No one was more excited for the return of the annual Truck Light Convoy on Saturday than the drivers.
There were 77 decorated vehicles registered for the 35-kilometre route from Ogden Point in Victoria to Langford’s Westshore Motorsports Park, said Wendy Watt, manager of the Island Equipment Owners Association — the event organizer.
Watt said a few trucks had to back out in case they were needed for snow duty on the Malahat.
The event wasn’t held last year due to the pandemic, and the layoff added to the anticipation this year, she said.
“The participants have been waiting two years to decorate.”
Richard Littlejohns of Farmer Construction, who had his 16-year-old daughter, Breanna, along as co-pilot, said he has been part of the convoy for 21 years and missed the event last year.
Seeing the children watching the trucks and enjoying themselves is what he likes, Littlejohns said. “It’s all about that — getting people in the right spirit.”
He said he spent about a day-and-a-half decorating his truck, which is made easier by reusing certain decorations. A generator keeps the whole display bright.
Breanna said she has ridden with her dad a few times before. “It’s pretty fun,” she said.
Rob Haneveld of Trimac, a transportation company that primarily hauls bulk goods, said he spent six hours decorating his rig with lights, air-blown decorations and a Christmas tree.
He said the cost of decorating is all out-of-pocket. “This is just something I personally want to do.”
Being in the convoy is a great experience, Haneveld said.
“These are the guys I run up and down the highway with all the time, so it’s just fun to be a part of it,” he said.
Riley Bremner, who works for Vic City Crane, said he wasn’t called on to help with the decorating.
“I didn’t have to decorate the truck because I worked all day,” he said. “Everybody else decorated and I just get to drive it.”
Bremner said he looks forward to the “arm pump” from youngsters watching — a gesture that means they want him to sound his horn.
Camped out on Dallas Road near the starting point of the event were Bianca Bourbon, Naamat Dickie and a group of four children ranging in age from one to 11.
“Every year we come,” Bourbon said. “We live very close and can just walk here.”
Dickie said she likes the sense of being part of the community and “the feel of being around other people.”
Bourbon said they always see people they know in the crowd.
Duncan Gibson was set up with his camera just outside Ogden Point to catch the trucks as they started.
“I find this is one the better spots,” he said. “I’m an amateur photographer and been doing it for many years and enjoy it.
“It gets me out of the house.”
As always, the focus of the event was to collect food or money to help those in need, Watt said.
Contributions go to the Mustard Seed Street Church, the Goldstream Food Bank and the Saanich Lions Peninsula Lions Food Bank.
“With a year of COVID, everything is that much more stressful and the need is that much greater,” Watt said.
