At the rowing club a festive crowd is on hand, all members of the provincial Canada Games rowing team. Hamburgers are carbonizing on the barbecue and the celebrants are well into the second case of prudently rationed beer. No one is rowing tonight. The shells are long gone, packed onto the trailer for the cross-country haul.
Tonight there is a briefing followed by a little socializing.
Tomorrow the team is on its way. To add to the excitement, a load of neat Canada Games stuff has arrived. Provincial team jackets, racing uniforms, caps and pins - the perks after a summer of hard training. Above the happy chatter comes a sound from out on the water, like a voice raised in song. No big deal.