February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:10 Page 4
Edmonton or Bust ... ... S
A
couple of weeks into the BATUS Range
Sweep deployment we were given five
awesome days R&R prior to a further week of adven-
ture training! Ten of us decided to go on a road trip to
Edmonton and sorted out two hire vehicles. Spr “goes
large” Peek and Spr “Don’t like yours much” Radway
expected to collect two bangers … however, to their
surprise, they were (irresponsibly…) handed the keys
to brand new Chrysler 300’s - some kind of ‘muscle
car’ I do believe. Three hours late, they arrived back at
Suffield camp to take us to Edmonton ...
With some outstanding prior planning, we arrived in
Edmonton without accommodation – what a nightmare!
After driving round the city for a little while we settled
on staying in a stinking hotel (not that we were plan-
ning on spending much time there!). After our six hour
drive we needed some sustenance and headed to White
Avenue … a strip full of exotic bars that we had heard
a lot about from other refined gentlemen at BATUS.
Since it was my birthday, they were keen to get me
well and truly in the party er…spirit! This wasn’t too
difficult given a pint of Tabasco sauce and something
to go with it. After only three blurry hours sleep that
night, somebody suggested visiting the West
Edmonton Mall (second largest in the world I might
add). Before getting on the world’s largest indoor
roller coaster we went past the food court and a few of
us decided to eat a Chinese meal just before going on
– not a good move prior to the roller coaster! This was
followed by a visit to the ice-rink where we were duly
humiliated by five year old children flying past us and
making us look like amateurs! Spr “Goes Large” Peek
was by far the worst and took a lot of stick! The fol-
lowing day we explored the indoor water park, sat at
the bar quaffing fruit smoothies and admired the swim-
ming techniques of local ladies. We tried some more
shopping, but this was cut short by visits to the most
architecturally magnificent of…er…bars! Our last day
I told you on
was a marathon along the White Avenue – I never
realised how long it was, and oh so many pit stops for
drinks! In all an exciting trip and one that we all thor-
oughly enjoyed.
4
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