Red Deer Royals Down Under

It's been an experience. Our early buses left Calgary early on Sunday morning and those kids managed to score some time at Manhattan Beach in LA, thanks to a 12 hour layover. For the Vancouver bound folks, it was a bit dicier,with a lengthy delay in Vancouver. Some of our more persistent and assertive Royal's adults managed to persuade Air Canada that they needed to get our folks down there, pronto.

We left LA about an hour behind schedule, but the Quantas crew was very professional and skilled. Those hot moist towels were just the ticket in the wee hours of the morning. Our kids aquitted themselves admirably during the flight and I'm happy to report that we were well received by the airline staff.

We spent the morning of the arrival at the Taronga Zoo, which has been around a while. It may have one of the best views that a zoo could have, thanks to the spectacular Sydney Harbour. We then got to our hotel (Sydney Metro City Center Hotel) in the late afternoon and eventually crashed for the night.

I was able to find an Internet cafe just down the street from our Hotel called Gobal Gossip. It has great ambiance and is relatively cheap ! $2.00 AU per hour. Tommorrow, I will get access to a computer that I can post photos from. As I write, several other Royals members are feverishly emailng their friends and family.

We're not the only youth roup in our Hotel. A contigent of Student Ambassadors from People Helping People (North Carolina)is also at the Hotel asking "Where Y'all from". Nice young folks.

We've had two performances today (July 5th) and I will post pictures tommorrow. Until then, catch you later.

Phil Norris

Our kids marched in the heat in picturesque Sundre. We had a good turnout,a great small town experience, and plenty of interaction with horse by-product. Some of our newer members got to experience the joy and necessity of cleaning drill masters after a parade. This was the last weekend before we leave for Australia, but not the last parade. Ponoka and Canmore-Banff beckon!

The Royals played at the beginning of the Daines Rodeo.
Marvin

We had a great day in Innisfail and followed it up with the Daines Rodeo.
Marvin

Check out the tubas!!
Marvin

While we still haven't left yet, there is still plenty to do before we go. We've got parades in Innisfail, Sundre, Ponoka, Canmore, and Banff before we get on the big silver bird. Many of us are still picking out billet gifts, deciding what to pack, and how we'll cope with jet lag.

I'm checking my camera, batteries and any other technology that would come with me. My checklist for preparation is getting longer and I'm wondering what "surprises" I should prepare for the lucky folks I'm travelling with. I'm looking forward to working with my fellow authors to keep the folks at home up to date with the tour. This will be the trip of a lifetime for a lot of people and we'll do our best to make it fun and safe.

We are still in Canada. This blog has been set up so that we can post pictures and info about the Tour as it is happening.

We hope this Travel Blog will help the families back home, follow our tour and enjoy it as we will be doing.

Keep checking as each day we hope at least one of the authors will add something to this site.

Jo