Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:06:26 -0700
Reply-To: Galleons Lap Photo <glphoto@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Galleons Lap Photo <glphoto@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Where to go on Vancouver Island
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On Mon, 3 May 2004 00:00:07 -0400, Automatic digest processor
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>Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 19:20:07 -0600
>From: Jeff Kennedy <kennedy@THERIVER.COM>
>Subject: where to go on Vancouver Island?
>
>Hi all,
> The wife(to be) and I will be going to Vancouver Island for a couple
>weeks in June, for our honeymoon - in the westy, of course. Would love
>to hear any suggestions on where to go and what to see. We're thinking
>of Pacific Rim Park, and somewhere where we can take short kayaking
>trips. Also interested in hiking/backpacking trips. Of course, free
>camping is nice, but not necessarily required. We'll probably even spent
>a night or two in some sort of lodge (don't tell Rosy!)
>
>Also, can anyone tell me about experiences they've had with they're vans
>on the ferry? Mine sits a little higher than the average westfalia.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Jeff Kennedy
>84 Westfalia w/ a Tiico motor (Rosy)
[Then Roy Added]
>Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 21:31:40 -0500
>From: Roy Olynick <rrh@AUTOBAHN.MB.CA>
>Subject: Fwd: where to go on Vancouver Island?
>We "did" Vancouver Island two summers ago. Make sure you have camping
>reservations before you go. Pacific Rim National Park is beautiful
>(great hiking) but camping reservations should be made WELL in advance
>of your trip. Sites in the National Park campground are reserved a year
>in advance! We had no idea the Ucluelet/Tofino area was so popular. We
>were shut out of the National Park Campground and were lucky to get the
>last site in a private campground, and I use the term "campground"
>loosely here.
>As far as what to see, just drive the Island...it's beautiful!
>If you're in need of expert VW repairs near Nanaimo, B.C., I recommend
>Bavarian Imports, 1260B Island Hwy. South tel: (250) 754-8944. They got
>us on the road quickly when we needed repairs.
>We took the ferry between Port Angeles, Washington and Victoria, B.C.
>No problems getting the Westy on board. Clearance is no problem but as
>with most ferry services, get to the terminal at least a couple of
>hours before departure. The line-up forms early!
>Have a great time!
>Roy Olynick
>'87 Vanagon Westfalia GL (For Sale)
>http://www.mts.net/~rrh/WestyHome.html
Hello Jeff
See also my reply to Gary's Island Hopping message.
We live part time on Saltspring Island, and part time in
Vancouver (city). Vancouver Island, as Roy has mentioned, is
quite nice. Without prior reservations for Tofino and Uclulet,
you are likely to be disappointed. At least from a camping
point of view. BC Parks are basic, and clean, and very nice.
Private Campgrounds can be the opposite. BC Parks reservations
(at least some) are accessble by Internet. Just google to get
the address, or email me if you can't find it. Pacific Rim park
may be worth day drive, if you can't get a last minute
reservation. It is a National Park. There are several BC Parks
on the road from the main highway on the east coast of the
island. Also consider visiting the Sunshine Coast, and the
Gulf Islands. BC Ferries accepts reservations on most routes,
if not all. Some routes are by reservation only. Reservations
on the main, reservation optional, routes costs more, but may
prevent a several hour wait. Although ferry lineups are
considered part of the summer experience here. Get an accurate
height measurement of the Westy, and then check what the
overheight is at BC Ferries. www.bcferries.bc.ca if memory
serves, but google it if I am wrong. There is an extra fare
charge for overheights. Mine is well under the threshold.
Vancouver Island and Saltspring and Sunshine Coast have lots of
services, the smaller gulf islands can be pretty basic.
Saltspring has a saturday market of farmers and atisans, lots of
live music, and organic food and coffee shops. Also, I have
never seen so many westies in one place before, though I have
never gone to a vanagon event. Up to 6 westies in the village
parking lot of about 150 spots. email me if you have any other
questions, and check the other BC thread for more.
Kirk added the following info to the other thread
>http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/
>http://www.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
>http://www.islands.bc.ca/
>http://www.gulfislandsguide.com/index.htm
>http://www.bctravel.com/gulfislands/
Seth
'80 westy
Galleons Lap Photography
glphoto@attglobal.net
Tel: (604) 298-0186
