselves at the Air Canada check-in desk.
Although still paperwork-heavy, the carriage of rifles on a domestic flight is a much more straightforward affair than transporting them internationally. Consequently, GBRT actually had time to spare before boarding began for the flight to Ottawa. As has become customary, several members of the team sampled the coffee of the local Starbucks.
The flight from Vancouver to Ottawa lasts around 5 hours and, although there was plenty of in-flight entertainment available, most of the team used the time to catch up on much needed sleep. We were greeted at the airport by newly arrived teammates Dave Rose and Mike Barlow, who had flown out a day earlier, in order kindly to set up the team’s base at Connaught Ranges.
The weather in Ottawa was hot and humid. However, checking of forecasts suggested that this was not to last…We reached the Best Western Plus in Kanata in the early evening. The hotel has been the home of visiting Great Britain Rifle Teams for many years. Unfortunately, however, its laundry facilities have recently been replaced with a lift, in order to help those less compatible with stairs to the upper floor. This revelation caused a great deal of frustration amongst members of GBRT, who were hoping to do some much-needed washing. Fortunately though, there are washing machines at Connaught Ranges and plans were made to utilise these the next day.
Dinner was taken at one of the many local favourites known to seasoned tourists, East Side Mario’s. Full of garlic bread and tired from a full day’s travelling, the team retired early, not shooting until the next evening and eager to enjoy the last lie in of the tour.
Lollipop awards (Day 15):
Good – Dave Rose, for meeting the team at the airport and providing them with G&Ts, upon arrival at the hotel.
Bad – Dave Rose and Mike Barlow, for arriving nearly two weeks late.