Cowichan Bay Rally Info

The next Vancouver Islanders Rally will be the weekend of July 23, 24 and 25th at the Westcan Terminals in Cowichan Bay. This will be dry camping on a paved lot on a spit. Western Stevedoring has been kind enough to let us use their lumber storage site for a weekend. This is an absolutely beautiful site with several very good beaches. Fishing, walking, sea shelling, exploring the village with the Maritime Center and Museum and the old "Butter" Church or "Stone" Church are all good day time activites. Lunch at the Rock Cod Cafe is worth the time.

The hosts are Brooke & Linda Williams, Ken & Josie Williams and Wayne & Sandy Quesnel.
The rally cost will be $60 which will cover 2 nights dry camping, 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts.

Please send your cheques to President Sandy before July 17th.

Note: Scroll down for some more recent Posts.

BUTTLE LAKE RALLY REPORT

Wayne and I had a very leisurely drive out to the Buttle Lake site and the scenery was stunning. Snowy mountain peaks, gushing rivers and placid lakes. We had a few wildlife sightings and Mom & Dad reported 2 bears on their way up. Bob Orr again parked for us and we managed to get 22 rigs into the group site. We had the use of the log cook out and it was perfect with a nice wood stove and tables included. The weather had us worried Monday night, wet and cool but the rest of the week was wonderful.

Monday night was steak night and MY GOODNESS! Did we get delicious steaks! Everyone was encouraged to take their steaks back to the rigs and prep them the way they liked. 6 barbecues were set up and we all cooked our own steaks to perfection. There was not one complaint about under or over cooking! Baked potatoes, salad, garlic bread and dessert, what a meal.

On Tuesday, the fishermen were busy and many of us went exploring to Gold River or up to the Myra Falls mines. I managed sunburn while playing outside in the afternoon. The potluck dinner was a success as usual and we were certainly well fed.

The next day was warm and sunny as well. Typical of fishermen, I heard of catches put away in sandwich bags and some put away that took 2 garbage bags. I personally started to prepare my oven for the dessert challenge to take place that day. The only solar oven was out and doing its job as well. Others took off and toured again after hearing the glowing reports from yesterday’s travellers.

Spaghetti dinner, with a wicked sauce and then on to the Dessert Challenge. What participation!

A solar oven, solar powered fry pan, cardboard box oven, a wood stove oven and barbecues all produced desserts worthy of the challenge. Gillian Jackson took a prize for the most colourful, a warm fruit pizza done on the barbecue. Mary-Ann Tennent had the most tropical with barbecue grilled pineapple with Spider Lake Rub and Raspberry flavoured Vodka whipped cream. Whooo ... almost illegal! Betty Dyer was inspired with her solar oven. That little baby actually produced a whole flower garden while sitting in the sun that day. My big cardboard box produced a square that had great taste. Also entered in the challenge: Blueberry upside down cake, pineapple upside down cake, Bananas Flambé, Mexican S’mores, apple pie, berry pie, cream puffs, and chocolate dipped strawberries!! Randy Cooper did not receive a prize for his Date Squares, which he heated in the campfire and with “hot air”.

The winners of the Ken Williams award were Mick and Val Hargreaves and they got their Rally fees back!

A great Rally and it was hard to leave the beautiful surroundings.

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LUXTON RALLY REPORT

Sandy’s’ Scribbles

LUXTON RALLY REPORT

I can tell you right now that by the time my term is up, I will have totally run out of appropriate descriptive words for our rallies!

Luxton was an absolutely great start to our year. The site is very beautiful and was a perfect new place to explore. With the Galloping Goose Trail right there as well, there were plenty of opportunities to get out and see the area. Norm and Norah Winter, Russ and Carol McAvella and Wayne and Joanie Hardy must be commended for all of their hard work. The weather was not totally kind to us, but thank you to Bob Orr for helping to park 42 rigs. A few guests signed up as well and we all had a great time and wonderful food. As always our potluck dinners, this time an assortment of appies for dinner, are extraordinary. The BBQ ribs, twice baked potatoes with all the trimmings were a treat. Pancake and sausage breakfast, muffins, rolls and bagels got everyone up and fuelled, ready for each day.

There were some very inventive gifts in the gift exchange and some very determined people trying to “keep” the gifts they got! Several people picked up goodies and made a few dollars during the rally garage sale Saturday morning. John Forbes provided excellent music on Saturday night, and we were very privileged to have his talent there. Some of us danced a little too much, and had the achy knees the next day to prove it!

George and Liz McAllister won the Ken Williams award, so their turn is up, someone else will have the opportunity to win a free rally next time.

It was sad to pack up and go home; waiting for the next rally was a hardship!