Onward To The Prairies

The bone-chilling temperatures offer a rather blunt reminder, as do the patches of white as my plane descends back to earth.
We're not in Vancouver anymore, Toto.
With apologies to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, it's my way of saying our West Coast adventure has reached its end after six fabulous days in what is surely one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
It took until the last day we were there, but finally we were given a true glimpse of the majestic Coast Mountains that look down upon one of our favourite places in Canada to visit. Just for the views alone, which are nothing short of stunning.
But as I discover with each stop along the figure skating trail, there are wonderful, amazing people wherever you turn in this land of ours. People who are fiercely proud of where they're from, yet welcoming as can be to a visitor from far, far away.
It is one of the joys of being a part of all of this, the special people that are a part of the journey each year. The many friends I've made along the way in nearly 20 years of being associated with this sport, with whom I will always cherish this annual reunion known as the BMO Canadian figure skating championships.
I can't imagine going through any year without it.
But there are also the new people you meet, like Ally, Rosa, Kevin and the rest of the gang at Earls Paramount, who made their restaurant a favourite stop of mine during this particular trek (and reminded me, once again, why Earls is must-visit anytime I'm west of Ontario).
And, of course, the friendly volunteers at Pacific Coliseum, who gave me every reason to believe the world will get the warmest of receptions when the Winter Olympics come to this city in two year's time.
And so, with those thoughts, we close the book at the Left Coast Chronicles with this final chapter.
Thanks, too, to all of you who took the time to follow along with our 'alternative' view of this event. We don't profess to be 'seriously West Coast,' as one of the Vancouver dailies bills itself, but we do our level best to share the personal stories of the best group of young athletes you'd ever want to meet (and thanks to all who shared theirs).
So now it's bon voyage, B.C.
Next stop, Saskatoon, and the 2009 BMO Canadian championships (with a little pit stop right in my backyard at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa for HomeSense Skate Canada in the fall).
See you all again soon.