National Marksmanship Competition – Part 2

Work Point Barracks.

Lunch was on our minds when we woke up in the late morning on May 3.  We stepped out of Rainbow Block to get our bearings.  The temperature was warm even though the clouds in the sky were blocking out the sun.  The barracks sat next to a large paved parade square.  The new Work Point Barracks was located on the other side of the square.  That building is strictly reserved for military personnel. 

Parade Square.

We walked around the parade square towards the mess hall.  There was a small line when we got there.  CFB Esquimalt is active 24/7 and everyone on base needs to eat.  I think the kitchen staff was made aware of my arrival because the lunch menu offered a steak sandwich with fries.  It was an opportunity I didn’t pass.  I was also glad they knew who we were, otherwise I would have had to pay for all the meals.  The mess hall can accommodate around 300 people.

Johnson Street Bridge

The cadets wanted to explore Victoria.  I found a map of the town on my phone using Google Maps.  I informed my cadets that we were close to downtown and could walk the distance, but taking a taxi was also an option.  My cadets decided to explore on foot.  We followed Esquimalt Road, walking on the right-hand sidewalk because there was plenty of shade.  We reached the Johnson Street Bridge after walking 2.35km.

Water Taxi in Victoria Harbour.

The Bascule bridge looked modern & new.  Turns out the bridge had undergone a major rebuild last year.  The contractors did a good job.  I let the cadets stretch their legs and rest for a while.  We had been walking for 30 minutes.  We could see Victoria Harbour and the B.C. Legislature.  The marinas were packed with boats.  I was able to get a closer look at the bridge by an accessible catwalk.  The part of the bridge that lifts up rests on large metallic wheels.

We walked down Wharf Street, passing restaurants and bars.  We eventually ended up in The Bay Centre, a large indoor shopping mall.  I let the cadets roam around the mall for two & a half hours.  I also checked out the stores, and bought whatever I needed/wanted.  We treated ourselves to ice cream before leaving.

We walked north, explored a bit of Chinatown and then turned south.  We passed city hall and stopped into Fatburger for an early dinner.  Yes, that’s what the restaurant is called.  It’s better than McDonalds.  The last place where we shopped was Shoppers Drug Mart.

            

Victoria Harbour Airport (centre left).  BC Legislature (centre).

The captain picked us up at the Victoria Harbour Airport.  It was nice of him to do that because we were too tired to walk back to base.  Two transport trucks were parked in front of Rainbow Block.  I saw one of them before at my old corps in Ottawa.  I pointed them out to the cadets, explaining the army has many of them in use.  The cadets remarked that it would be great if the corps had access to one in Arctic Bay.  I agreed except you need special training to drive those trucks.

            

May 4 began with an equipment check.  The competition organizers were checking all the air rifles & shooting jackets to make sure the teams were not cheating.  We were the first team to be checked.  We passed the inspection.  I don’t even know how to cheat with air rifles.  The rifles were secured & placed back in their cases.  I had the cadets carry them back to their rooms.

            

In the afternoon, the cadets & I walked to the CANEX store located in Naden.  Naden is a named section of CFB Esquimalt.  We walked through a few quiet neighbourhoods and then followed a busy street down to the gate entrance.  My military ID got us past the gate.  CANEX is a retail store chain specifically designed for the Canadian military.  The name stands for Canadian Forces Exchange System.  We stayed at the store for 30 minutes. 

            

There are three military weapon displays in front of the CANEX.  They are: 3” 50 Calibre Mk 33 Twin Mounting Canons, ASROC Anti-Submarine Rocket System, and 3” 70 Calibre Mk 6 Twin Mounting Cannons.  The weapons systems were used on Canadian destroyers and destroyer escorts.

            

3" 70 Calibre Mk 6 Twin Mounting
Cannons.

Several blue DND vans drove by us as we began walking back to Work Point.  The other cadet teams had begun arriving and were being driven to Work Point from the airport.  I had earlier told my cadets to be ready by moving all their stuff to their corners of their assigned rooms.  I had done the same thing.  We were going to have roommates for the next week.

            

It wouldn’t have been a cadet trip if we didn’t stop at a Tim Hortons at least once.  The cadet program & the Canadian military “run” on the fast food restaurant chain.  I just ordered an Ice Capp & and a donut.

            

Memorial Park.

Our last stop for the day was Memorial Park.  The park sits across Municipal Hall and was “established in 1924 to commemorate Canadian soldiers in World War 1.”  We happened to be walking by when the cadets spotted a large playground at the back.  In an instant, they were running to the swings.  I didn’t expect to see this level of excitement among teenagers.  I stood back and let the cadets play.  From the swings, they went to the jungle gyms, and from there to the MV Centennial.  Thoughts of kids being in Disney Land came to my mind.  As long as they were happy, I wasn’t complaining.

            

A field gun from the Great War sat underneath a tree.  I took several pictures of the cadets sitting on and standing around it.  They turned up the humour by making faces for some of the photos.  I have to say that some of my cadets are really good at making faces.

            

There were many cadets and CIC officers standing around Rainbow Block when we returned to Work Point.  They were getting their equipment checked by competition officials.  There were many more inside getting their beds ready.  I dismissed my cadets for the night and told them that reveille would be at 6am.  Tomorrow was going to be a very busy & important day.  I introduced myself to the other three officers in my room.  We briefly told each other which regions we came from and our backgrounds in the cadet program.

            

Just as night was beginning to settle, I stepped outside one last time to photograph several deer grazing near the parade square.  Deer freely roam around the naval base all day, every day.  Anyone on base is required to avoid, not bother, and not feed them.    

To Be Continued . . .