Day 1 July 7, 2009

PGC Canadian Tour 2009
July 7th Day 1
1730 hours or so
And a long one it is!! Everyone has been very patient and had a good time despite being stuck in a bus for almost 12 hours!! We are just approaching our first stop - Quebec City.
To recap the day:
We departed PDS parking lot a little after 6 am. And heading … NORTH - Au Canada –
Around 8 am we made a stop at a dunkin donuts, starbucks, concession stand road stop to switch bus drivers and to stretch our legs. Back in the bus until Vermont where we stopped at the most glorious road stand with big wooden carved bears and a decorated fiberglass moose in front of which some had their pictures taken. The gardens were flourishing – maybe it rains a lot here? - and we got to pick our secret singers. We will give our “person” clues about ourselves and hopefully after 4 clues and days our “person” will figure out who their secret singer is. Lots of whispering going on now!
Back on the bus and headed into Canada. We disembarked at customs where we were all processed and got our passports stamped. It was relatively painless and quick and we all made it through. So now in Canada and the rain, the rain and the rain keeps a’ comin! During a particularly thrilling thunderstorm, we got hail pounding the top of the bus, lightening flashing outside, and heavy pelting rain but our driver, Gary, brought us through it with flying colors. We love our bus driver and practically gave him a standing ovation when the rain stopped. (Actually the girls were busy chatting telling ghost stories, listening to ipods, playing different card games and sleeping, Us adults were the ones clapping the driver’s driving skills).
It’s a very amiable group of girls and there is a wonderful hum of talk and quiet singing behind us with the occasional out loud laughter! Mrs. Westrick just practiced their voices for about 20 minutes, second time today, and we feel privileged to be here with their chansons (song, for you Spanish, Chinese or Latin speakers) surrounding us.
Lunch and many snacks later the girls and adults are well fed and really ready to be there and on to the next event! Will pick up later!
2125 military time
Arrived at Hotel Super at 1745, everyone quickly dispersed to their four person rooms to unpack (ha) and eat more junk food- I caught them! This was appetizers for dinner which occurred at 1930 at a especially nice restaurant Jardin de Tang (yes, we came all the way to Quebec City and ate Chinese food)
Actually it was a great choice because the girls had a good variety of meats, fish .soups, salads, veggies and an amazing dessert buffet which we left empty. Those with energy went to the indoor pool which has the tallest circular slide splashing into the pool ever- all those little brothers- eat your hearts out!
Some of us chaperones are lifeguarding while some are doing hall duty and then you have us bloggers. Hopefully we have figured out how to add photos and you can see how our group played all day. Tis a long day and we want to go to bed – but we still have an hour more of chaperoning to do = snore

Here is the link to today's photos- finally!!
tomorrow pictures of the pool slide!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/PGCTour2009/Day1July72009#