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| Author | Topic: Labor Day Ride |
| Randy Hayes |
posted 8/2/07 6:46 AM
Dear Puyallup Valley Thunderers - First, an apology for being so late with this - Time has kinda snuck up on me! Our Labor Day run is almost upon us! I sent out a questionnaire not long ago (again, apologies to those who didn't receive it - Lee was moving, and had no e-mail access; he had no way of knowing that I had sent it to be forwarded around) to all of the members that I could contact asking preferences between two different rides. Responses were overwhelmingly unanimous - Everyone that replied chose the Vancouver Island trip. We've scouted a wonderful 3 day ride over a bunch of roads that many of us have never seen, much less ridden on two wheels, and Susan and I are very excited about sharing it with our friends! The crunch is we need to get housing reservations ASAP; more on that in a minute, stay with me! First, a short synopsis of the trip for those who didn't see my earlier note. We will leave Saturday morning, Sept 1 from the church, and ride (with a couple stops) Hwy 16, 3, 104, 101 to Port Angeles and the Coho Ferry ($25 US for bike and driver, $11.50 for passenger), hopefully the 12:45 sailing. They have food on the ferry, but to save time and $$, I'll probably pick up a fast food lunch in Port Angeles to eat on the Ferry. We'll arrive in Victoria around 2:30, and can spend several hours dinking around Victoria, or taking a short ride around the area - or both. That night we'll stay in Nanaimo, a bit under 2 hours north of Victoria. Sunday morning, I'd like to get up and leave early enough to get to Port Alberni for Church, if the time schedule works out. I understand that Lee Evans' dad used to pastor there when Lee was a little snot-nose... or, maybe a littler one... From there, we'll continue on over the ridge to Tofino, a little Bohemian Village on the north end of Long Beach on the West side of the Island, later returning by pretty much the same route, since it's the ONLY road across that section of the Island. On the way back, hope to have time to stop at one of the best chocolate shops I've ever had the misfortune (burp!) to stumble across! Staying that night at the same motel in Nanaimo. Monday morning, get up and catch the 8:30 Ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay north of Vancouver (If everyone's wasted, the next sailing is at 10 - costs $17.50 Canadian for the bike only, $10.55 for each adult. They list a group rate of about 25% off, I'll look into it.) We'll slide through Vancouver on Canada 1 to the Surrey crossing and wander home via the back roads, #9, 2, 203, 18. If some needed to get home earlier, they could jump over on the Freeway and cut off several hours. Sound like fun? I've already ridden it once, and I can't wait to do it again! If you think you might want to go along, here's what you need to do now - I've reserved a block of a dozen rooms at the Nanaimo Vancouver Island Travelodge. They gave me a group discount rate of $95 (Canadian) per night, for 1 queen bed, double occupancy. If you think you will likely be able to go, PLEASE call them ASAP. They will only hold the annonymous reservations til Monday (August 6) and if they're not booked by then, I'll have to release the rooms - or pay for them myself. The good news is that if you reserve a room and later find that you have a conflict and can't go, they have a 24 hour cancellation policy. You won't be stuck with the bill, providing that you can pass it along to someone else or just cancel. If someone wants to try to find a cheaper room, I won't be insulted, the Travelodge is 2 miles north of downtown, 96 Terminal Ave N - try to find something close. Either way, don't wait too long; their Labor Day Holiday is the same as ours, and rooms might fill up. If you don't call the Travelodge til after Monday, they'll likely still have rooms for a while, but you won't get the group rate. Here's the contact info: Nanaimo Vancouver Island Travelodge 250-754-6355 Rooms reserved under "Thunder in the Valley" group Trish, their group co-ordinator made the arrangements, but she said that anyone at the desk should be able to access the information to get you one of the rooms. Again, sorry for the short time line, but I hope you can make it - we'd love to have you along for the ride! - Randy & Susan Hayes work: 253-572-8171 cel: 253-988-8076 e-mail: randy@seri-prep.com |
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