SEA TO SKY

Wow. A day in Whistler on a picture-perfect fall afternoon is something very, very special.

Folks who gathered in Vancouver to hear about plans for the 2010 Winter Olympics were sent on a bus ride from the city to the Whistler Olympic venues on Wednesday. It was a drop-dead gorgeous day, with temperatures around two or three degrees, plenty of sun and only a bit of wind. And no snow on the ground (sorry, Toronto).

The Sea-to-Sky Highway that links Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler is about 80 per cent finished, and the road's come a long way since a visit by this corner back in June. It was two hours door to door and the highway, we must say, looks terrific.

The views of the mountains out here are enough to make an Ontario resident green with envy.

As for the Olympic preparations, things look in terrific shape for the big show in 2010. No less an authority than Don Mills' own Steve Podborski says the downhill run for the Winter Games will be the best ever, and we never doubt the Pod.

After a morning that was spent checking out the ski jump, biathlon and cross-country facilities in the Callaghan Valley, officially dubbed Whistler  Olympic Park, reporters were bused up to Whistler for a tour of Olympic accomodations and, in some cases, the bobsleigh/skeleton/luge run. It looks outstanding, and folks can hardly wait for the show to begin.

When the day was done, the good folks at Tourism Whistler treated the assembled media to a fine array of appetizers and B.C. wines at the Fairmont Whistler. Hey, it's a tough job, folks.

OUCH

Jeff Lee of the Vancouver Sun reports that a few anti-Olympic types were outside the Pan Pacific Hotel the other day, telling some media folks about their opposition to the Winter Olympics.

International Olympic Committee member Kevan Gosper of Australia apparently wandered by and, in perfect deadpan style, asked if the assembled protestors were for or against having the 2010 Games in Vancouver-Whistler.

When told they were firmly in the opposition, Gosper looked at one protestor and said, "Well, aren't you a                                                                                  bit late?"