Friday, June 30 - We headed out and drove to the Cariboo to Williams Lake. We met Assistant Governor Lori Macala and Ed, enjoyed a show opening at the Station House Gallery and then went for dinner at the Rotary Steak Out which is put on by the Rotary Club of Williams Lake (great meal under tents near the Stampede Grounds - ribs, steak and all the trimmings!). This is open to the entire community and it was well patronized.
Saturday, July 1 was our first Official Governor duty - the Williams Lake Stampede Parade put together by the Rotary Club of Williams Lake Daybreak. We started the day at the Rotary Pancake breakfast (again a great feed with huge lines of people!) and then were off to ride the Rotary float in the Parade with Lori and the Rotary Youth Exchange students who were there on their annual BC Tour. The float featured a live band and it was fun waving to the throngs of people who were out on this beautiful Canada Day morning. The Rotary Flag was carried by a rider on horseback at the head of the parade!
After the parade, we spent the afternoon at the Williams Lake Stampede rodeo with Lori and Ed. It was a great performance with lots of action. Little did we know then that in just a few days lightening would spark wildfires that would see the community and surrounding area evacuated.
