Date change

It turns out that our decade birthday girl (that's France) can't make it Saturday night. So let's get together on SUNDAY instead. Still on Mars, 6:30 pm.

Club Mud on Mars

You won't need your space suit.

Where: Dave's place
When: Dec 17, 7:00 pm
What: Bring an appetizer to share, and something to drink.
Anybody who wants to - bring some slides to show - maximum 25. We can handle traditional slides or jpegs.

Looking forward to seeing everybody!

2012 hiking dates:
January 21
Feb 18
March 17

Gaining Momentum!

There doesn't seem to be a weekend this month that works for everybody, so how about a morning hike to Lone Tree Hill on Nov 26th.

Let's meet up at Serious Coffee on MILLSTREAM (right across from Valhalla) at 8:30, then out by 9:00.

Dave is hosting Drinks and Appies one Saturday before Christmas - dates to follow.

2012 hiking dates:
January 21
Feb 18
March 17

November hike

That Time Again

Wow, it's been a long time since we last arranged something here. Almost half a year! Anyway, the next hike will be Nov 19, meeting at 9:00 AM at the serious coffee at westshore and then head off to East Sooke for a dayhike. Everyone welcome.

Boat and boots: Gulf Island hike

Tracy and I have a great idea for June's hike: we suggest meeting at Teseum Harbour and sailing across to Portland Island and Princess Margaret marine park. We would go ashore in Princess Bay and hike around the island. On the northern side there are a number of small and private shell beaches where we could stop for lunch. The hike takes about three hours and has gorgeous views. The sail there would take a couple of hours, three hours for the hike, and another couple back so count on a full day. Does this interest anyone?

Avatar Grove

We're off ...

Dave and I are off to the Pennine Way, so we haven't organized a hike for April. If anybody wants to plan one, let me know and we can post it. Or just send out a group email.

Marion

AVATAR GROVE

POST FROM DEVON:
Hello Everyone! I have been looking forward to this hike for months. I am so excited to go out on a real exploratory hike with all of you to a place that none of us have ever been to and many people are never lucky enough to experience. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful places right here on the Island!

• WHERE: Avatar Grove
• WHEN: 8:00AM at Serious Coffee at Westshore/Canwest Mall.
  We will be leaving there very soon after 8:00AM so it is important that everyone be there on time. If you are going to be late, please call me at 250.415.2565 to make sure we don't leave without you.

Here are the details you all need to have a very successful and fun day:

• Clothing: It will be wet whether it is raining or not. It is always wet and muddy in this area. Please bring all your rain gear. Rain jacket and pants will be super helpful if you have them. Boots are best for feet but you can wear whatever you want as long as you put plastic bags over your socked feet before putting them into your shoes.
• Bus bag: Please make sure you have dry clothes in the vehicle for when you get back from the hike. This is very important. There is nothing like warm, dry clothes and clean socks when you are back from a day of exploring in the woods.
• Food: We are not stopping for lunch because there is nowhere to stop. You MUST bring lunch with you. This is soooooo important. If everyone is lucky and I am feeling generous (which I have been feeling lately) I will bring some crack (for the new folks that is the code word for candied salmon). Perhaps others will want to bring some stuff that is easily shared.
• New Club Mud entries: I would like you all to welcome Ian's nephew Zach who is almost 10 years old. He is staying with Ian for the weekend and has talked about nothing but this hike for the last couple of weeks. Wellesley and Dave have been around so you all probably know them. My mom will be coming along with us. Please welcome her as she has never been out with Club Mud before. This will be super fun! If there is anyone else that others are bringing along I would like to welcome them as well. see you there!

What else is there? I think I have covered most of it. Oh, except that Marion and Dave are going to be taking photos and sending them with letters to the Prov Govt to help save the land. We should all get together on this one. The letters don't have to be long or complicated. A few lines are all it takes. Let's do this!!!

I have included some instructions to get to Avatar Grove. I don't have any toner in my printer. In fact, that gives me something to do on my lunch break tomorrow. I will print off a copy for Saturday. Then we can take the directions with us.

Please let me know if you are unclear of where we are going before we leave Canwest on Saturday. We have to make sure we all make it. The drive will be about 2 hours so we should carpool as best we can. Here is the information:

How to Get to the Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew, BC

• Drive to Port Renfrew along West Coast Hwy #14.
• Immediately upon reaching Port Renfrew turn RIGHT onto Deering Rd.
• Cross the big bridge over the San Juan River and continue down Deering Rd. staying to the right.
• You then cross a small single lane bridge and reach a “T” in the road. Turn LEFT at the “T”.
• Stay on the main paved road and after approx. 5 km. you will hit a “Y” at which you go LEFT and cross a tall, beautiful bridge over the Gordon River.
• After crossing the bridge keep on the Gordon River Main for about 1.5 km. staying to the right at the next “Y”. You will pass a small white 42 km. mark sign and then shortly after cross over a small bridge at Baird Creek. Park on the right immediately after the bridge. Watch for pink ribbon.
• An entrance to the forest on the right will take you to the Lower Grove which is full of giant burly cedars and some large Douglas fir.
• Also check out the amazing Upper Grove across the road to see “Canada’s Gnarliest Tree”!

Check out the website for more photos and information. Check this out:
http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/

Feb and March hikes

On Feb 26 let's hike Mount Work.
Meet at SLIDERS (3115 Cedar Hill Rd) at 8:30 am, and be ready to leave by 9.
Sliders used to be called Fresh, and it's near the corner of Cedar hill and North Dairy. A large sign out front says "Open".
Mount Work isn't far from town, and the hike is only an hour or two.

For your calendars:
March 26 (Saturday)
Avatar Grove (near Port Renfrew)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_uPkAWsvVw
We'll need to leave early ...

Old Mt. Baldy

Here we are photographing our palms on old Mt. Baldy - that's Shawnigan lake in the background. Dave