Phase 2 – R&R
After the rigours of three days competing in the heat and humidity of Connaught (with considerable success, for those back home who are struggling with the jargon of the Target Rifle community), GBRT is now in R&R phase, with smaller groups going off and doing different things on day one:
Flying Group
Oli (or Olay as he is now called) very kindly organised a trip/lesson in a sea plane for Del (OGM, OGC) and both the DCs. Unfortunately due to a slight date mishap it turns out the booking was for 24hrs later (lollipop beckons for Olay?) so the write up for this will have to follow tomorrow… unfortunately DC (the Crispy one) has headed stateside this pm so he will have to wait until next time.
Ottawa (or should that be Awatto?) Group
Cap, Vice, David Y, Treasurer and this diarist went via the range (legit admin purposes, not some sneaky wind reading practice) into Ottawa for a spot of shopping, government building viewing, a leisurely lunch and a slow walk through the National Gallery of Canada. Whilst you can take the team out of the range, it appears you can’t take the range out of the team with interest peaking at the discovery of (i) a vacant plinth waiting for Jon and (ii) two shooting trophies, one won by a former Russell, with an Adj’s score. Culture – done, check.
The Russell Trophy
Spa group
Bus three, enhanced by (self)selected members of other buses and (self)appointed Canadian Liaison Officer Felder, took the concept of R&R literally and headed across the Ottawa River to the Nordik Spa in Gatineau (Quebec). The Nordik Spa offered up a bewildering array of pools, saunas and relaxation areas to appease the soul, with an appropriate smattering of bars to quench the thirst. Graham managed to remove any uncertainty over whether he was going to double up on lollipops by leaving his swim shorts to dry outside his hotel room – fortunately (for everyone else at the spa) things have progressed since the disciplinarian days of his all boys schooling and a supplementary pair were obtained for an inflated fee and everyone’s blushes were saved.
Following an unexpected altercation with some misplaced celery, relaxation was obtained in saltwater sensory pools, hot water infinity pools and beneath the magic hands of Jane and Kirsty. So relaxing was the experience that a search party had to be sent out for the Chairman (no phones permitted) before the bus set off home via the scenic route along the Ottawa river.
Gatineau Group
Jon, Martin T and Nigel headed over the river too and into the hills for commanding views of the region, including the range and Meech lake. Lunch was at a local brewery (much to Martin’s disappointment), although the ice cream stop, the primary objective for Martin, was most successful. He can highly recommend the maple and walnut (double scooper).
The team reconvened after their activities (or lack thereof) in time for half the team to go to John & Dietra Carmichael’s for a BBQ while the remainder headed for steak, the finest wines available to humanity and B52s a
t the Keg. A “quick” game of Cards Against Humanity in the bar cannot be covered in detail here for obvious reasons. Suffice to say that both diarists now see various teams members in a new light (you know who you are…).
The team has now set off from our Best Western base for Glen House Resort in Gananoque for a couple of nights. More detailed results from the ORA meeting will follow.
