News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

The close of the year, and what a day we have in store. It’s snowing again -- or still. Its warmed up to about - 5 Celsius. Russian people are walking around with their coats open and have given up on gloves and hats.

Sarah and I went to a ‘wodka’ bar, but I will save that story till I can remember it.

(Photo:  The street outside our hotel 4:00am New Year's Day.)

It was darker this morning than usual, snowing heavily and it did not get light until almost noon. We got back to the hotel after our two games at about 11:00. There was a moment in the lobby when I could have gone to my room, but I could see the bar from where I was -- a bar full of Canadians.

Vodka, or as it’s called here ‘wodka’, is served in a water glass and it appears that the serving size is about half a glass at a time, with a bowl of ice as the available mix. I managed to cut it with about two ice cubes every second glass, so I was, essentially, drinking it straight. Just like in Canada, at some point in the evening the lights come on, and for me that was 4:00am.

 

(Photo:  I left the hotel one night and walking through, noted the ever present police in the foyer. I was going about one block to buy some wine at a convenience store. I got about half way to the store and turned around, sure enough my late night hotel departure had triggered a two person police tail. I got to the store, they watched me buy a bottle of wine and we all walked back to the hotel. Photo 1:  Hotel lobby security.   Photo 2:  Russian convenience store.  Photo 3: The Ufa Red Dog.)

It’s hard not to love what today holds. An all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, a bus tour and two hockey games to watch.

Our tour bus company lined up an afternoon tour of Ufa. We were all on the bus waiting to leave, when our interpreter instructs the driver to open the door and a Soviet policeman boards. We think he is just going to take a look, but no -- he walks through the bus, right to the back, where all the cat calls and comments were coming from. Still in his parka, snow boots and traditional Russian fur hat, he seats himself in the middle of the back row.

The tension was tangible, especially since the back of the bus in Russia has the same reputation as the back of the bus in Canada. Our interpreter took the opportunity to announce over the P.A. that he would be joining us ‘for our protection’.

 

(Photos:  The view from our hotel room.)

We arrived in Moscow after a day and half of travel. On our way to our downtown hotel we experienced rush hour traffic, best described as 12 lanes of traffic on a road designed for eight lanes. Saying that was ‘hectic’ would be an understatement.

Morning rush hour also takes place in the dark, as it does not get light until 10:00am. Pedestrians are at a disadvantage, as they must watch their footing on the ice and snow, but factor in the extreme winter apparel and apparent-mandatory Russian head gear, and it really is a wonder they ever make it across the street.

(Photo:  This was taken from moving bus, but that is how Russians spell Moscow -- they should know.)

By Sonia Conrod,WLWC President

The Williams Lake Wrestling Club (WLWC) would like to welcome all our new members to the ‘Black and Blue Family‘. It is fantastic to see new faces on the mat.

We are excited to say the season has officially begun. This past weekend, December 1, 2012, our high school students kicked off the season by attending The 1^st Annual Prince George Secondary School Icebreaker tournament. We brought seven athletes to Prince George to compete.

(Photo: The Williams Lake Wrestling Club's Black and Blue Team.)