Incredible journey

By Ray Burns and Sean Kelly
The News
Awesome or incredible. At some point in their story of carrying the Olympic flame, each torch bearer came up with one of those words honestly. You could see it in the smiles on their faces - they were overtaken with awe and pure joy.
When Kaitlin MacIsaac of Antigonish jogged up to the entrance of the Museum of Industry in Stellarton with the flame as the final torch bearer of the day, a festive atmosphere loomed.
"It was awesome, an incredible experience. I'm really proud to be Canadian," said Nicole Johnston of Springville when the relay ended.
Danielle Taylor, a pregnant runner from Dartmouth, was similarly enthusiastic.
"It was awesome, the experience of a lifetime."
Vernon Walsh of New Glasgow called it incredible. "Wow, wow, wow. I don't have any words more than that. I'm pumped, pumped, pumped."
Sean Murray carried the flame along Provost Street in New Glasgow and said it was a "wonderful experience."
"You think about what the flame symbolizes…It was amazing to just be a small part."
Murray said although he only carried the flame for 300m, it's a long time by Olympic standards. "It takes two minutes or less, but it's longer than many Olympic events."
Megan MacKay of New Glasgow calls herself a "huge Olympic fan" - in fact don't even approach her when the Games are on TV.
She said she was "beyond proud" to have played a part. "It was amazing, the most incredible experience of my life. I'll remember every step."
The husband and wife team of Rob and Monique Sobey both carried the flame on Tuesday. Monique carried it in Antigonish earlier in the day and said the whole event was extremely well organized and timed down to the minute.
"It was amazing. I'm so proud to be a Canadian," she said.
Before the run Rob admitted to being a little nervous. "I hope I don't trip or set myself on fire," he joked.
Afterward he was all smiles.
"I'm very happy to be a part of this. It makes me proud to be a Canadian, very proud."
Kevin Morash of Cole Harbour, a second-year student at Acadia University, said he wasn't familiar at all with the area where he would be running but he was thrilled none the less.
"I feel pretty privileged to be doing this. It's the kind thing people dream about."
Alan Fraser was one of the dozens outside Trenton's town hall to wait for the Olympic flame as it passed through. Over 20 years ago, as a boy, he witnessed the same spectacle in Westville. "Right in Victoria Park, I remember them lighting a little replica of the torch there on the flagpole.
"It was kind of like today, a little overcast and some snow in the air," he said. "I was in school and everybody was going. Now, I watch the Olympics every year they're on, summer winter."
This time around, Fraser brought his family with him, his daughter Xiaia.
"My daughter's here, she's eight years old. So I'm kind of hoping in 20 years she'll be back again. It's just one of those things, once in a lifetime - twice now."
Once the flame was passed from MacIsaac's torch to a small brass lantern outside the museum, it was whisked away for Truro where a cauldron lighting was to take place last night with the event to begin all over again today.
The county connection continues today as Norma Jean DeCoste of New Glasgow is one of the torch bearers in Truro.