After the chaos of the first night, I realized this process is going to be just a tad harder then I initially thought! Having to decide who stays, and who goes at the rose ceremony is a truly unnatural feeling for me.
I was so looking forward to the actual dates. One of the reasons I wanted to be the first Canadian bachelor was to get a chance to really get to know the girls who came on the show to meet “The Bachelor” and then try to convince them to stay for “Brad.” It was seriously important for me to get to spend time with these girls and let them know that the Canadian version of this show was going to be real! I’m a normal guy, from a great family who wants to find the one person in the house who’s there for me.
I was so excited driving up to the house to pick the girls up for the first group date. Finally I got to dress down, be more casual, be myself with no pressure, and give the girls the ultimate surprise. I think the girls didn’t know what to expect, so when they came out of the house and I told them we were headed to New Orleans, they thought I was joking! They were so excited. And so was I, mostly because I knew what they were about to do and they had no idea!
My dad always told me that if you want to know a woman’s true colours, you make her awkwardly dance in the burlesque fashion in front of you and put it on camera for Canada to see. I’m obviously kidding, but I have to try and find a rationale for this date! If you look at the eight ladies I picked, there is a total divide between those who would be comfortable doing this and those who would be completely out of their comfort zone. I wanted to see if the girls could just go with the flow, not take themselves too seriously and have fun with it. And who am I kidding? It’s a totally selfish date for me.
After getting to talk to each of the girls on our beautiful patio overlooking Bourbon Street, giving the rose to Chantelle was the easiest decision I made. She is just one of those people who lights up a room and everyone in it! She really showed that she could have a blast and do something as outside of her comfort zone as burlesque dancing, but do it Chantelle’s way! It’s too bad the night had to end the way it did with Melissa Marie. I felt awful talking to her, especially because I could see that it meant so much for her to be there. One of the hardest parts about being the bachelor is managing everyone’s expectations. I felt gutted that even while I was trying to appease everyone, I couldn’t give her the time she felt she deserved. And it’s tough, and probably much more so when you add the fact that she probably missed her daughter terribly.
After New Orleans I was so excited to see the four lovely ladies at the race track in Vegas. But come on, it has to be every guy’s dream to drop the hammer and not worry about being pulled over, in a car I could never afford on a professional race track, while dressed like Cole Trickle. The girls seemed super excited, not only to drive the cars but to go on a special date with me afterwards.
The time in between the individual races was amazing. Getting to talk, joke and play around with the girls was great. Seeing Gabby barely able to look over the steering wheel was too cute! Kara, almost driving off the course put me into hysterics, and terrified Nick (our instructor) for sure! Sophie surprised me with how amazing she was, definitely the best in the corners. But no one hit the straightaways like Whitney. When she drove by the last lap, she was humming! Being beaten by both Sophie and Whitney grounded me immediately. But that is only because I blew the tire off my car on the third turn! 
When Whitney won, I was obviously elated. To give her the first impression rose and then to get to spend my first one-on-one time with her couldn’t have worked out any better. Being in a helicopter for the first time and having a blast, not realizing what we were looking at because we were in the moment – it was surreal.
Victoria, couldn’t have been shown in a better way on this date. And I don’t think Laura B could have looked more stellar! The date was simple. It was Canadian. I think I could probably speak for Laura when I say the best parts were getting our picture sketched, being able to have our first serious conversation, getting to know each other, and having dinner on the beautiful Empress patio. We just clicked. It was really effortless. She’s a girl you could fall for quickly because she gets along with anyone who knows her. It was a great first one-on-one, and Laura B set the bar really high!
As for my last date with Ana, just a few things I want to clear up. I would never want any of the girls to think that I would ever keep a girl around just to keep her. And I hated that the rose I gave Ana at the first rose ceremony was referred to as “a pity rose.” That wasn’t the case. It was important that I had the chance to get to know Ana and show her that I wanted her to be there. So, what’s the best and most awkward way to officially take a girl out? Wake her up at 5:30 a.m.! Doesn’t every girl like to be surprised that early? Ana was great, though – she got ready in 20 minutes and looked amazing! And I couldn’t wait to get to Tofino! The best part of the date was getting to know Ana better and understanding that after all she has been through she still manages to be such a strong person.
I thought the second cocktail party would be more relaxed, but cue emotional outbreaks and make out sessions. That cocktail party situation didn’t get any easier this week. I had to manage the girls’ emotional levels while maintaining my own cool. It broke my heart to see Laura in the bathroom crying. It was a tough night, not just because of all the emotions, but also because I had to send four girls home after having the most amazing week.
I can’t wait for you to see episode three, because the dates get even better!
Brad
