Escorted by a Bagpiper

**Raphael** · 22nd June 09, 10:46 AM

Some of you know that I race for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon boat team and our team competed at the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver, BC.

While we were paddling our boat to the start line for the Final in our division, I heard the sound of bagpipe. At first, I thought that some one turned on a CD player in the safety boat. Little did we know, there was some one playing the bagpipe on the boat. It was the coolest feeling because he decided to play the bagpipe after he saw out kilted Steer person. (To the people who are not familiar with Dragon Boat Racing, the steer person stands at the back of the boat)

It took us a few minutes to get to the start line as we were paddling against the incoming tide. In that time, he played two tunes. I didn't recognise the first one, but he played Scotland the Brave as the second tune. Some members of our team knew the lyrics and was singing along.

He stopped playing once we got to the starting line. We found out his name is Chris Osawa of the Canada Army and he is Japanese. We thanked him and we invited him to the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner.

We didn't win and we came in 5th out of 8 boats. Our time was 2 minutes and 16 seconds. That was the best time we have posted ever.