"A beautiful little town on Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada. Ladysmith sits on the 49th parallel on the east coast of Vancouver Island". Click Here to see where Ladysmith, BC, is in the world.

The town of Ladysmith's history begins as a coal mining town. It was one of numerous towns that were started as a result of the many coal mines of Central Vancouver Island. Coal baron James Dunsmuir had a vision that transformed the steep hillside looking out over Oyster Harbour into a flourishing community. The town thrived with the expanding coal markets, but then diminished after the Great Strike rocked the Island in 1912. The town held on, with the help of logging and other industries, and continued to build a secure future for itself.

There are many historical sites to be seen in and around Ladysmith. One of the town's peoples' favourite places in the summer is Transfer Beach. This is a lovely park like setting, with a playground for the children, a snack bar, and also the site of the Ladysmith Days Celebrations during the August long weekend. A new entrance to the Transfer Beach is being prepared at the base of Roberts Street, off the Island Highway. There is also a plan being worked on for the future development of the Beach site, and surrounding property.

"Go West until you hit all that wet stuff, turn North, til you run out of country, and it is that big land mass off to your left". CLICK HERE for more details.

Some great rides, BBQs, comaraderie. Big yard if the weather is nice, some rooms if it is not, and lotsa B&Bs and cheap nice motels. Remember: The US dollar is worth approx 40 cents more here, y'all come, hear! For further details, see the updates for May 26, 2000 and July 11, 2000.

For accomodation try the British Columbia Tourism Guide or British Columbia Travel Guide.

Group, sorta trying to get a handle on how many might be coming to my place for this event. Just so I can plan logistics and beer, oops, I mean space.

• One, it is still Aug. 2-6
• Two arrive, set up, meet, SHOWER.
• Three, morning breaky down the road, then a scenic ride, back here for an evening of "pub crawling" with my wife as chauffeur, or???? (horseshoes, walk the dog, bench racing, hottub)
• Four, another ride after breaky, in another direction, for a good four hours, with many stops, more discussion of relevant items (over beer), hottub, star show with explanation from resident "gazer".
• Five, big ride to Tofino, past long Beach, after a "big" breaky, at Hook's house, (just kidding), actually at a good spot for a classy breaky close by, return, and eat Salmon and other crustaceans from ocean at a BBQ, "stories", barley sandwhiches, toasts (square factor this one), hottub, stars, yaddah, yaddah.
• Six, short breaky ride, consume mass quantities (food), talk much, do "warm fuzzys", and everybody leaves, if they want to.

If you want to stay longer and use house as a base, OK, but not forever, cause my wife gets holidays after this and will want to "rest".

Input? Queries? (Where the Hell is he?) Contact me off line.

If you come to my place, you can access the Island from Vancouver, three ways; Washington State, three ways; or from Pt. Hardy, interior people. I believe the site for fares and info is: www.bcferries.com

From Pt Angeles: Coho Ferry

7/26/00 IMPORTANT NOTICE - Sid Clarke

To all those who will be coming by B.C. FERRIES, there is the chance there will be a strike or some other putzi stuff by the employees who have not had a contract since last July. Gov't has stated they deem them to be essential service, and therefore cannot strike, but employees gave Gov't the "bird", so just in case, and bikes are always first on and first off.

7/13/00 - Mike Hart (Seattle)

Here's the basic schedule:
Leave Port Angeles:

• 8:20am
• 12:45pm
• 5:15pm
• 9:30pm

Leave Victoria:

• 6:10am
• 10:30am
• 3:00pm
• 7:30pm

Fee for motorcycle & driver is $17. Additional passenger $7. It's a good idea to have cash, they don't take credit cards or checks.

Plan on a little extra lead time leaving Victoria, you have to get off the bike, go upstairs to buy your ticket. Plus, the traffic downtown can get pretty congested.

For anyone coming thru Seattle, you get a bonus ferry ride on the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry, to get you headed to Port Angeles. Ferries leave approx every 40 minutes, you get to go to the head of the line, and if you're so late that they're already boarding, they'll put you on last (don't wait in long line of cars). Cost is $3.50, extra passenger $3.70 (I guess you get 20 cents off for bringing a motorcycle!).

To leave plenty time to catch the 12:45 ferry to Victoria, catch the 9:25 or 10:10 Kingston Ferry. It's about 60 miles to Pt A via Hood Canal ridge, about 90 minutes time.

Right now Johnny Yukon and I are leaning toward the 9:25 Kingston ferry Aug 2 - anybody else in the area want to join up?

From BC

• Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo
• Tswassen to Duke point
• Tswassen to Swartz Bay

From Washington State

• Pt Angeles to downtown Victoria
• Anacortes to Sidney

From BC

• Pt Hardy to Prince Rupert

If you come by way of Horseshoe bay to Departure Bay in Nanaimo, you follow the route from the left lane of the ferry exit. It will take you through Nanaimo, and out to connect with the Island Highway. Keep on this until you hit the construction/ or the new road. Eventually you will come to Ladysmith proper. Keep going until you come to the one and only shopping centre along the highway where the McDonalds is. Turn right at this light, but keep to the left to go up the hill,(very tricky due to poor engineering of lines into shopping centre). At the very top of the hill, take the left fork that parallels the direction of the highway, and go along until you hit the third right turn, CRAIG, turn right, go two blocks,turn right on Hillview Ave., and it is the Blue trimmed stucco house, 684, with a camper and a boat with a green top in the yard.

If you come via Duke Point, follow the ferry road to the main highway and stay in the left lane marked Victoria. Merge with the traffic flow under the overpass and follow the directions above.

If you come from Victoria, follow the road through the city, (first left in front of the Empress hotel), and you will join the beginning of the Island Highway. Follow it to Ladysmith, and only shopping center, and turn left at the lights and go up the hill. Follow above instructions to my house.

From Tsawassen to Swartz Bay, follow the ferry highway and watch for signs that say, NANAIMO, on your right. Follow those and then see above for Island Highway and my house.

Oh yeah, if you come across at Anancortes to Sidney, go through town to the main road, turn left, follow signs that appear on your right to Nanaimo, and above.

Local motels

• Holiday House Motel -- 1-250-245-2231
• Seaview Motel -- 1-250-245-3768
• Fuller Lake Motel -- 1-250-246-3282

These are all local. There are many more in Nanaimo (20 minutes) north, or Duncan 25 minutes South.

I have space for probably thirty tents in my yard, and if it rains we can do the "sardine" basement theme.

7/19/00 Sid Clarke

• When you guys come across the "line" answer "yes" you have insurance
• Remember KMH does not equal MPH, gas is in litres, (4.5/Can gallon), 74.5/litre.
• Victoria police are a power unto themselves.
• There WILL be radar before, at, or just past the Malahat summit, so don't be tempted to jump on it when the open road beckons, (find a breaker" and sit about 1/8 mile behind him).
• There are no guns allowed.
• The "f" word is only allowed inside your helmet.
• Shoes are off at the door.
• Bathing suits et al are equired in the hottub.
• The BLONDE nextdoor is married.
• As many beers as you can carry from the fridge is a faux pas.
• No wheelies on Hillview Ave., in spite of what the kids say.
• Flush the toilet and don't leave the seat "up".
• Follow the group leader's ride instructions.
• Consume many Canadian beers.
• RELAAAAAAAAX
• Marvel at Sid's parts emporium.
• And when Capt. Hook says something, y'all listen!!

Houston, we are looking for the Eagle to land, over.

Name	Home	Arrival
Sid Clarke	Ladysmith, BC	Already There
Doug Heinen	Federal Way, WA	Wednesday afternoon
Mike Hart	Seattle, WA	Wednesday afternoon
Johnny Yukon	Seattle, WA	Wednesday afternoon
Tom Varga	Campbell River, BC	?
Jason Raley	Tacoma, WA	?
Denny & Dad Zander	Olympia, WA	Friday afternoon
Dean Koehler	Portland, OR	?
Dennis McLaughlin	Courtenay, BC	Wednesday 4:00 PM
Phil Murphy	Nanaimo, BC	?
Ken Talbot	Revelstoke, BC	?
Jim Middlestadt	?	?
Erick Piponius	?	Wednesday morning
Courtney Hook	Nanaimo, BC?	?

7/18/00 - Gary Berg
Since I won't be attending the Big Island gather and many of you will...If any of you are travelling up the I-5 route and need a place to crash for the night to/from let me know. We're in Kent, a few miles south of Seattle.

7/18/00 - Doug Heinen
Same offer applies at my place in Federal Way, WA on I-5 between Tacoma and Seattle.

As it stands, there will be an "out" b-fast each day, then a different ride to:

• Wed. 8/2: Lake Cowichan, "around Back", home (Pub night for food and?)
• Thurs 8/3: Victoria, Sooke, Renfrew, return home (pub night for food and ?)
• Fri. 8/4: Here, Courtenay, Campbell River, (TOM???), Gold River, Home (Burgers and ?)
• Sat 8/5: Here, Pt Alberni, Ucluelet, Long Beach, Tofino ( 6:30 leave here!!) BIG BBQ on return
• Sun 8/6: b-fast, leave or chill and enjoy what you didn't have time to enjoy!

I am trying to put together a package of Canadian memorabilia and will try the transfer from phots t-shirt thing later on , (so you techies bring those magic cameras)

I have a wife and two big Airedale terriers who are not a problem (dogs!!), so let me know if there is a problem here with allergies etc.

7/19/00 Sid Clarke
If you get stuck phone 1-250-245-7920, you will either get one of us, or the machine. Just got thirty pounds of Salmon and it is filleted and in the freezer, along with oysters and prawns,and West coast scallops. I forgot to ask, is there anyone who is comming that does not eat salmon or seafood, or for that matter, chicken or beef? Let me know now please. Cutting lawn and surveying site.

Ladysmith Page

Current weather for Nanaimo, BC, Canada

August 1-7, 2000 long range forecast weather for Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Courtesy of weatherplanner.com