After a rough flight and long layover in Chicago, I arrived at Ottawa at 2am.The first night I spent at Varyn's house with Nurann. The next day was when all the good stuff started to happen!

The highlights of the 23rd include meeting Starath and Wicked Woman. Varyn, Nurann and I had checked into the B&B which was a nice home with nice people who managed to get five of us into one room and still make it comfortable. My memory is faulty at best, but I think after we had lunch in a pub we found Wicked Woman wandering the streets in a lost daze and with a telltale suitcase. We took her back with us. After that we went to the Greyhound bus station and fetched Starath. She was all squeals and cuddles, as I expected. Seeing her and hugging her for the first time will be a memory I shall treasure dear for life. This was a friend I’d been wanting to meet in person for nearly 5 years. I was thrilled. We bombarded her with questions and comments, one of which included going on a Haunted Walk tour half an hour later. We didn’t end up making that in time, but poor Starath agreed to try even after a day and 7 hour bus ride from Minneapolis. Bless her trooper’s heart! If I recall correctly, we had dinner at another pub-like restaurant at the Rideau Centre. Much jovial nonsense was had all round.

The following day, Varyn dragged us half way around Ottawa and we saw many buildings, dined in several different restaurant and frolicked in a few sections of park. We tried to act out Beast Wars without scripts, relying on our geekery to remember scenes in their entirety. It was perhaps a good sign that we failed at this and decided we needed scripts after all. We went on the hunt for an Internet café with the vague intention of making it to the museum of civilization that day. We kept getting distracted by toy stores. We failed at finding an open Internet café and instead ate in a real one and I showed Varyn and Co. money from Britain (though Varyn had seen it before). We made it to the park by the bridge that led across the river to Quebec (the province) and decided that at that time of evening the museum most definitely would be closed. Instead, we listened to church bells ringing in the twilight and fell into a silent stupor. It was that beautiful; the city lights and dying sunlight on the river, the silhouetted skyline of the city and the haunting melody of the bells in the cold night air created an atmosphere I’ll never forget.

The next day we ate a hearty organic breakfast served to us by the kindly B&B folks who entertained us with their dog doing tricks. I forget whether it was that day or the day before we attempted watching Beast Wars on Varyn’s laptop. All I remember of that is that we watched “The Low Road” and half of “Bad Spark”, and, as soon as Rampage reared his ugly head, her laptop’s heart gave way and it fainted and refused to play the episode beyond that point. I guess Rampage scared it to death! We went on our merry way and saw the parliament buildings and I took many photos plenty. We found an Internet café and printed off scripts. We went back to the park and acted out those scripts. Much fun was had. Varyn had the marvellous idea of using sticks as swords, and terrified the living daylights out of me as she chased me halfway across the park in a Dinobot fury with the full intent, I am sure, of beating me into the ground with it as I rather stink at anything fighting. I do not, however, stink at running and she was quite exhausted when she finally caught up to me. I suggested an alliance and she conceded. She and Starath acted out Code of Hero, with me thrown in as first the stupid Neanderthal that got caught by Megatron, and then as Rattrap by a dying and, apparently, drunk Dinobot’s side. Only Varyn could turn such a poignant scene into a comedy and it ended with Dinobot declaring he died because Rattrap just wouldn’t get him a drink! Starath and I acted out a scene from my fic “The Other Side of Purpose” which got a round of applause from the audience of three. All of us picked characters from different scenes from different BW scripts, which we read out in the merry sunshine of the park. The Canadians are nice people. A lady with her dog remarked kindly on our antics and asked if we were doing a play and then was intrigued to learn about our hobby and the gathering. I was relieved she did not call the people in white coats to take us where we belonged. lol! We headed off to the Museum again, getting high on lots of candy and being horribly distracted by comic stores. I liked Ottawa. It was clean, safe, pretty and had many, many comic stores. Nurann was delighted with her find of a red Robot Masters Optimus Primal and also purchase a 10th Anniversary Dinobot. I spazzed over titanium series Optimus and bought that. Varyn did not spaz, but rather mused over a 10th Anniversary TM Rattrap, and finally bought it and dubbed RT her drinking buddy. When in one store I spotted a Hard Hero Rhinox, I went to the cash register to talk to the lady about the price. Turned out she was a Beast Wars fan who liked Silverbolt best! We chatted about the show and another dude picked up on our conversation and said he liked the show too. How joyous to find random strangers to be Beast Wars fans! We gave them both cards, I declined buying the Rhinox at 155 CAD (and just as well as I found him for $20 at Botcon) and we continued on our way.

In one store at the Rideau Center (which we went to eat and do bank stuff) Varyn bought a little alien with a parachute which we threw off the top of the building complete with Bwint card. Nurann had the awesome idea of buying glow sticks to shine that night while I read “Released” aloud. We then ate.

I feel like we were dragged through all of Ottawa til we finally crossed the bridge into Quebec. Varyn got to play tour guide in the Museum of Civilization and I took in the sight of very tall totem poles and the displays on Canadian history, from the ancient native tribes to the British and Frend who Europeanised the land, or rather parts of it, to modern day. Varyn and I drifted away from the others and got so absorbed babbling about history and genealogy and whatnot (subjects we both adore to babble about) that the staff of the museum had to tell us to meet out friends outside the main part of the museum. It appeared they’d sent out a search party for us. Whoops! We explored Quebec a little and then headed back for dinner. Varyn gave both Nurann and Starath piggybacks, a comical sight, I assure you. That night we read my horror fic and everyone seemed to enjoy the ambiance of the situation, with the glow sticks and dimmed lights.

The next morning we had our last yummy breakfast and then listened to Starath read a part from her Connection series. I really enjoyed that. Starath writes friendship so well and she read with feeling. Even old cynical Varyn liked that reading. It was a sad day, because we had to say goodbye to everyone. We lingered around the bus terminal until Nurann had to go. I sad goodbye to her and Varyn walked with her to the train station, during which time Starath’s bus arrived. That was a difficult goodbye. I was upset bcht Wicked Woman was at least with me to keep me company. Varyn cam back and we went and got Wicked’s luggage and bid goodbye to her at the bus station. Varyn and I called a cab and went back to her place. It was the end of a fantastic Gathering. I had a wonderful time and can only think that every year the Gathering is going to get better and better. Here's to 2007!

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