Ideas for Next Run........Vancouver???

[Sol-Seeker]

Monday August 4th is BC Day and a statutory holiday.

I'm GREAT for August 2nd!!!!! Sounds like we've established a date that everyone can live with, and hopefully the weather will still be hot.

Many have made suggestions of places to visit, I haven't even looked at the map yet. We can continue to offer suggestions and maybe a route will become clear. It would be nice for us to be somewhere where there is stuff to "see".

Wherever we end up I'm sure we'll be able to wash cars.....we'll make special arrangements if necessary.

Once I had to leave my VW Westfalia in a strange small town for a weekend as I was being picked up in another vehicle. I e-mailed the local Chamber of Commerce ahead of time, and the lady who ran it lived right next door and offered me her own driveway free of charge!!!!

[Sol-Seeker]

Revelstoke is hosting the Kokane glacier Fest on the Aug 1 - 4th weekend, with 140 ball teams heading there. So accomodation could be tricky with it being such a small town. One attraction there is their big dam.

Vernon is just south/east of Revelstoke also close by, and King Oka may be able to comment on accomodation in this location. I checked the events calendar and the only thing happening that weekend is a Cowboy Festival at a "private" ranch, which also has a museum. So accomodation may be easier in Vernon. Many of us saw King Oka's recent pictures of a nice drive that he took, and the scenery is spectacular.

Kelowna is to the south of Vernon. Kamloops is just to the west.....both are larger and would have more accomodation, but I visit family in Kamloops and there isn't anything "special" about it, and Kelowna, while pretty, can be costly for accomodation.

King Oka......help? Any other comments or opinions?

[psycho-squirrel]

Originally Posted by Sol-Seeker Revelstoke is hosting the Kokane glacier Fest on the Aug 1 - 4th weekend, with 140 ball teams heading there. So accomodation could be tricky with it being such a small town. One attraction there is their big dam. Vernon is just south/east of Revelstoke also close by, and King Oka may be able to comment on accomodation in this location. I checked the events calendar and the only thing happening that weekend is a Cowboy Festival at a "private" ranch, which also has a museum. So accomodation may be easier in Vernon. Many of us saw King Oka's recent pictures of a nice drive that he took, and the scenery is spectacular. Kelowna is to the south of Vernon. Kamloops is just to the west.....both are larger and would have more accomodation, but I visit family in Kamloops and there isn't anything "special" about it, and Kelowna, while pretty, can be costly for accomodation. King Oka......help? Any other comments or opinions?

Good thing you found out about the glacier fest thing. Although the hotels in revelstoke still seem relatively open at the moment.

As for Kelowna I am all for it as well, the weather and location (and wineries) are great but the distance for Alberta drivers is a wee bit farther (closer for vancouver cars).

King-Oka did list some nice Kelowna resorts in one of the first replies Sol-Seeker, click on those links, they look pretty good.

[Skybright]

Hi everyone,
The Hope run can wait! I think a joint meet will be great. Can't wait!
Maria

Originally Posted by psycho-squirrel I have wanted to do a west coast (BC+AB) meet for a while but I have too much to do planning for my own vacation this summer. I will be away mid July to beginning of Aug. I hope someone or a group can help organize an event. Would Revelstoke be a good location or is it too far? Many people have expressed ideas about a winery tour into the Okanagan, would september be best for that? Myabe A weekender sorta deal, drive up stay one night then back on the sunday? Also, Maria + Gian were pretty keen last time I talked to about a cruise to their cabin near Hope for a summer BBQ (maybe August?). If anyone has specific weekends they prefer or want to help organize it please chip in with your $0.02 P.S. we need a role call for all interested BC/AB solstices, so please let us know by replying below if you are active on the forum and interested in a large group meet.

[Skybright]

Hi everyone,
Haven't been on line for a while so finally able to post.

Just my two bits.... Long weekends are great at giving us an extra day but a bad time to drive in meets. There are way too many cars on the road and I think it will take away from the point of having all cars together.

We have driven most of these roads many times during the holidays and it really isn't much fun. There is lots of frustrations because everyone wants to get somewhere fast and not much room to move. As well destinations will be packed with more tourists and cars and sometimes if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time the cars are in more danger of being vandalized.

Once again, just my two bits but we will have to opt out of a long weekend meet.

Maria

[psycho-squirrel]

As of right now Aug 2nd weekend is the best for most people. Alot of people have conflicting dates all over the calendar of August

Hopefully we can pick one location soon, please if you have a preference state it, otherwise other people might pick for you.

I'm starting to lean towards Kelowna and the Cove lakeside resort that King-Oka mentioned. . . . anyone object?

[King-Oka]

Vernon has several hotels/motels to choose from. It's not really the boonies. There are also resort locations as I stated earlier. North of us is Salmon Arm - with not much to offer, except is is on the Trans Canada Highway. South of us are several resort towns - Winfield (very small) Summerland (small) Penticton (medium sized - two lakes and popular in the summer). OK Falls - very small, Oysoyoos -( about the same as Penticton), Oliver - small and far south, but in Grape area.

Penticton appeals to me as it's accessable from the Crows Nest Pass highway, which is scenic in either direction, within the wine region, has great lakes, beaches, good hotels/motels in all star ratings, some nice restaurants, and a few other stops of interest.

Vernon appeals as I can choreograph accomodations for anyone who wants.

[WoWwii]

Originally Posted by Skybright Hi everyone, Haven't been on line for a while so finally able to post. Just my two bits.... Long weekends are great at giving us an extra day but a bad time to drive in meets. There are way too many cars on the road and I think it will take away from the point of having all cars together. We have driven most of these roads many times during the holidays and it really isn't much fun. There is lots of frustrations because everyone wants to get somewhere fast and not much room to move. As well destinations will be packed with more tourists and cars and sometimes if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time the cars are in more danger of being vandalized. Once again, just my two bits but we will have to opt out of a long weekend meet. Maria

[psycho-squirrel]

It is getting close to crunch time here and some might not realise this.

I checked some websites for kelowna hotels and some are already full for the Aug 2nd weekend. Either we pick Aug 2nd and choose a place NOW or we will have to choose another date!

I prefer kelowna for it being close and all but Aug 2nd is looking BAD right now for hotels, the cove lakeside is fully booked, even the bestwestern hotels in kelowna and vernon are full!

Option 1: change the date!

Option 2: stick with Aug 2nd but may have no hotel worth staying in.

Option 3: Try Revelstoke or 3 valley gap hotels which are still available even Aug 2nd.

[Sol-Seeker]

I like the idea of it being on a long weekend, however Maria is right, traffic will be heavier for all of us.

I don't care where we end up or stay, but I'm not sure I want to be in a small town with 140 drunken sports teams either.

I also didn't think the hotels would be booked solid already.

Any ideas anyone? If Kelowna is the choice, maybe we can contact more hotels?

[psycho-squirrel]

Here's a quick survey of some hotel links/websites.

Cove lakeside - unavailable Aug 2nd

Best Western Inn Kelowna - unavailable Aug 2nd

Best Western Vernon Lodge & Conf centre - unavailable Aug 2nd

Best Western Inn Penticton - unavailable Aug 2nd

Best Western Salmon Arm Inn - unavailable Aug 2nd

Best Western Sunrise In (Osoyoos) - unavailable Aug 2nd

Holiday Inn (Kelowna) - unavailable Aug 2nd

Holiday Inn Express (kelowna) - unavailable Aug 2nd

Ramada Lodge Hotel Kelowna - unavailable Aug 2nd

Super 8 Motel Kelowna - unavailable Aug 2nd

Travelodge Abbott Villa (kelowna) Available Aug 2nd !!! Holy smokes!

Days Inn Kelowna Available Aug 2nd!



Anyone want to try another weekend?

[WoWwii]

I'm thinking September would still be a better month.
Less traffic, more hotel rooms, only down side could be weather.

[PurAngl]

Originally Posted by psycho-squirrel Days Inn Kelowna Available Aug 2nd!

Days Inn is decent and normally less expensive. Or.... Option 3: Try Revelstoke or 3 valley gap hotels which are still available even Aug 2nd.

[rader]

We like either Penticton or Kelowna ourselves. I would prefer it not be on a long weekend as the traffic is worse than usual... If we are booking Kelowna or Penticton we will have to do it soon...

For us, Revelstoke and 3 Valley Gap have really no amenities that we might be looking for in an overnight.

There's our two bits!

Janice & Peter

[psycho-squirrel]

Other than PurAngl who would be against meeting a week later Aug 9th weekend?

The hotels would be much easier to book then and there would be no holiday traffic issues.