Roving RallySeptember, 2006
Our roving rally started on Thursday, September 21st at Arbutus Meadows, just east of Parksville with 13 coaches camping overnight. We parked in a large field and had to dodge the “meadow muffins” from the horses. Luckily, they didn’t smell! The weather was beautifully sunny, but windy. At 6:00 we enjoyed dinner and dessert (and a few drinks for those who wished) at the Rocking Horse Pub. Kathie and Andy Balogh joined us for dinner and managed to talk a few people into attending the Redmond Northwest Regional Rally next August. Our members will be volunteering to transport disabled attendees back and forth to various venues using golf carts. Good work Andy in getting us a choice job!
Friday morning twelve coaches headed to Port Hardy. Hauges were unable to continue with us as they were getting ready to head out on a cruise to Fort Lauderdale (poor them!!). Several of us offered to trade places with them, but they weren’t interested. 
We had a beautiful day for traveling up Island. At Port Hardy we had the Rotary Pavilion at Stories Beach booked for the weekend. It is a lovely spot on a picturesque bay with a nice sandy beach and wooded area and a huge grassy area with picnic tables and fire pits. The pavilion had a small room with sink and power and a large cemented covered area. We easily parked in a spacious, level lot beside the grassy field. Everyone had a spectacular water view.We had asked members to bring a “little bit” of firewood and, like a pot luck dinner, had more than enough. We were able to keep the fires going continually and certainly found out who the pyromaniacs are! It was sure nice to be able to have a campfire in the evenings and roast marshmallows. Nobody seemed eager to eat marshmallows from Cary’s special roasting stick.
Friday we enjoyed another wine and cheese happy hour. A few even managed to have some dinner afterwards. Saturday many ventured out to see Port Hardy, Winter Harbour, Alert Bay and surrounding areas. The weather, once about 2 kms from the beach, was gorgeous. Unfortunately, the sea fog hung around until mid afternoon at Stories Beach. Saturday evening we enjoyed another happy hour and a Spaghetti dinner with dessert.
At noon on Sunday we had a fabulous pot luck dinner so that those who had to get home could travel on a full stomach. As usual, the food was varied and wonderful and there was way too much. Leftovers served us well later that evening.
That night, those with firewood were getting a little panicky that they might have to lug their wood home again, so we had two “little” fires going and someone lit the huge barbeque grill that is a permanent structure beside the pavilion. It took our wood by the wheelbarrow load, but Oscar was still packing logs from the beach and trying to get them into the pit. Even with all of the fires going, we still left a donation of wood and kindling.
On Monday Wayne and Joan Hardy gave us all a special gift of either salmon or halibut donated by Corey Hayes Fishing. Corey runs a fishing charter business out of Port Hardy. We certainly appreciate his generous gift and would encourage anyone interested in charter fishing to check out Corey Hayes Fishing.
After saying our goodbyes, our roving rally ended with most units heading over to the free dump and potable water stations. The weather for the trip home could not have been better.
Thanks to the Bowdens and Coopers we have another site for a future rally. We joined them at Kitty Coleman Provincial Park near Merville for Monday night. This park has fabulous, level spots right on the beach for $10.00 per unit per night.
We would like to thank everyone who pitched in to make another rally such a success.
Cary and Merrilee White
Rally Hosts
