Day 14 and 15, Owen Sound to Orangeville to Caledon, Ontario

 Today was a good day for Orange, as we were travelling to our home away from home for one night, Orangeville. Well, well, well, talk about deja vu. Day 14 of the relay, and I was taken off my regular torchbearer shuttle for a day to do a relief shift as the driver of the media motorhome which travels directly in front of the torchbearer. This is the same motorhome that I drove on the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen relay. What a difference a wrap makes.

Our first stop was at another school presentation in Owen Sound.

It was one soggy day, the only upside is it makes the flame look so much brighter. A big difference for me today, instead of being ahead of the torchbearer (because we are always ahead dropping them off for their segment), I was lucky enough to be around the action today.

One of our stops today was in Markdale (population about 1,325). Between cities, the flame travels in a lantern, and when we arrive at a new town, the lantern comes out (here our relay director Otto takes the flame from the lantern and lights the torch for our first torchbearer in Markdale).

I got to see a lot of the relay today from my side mirrors. Our CP (Canadian Press) media people have their own photographers and videographers on board, as well as any local media that might hop on from town to town.

The torch arrives at another school. (funny it was only yesterday, but we have been to so many places, I can't even remember what town, never mind what school )

I have a rear-view camera mounted on the dash, so I can judge how far to be in front of the torchbearer. The black line is the key, try and keep it around their feet. (That is our command car that our relay director rides in directly behind the torchbearer)

The local police lead the way in Flesherton. (population around 700).

and in Shelburne (population 7,200) where we had our lunch celebration.

side mirror shot of the "kiss" of the flame

Well, this is a missed photo op. We were at an equestrian center, where a show jumper was going to jump with the torch. In the end I got a shot of our convoy vehicle parking, and you cannot even tell we were parked on plastic sheets (4ft by 8 ft.). (more traction than you would think)

Well, hmnnnnnn, nothing is supposed to hold up the relay. These horses were actually part of the relay and one of the riders carried the torch.

I spy the torch bearing horse guy in my rearview camera

Relay convoy random parking shot.

It's always the small communities that have the best spirit. We had a small celebration in the farming city of Mono. (population around 7,500) They rocked it with free hot dogs, ice cream and give-aways, and local entertainment. They welcomed the flame and left us all with a smile on this rainy day.

Our home away from home tonight on day 14 was Orangeville. (population close to 31,000)

There is apparently 58 of these tree carvings in Orangeville. Here is the link.

Day 15, I was back in shuttle 1 with my partner and torchbearer host Hayley. You do not see these in British Columbia, a turtle crossing sign. (later in the day I actually drove over top of a very large turtle, yes I missed it.

Our first meeting of the day was at the impressive Caledon Civic Center.

Our esteemed organizer of the first few days of the relay, and the northern section , Ross, hanging with the lunch time celebration final torchbearer , Heather.

The back-drop bus shot.

It was such a beautiful day. (although I have to get used to the humidity, not the same back home in B.C.) So, there was a lot of family and friends out on the streets soaking up the relay and the sunshine.

We must be doing our job, people show up at the right place at the right time.

Boy, I get confused. We are in Bolton, but apparently it counts as Caledon.

Some of the equestrian events will be held in Caledon.

In the men's bathroom this poster for Caledon days, which was a nice tie in with the relay. I am sad to report I did not get to hang around long enough to see a band I grew up with,  Trooper

At our meeting point for the final torch bearer group of the day, it was time to practice the flame exchange.

The bus is turning out to be the best back drop for a group photo.

On the road, it is so cool to see proud family members greeting their torch bearer as he departs from our shuttle bus. 

Our last torch bearer of the day, Toronto Maple Leaf center Peter Holland. (posing with Hayley). He was such a nice and soft spoken guy. He was a natural choice for Caledon, a local boy who made the bigs.

There he goes heading to a huge crowd.

The power of the flame

and then to a hotel in Bolton, from farm to not farm in less than 30 minutes, my view for one night.