Belmont secondary was abuzz on Wednesday morning as the team of Tour de Rock riders traversed the Malahat and made their way to the high school for a well-deserved pit stop.
Students in the leadership class at Belmont helped set up for the lunch, while members of the Langford Fire Department were on hand to cook burgers and hot dogs.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty excited to welcome them here. I think itB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool that weB次元官网网址檙e an official lunch stop,B次元官网网址� said Grade 9 leadership student Madison Dugray minutes before the riders arrived.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a big deal to be a part of something as great as this and weB次元官网网址檙e really glad that weB次元官网网址檙e able to participate,B次元官网网址� said Belmont principal Ray Miller.
The event was also an opportunity for West Shore RCMP members to welcome Const. Elyse Patten back to the community.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a super hard thing even just to sign the piece of paper saying that you want to join, knowing that it takes so much time away from your personal life, your family and a lot of time away from work ... weB次元官网网址檙e happy that she did it,B次元官网网址� said Const. Jon McKinney.
Police sirens signaled the arrival of the morningB次元官网网址檚 honoured guests as the team of 17 riders climbed up Langford Lake Road to the sound of cheers from a sizeable crowd of Belmont secondary students.
B次元官网网址淚 got a wonderful welcome from all of the schools heading along Goldstream ... and then coming up here and my familyB次元官网网址檚 here and both my junior riders. ItB次元官网网址檚 overwhelming,B次元官网网址� said Patten.
The support means a lot for the riders, Patten said, adding that the cheers from the students and her junior riders helped heal the pain in her legs, a symptom of a long, difficult ride.
The team of cyclists began their two-week, 1,000 kilometre journey on Sept. 24 in Port Alice and had reached the homestretch of their trip by the time they stopped at Belmont.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 Tour de Rock wraps up today (Oct. 7) with a ride through Saanich, Esquimalt and Victoria.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
