So it is August already! We are getting closer to the first Vancouver Island Rally...AAAUUUGHH! Some items for your consideration:

1) We will do a meet and greet with adult beverages of your choosing, snackies and conversation on Wed the 23rd at my campsite (site #60). I will have two pop up tents in case of rain or too much sun, and some tables but please bring your chairs and anything you would like to share. I will have a few bottles of BC wines, and ciders for your tasting pleasure! Beer is up to you...not a fan here...sorry! The evenings will likely all be much the same at my spot with a propane fire and conversation freely available each night.

2) Potluck/Potlatch will be on Saturday evening. Bring what pleases you to share. I will be making my "famous" Dutch oven pineapple upside down cake for dessert and will probably do something for an entree as well (not sure what yet!).

3) Cowboy breakfast will be on Sunday am since many folks will be planning to pack up and leave that day. Bring leftovers to share but also consider bringing fresh bacon, sausage, chorizo, eggs, cheese, tortillas...and/or condiments. I will cook whatever comes my way in the giant plough disc wok my hubby made.

I will have plates, serviettes/napkins, basic cutlery, etc.to share. I also am bringing my propane fire pit in case we have a fire ban but can still use those.

In between these events it is up to you to find things to do...we will be right by the beach so beachcombing is a key activity...watching for whales and other sea life (yes you can see them from shore!), there is a mini golf and bumper boats place just down the road, whale watching tours, winery tours, Goats on the Roof and ice cream in Coombs, etc. etc. etc....

Plan to enjoy the 'Great White North' if you have not been to Canada before or even just enjoy the island lifestyle for a brief period of time. Come to relax and just kick back!  I am looking forward to seeing old friends and new!

I arrived at the Duke Point terminal at 8:45 only to be told they were ticketing for the 3:15 sailing (with possible wait for the 5:45).  But fortunately they were wrong in my favor.  I nearly made the 10:15 and did make the 12:45 sailing.  I am now home safe and sound.

It was awesome meeting everyone and I want to join the chorus thanking Kelly for a wonderful rally.  Until next year!

The BC ferries are the way to go. They have seasonal changes (usually more sailings in the summer months) but typically the schedule is there already...you can get a reduced fare if you travel early in the am or late at night since those sailings are typically less full. They charge by the foot and will get out of the booth with their measure to see how long your rig is. It can be pricey but well worth it as the island is a beautiful place to be!

Here they are!

Well it took a day to get settled but here are the pics of the group Sunday as we all prepared to depart.  Safe travels!

We’re on the road soon to cross over to the island!  Looking forward to the “Island Life” and meeting fellow Lancers.

Our first rally,  after 12 years with LOA and on our second Lance!  Looking forward to time on the island fishing, crabbing, whale watching and relaxing!   

Just booked site 64😊😊😊. Our first booking for 2023.

We just booked as well. Site #63. Looking forward to exploring Vancouver Island.

Thanks to all who attended and all who sent good wishes for the rally! I think it was a success! We will be doing it again next year but a week earlier so we can catch the end of Parksville Summer Fest and the sandcastle competition among other things. I will post pics I have once I figure out how! :-)

Cindy and I enjoyed meeting the fellow Lance owners at the rally.  This was our first rally and it was great to hear about the experiences of the other LOAers.  I enjoyed talking all things Lance trailer technical with Rick and Anita.  I have to say that the ferry systems to and from the island were fantastic.  Thanks to Kelly for hosting (and to whomever else helped with that).  Safe travels!

Hi Lisa. Glad you arrived without incident. News story today forecasts Hwy 4 being fully open this Friday. Good to see Lou and Lily enjoying the tall timbers. Enjoy the west coast and safe travels. Rick and Anita

Hwy 4 travel was unevenful Sunday. Now hoping it is fully opened on Friday for return to Victoria and ferry. The campground at the golf course is actually great! No complaints. Rainforest visit today. Ucluelet and Wild Pacific Trail tomorrow.

Generally any fresh fruit I not allowed across. Limitations on tobacco and alcohol as well. Check the border crossing web page for specifics. Plenty of stores here! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

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@SerKel posted:

The BC ferries are the way to go. They have seasonal changes (usually more sailings in the summer months) but typically the schedule is there already...you can get a reduced fare if you travel early in the am or late at night since those sailings are typically less full. They charge by the foot and will get out of the booth with their measure to see how long your rig is. It can be pricey but well worth it as the island is a beautiful place to be!

❤️ the BC Ferries. They do charge by the foot. Meaning from the front bumper of your TV to the back bumper (or ladder) of your TT. Can be kinda expensive, but they treat you well and have cafeteria on board, and some have cabins and movie theaters. Check out their other sailings as well. We took a circle ferry on the Sunshine Coast and island hopped from one port to another, camping at the Provincial Parks along the way. At one campground we were the only ones on the dock on the lake. We have also sailed from Port Rupert to Port Hardy. Literally an all day cruise. Sat on the back deck and watched the scenery. Hint; You see part of the inside passage. Sometimes if you’re lucky you can see whales.
Have fun! Vancouver island is beautiful and one of my favorite places.

You are coming to the right place for salt water activities. You might consider booking a few things well ahead of your departure. It is looking to be a very busy holiday season on Vancouver Island.

On another topic. Coming up the I-5 though Bellingham and Blaine can be a driving nightmare. Consider peeling off the I-5 at Olympia and head to Port Angeles. The Black Ball Ferry MV Coho take you onto Vancouver Island and an easy drive up the highway to Parksville and all points north and West. Book the Coho early it is a very busy ferry.

See you in Parksville.

It will be our first Lance Rally and only 50+ Km's (30+miles) from home. We will either start our trip or finish it at Rathtrevor Provincial Park if we can get a reservation.

Kelly,

We've just booked our site for the Rally. #70 Excited to be back on Vancouver Island after many, many years.

Cathy

I am looking forward to this! It has been a bit and I have not had a rally for almost a year now. This will be the first one on Vancouver Island (as far as I know!) and will be a great place to gather the troops. Come on up to the island!

If you have a month on Vancouver Island make sure you take in Tofino and the surrounding area. If you plan to camp in Tofino get your reservations in now. We stay at Crystal Cove when ever we RV in Tofino. Go to <https://www.crystalcove.ca> Most RV parks in the area are booking already and as this is the first year highway 4 will not be under construction the place will be hopping. If you like to eat, try the Schooner Restaurant and book it once you have a campsite booked. We always book a year in advance s when I say book now, take the hint. If Crystal Cove is full just google RV's park Tofino.  

Wow! That fits our plans to spend a month on the Island!  Now to fill the rest of the month and get our plans on the calendar.  Any must see or do suggestions are welcome. 

Seems they shifted us to the middle gold row. That is good though since site 60 (where I am now going to be) has a wider space avail. I can bring my two pop up tents and we will have a place to gather!

Looks like a fantastic time! Kelly, you have started a GREAT tradition!

Looking forward to coming! Kelly, thanks for organizing!

Starting the last preparations for our journey to the rally.  Any recommendations on do's and don't bring with you (food, beverages, gear....quantities.). Is there a good border crossing web site (US to Canada) to be sure we don't have to donate to the local land fill.   Looking forward to our first rally!

I’ll second that.😊😊😊🇨🇦🇺🇸

This is the first one....hopefully we will have more!!

Aww...I have RV reservations in Saanichton and Nanaimo in July and didn't know about this rally; though still unsure if we will be making the July trip. Looks like this rally is/will be very popular so will plan for another trip up to Vancouver Island next August.

I realized after I responded to your post that the Coho is the ferry line
and not the highway🙃.

On Thu, May 25, 2023 at 7:10 AM Lance Owners of America <
admin@lanceowners.org> wrote:

As you are coming to the rally first, come up on the Coho, go to the rally, see Vancouver Island, take B.C. ferries to the mainland and then go to Banff etc. you turn have  numerous options for crossing the border when you go south. Osoyoos woukd be my choice as it gives you a tour of the Okanagan Valley. You have a great trip ahead of you. I hope you have made reservations in advance for campsites.

I have been living on the island for almost a year now (will be a year in July) and am so very glad I made the move. It was the right thing for me. Beauty everywhere and great people to spend time with. So glad that many of you are coming and even more impressed that I do not have to a sales pitch! Thanks to all of you! Glad that I will be meeting some new faces and seeing some longstanding friends. Looking forward to it!

Hi folks...just checking in....we will be having a potluck on the Saturday...probably some impromptu gatherings each of the other nights. Of course, I have to do Serge's Cowboy Breakfast on Sunday before everyone packs up (or not!) and heads home or to points elsewhere on the island. As to the rest of the time...free for all! There are lots of activities you can become engaged in with everything from beach combing, mini-golf and a water park just down the street, restaurants galore (good seafood!), and whale watching tours. Take a look at the Parksville Chamber of commerce site for some other ideas. Just come and enjoy!

Looks like BC ferries to the Island from Vancouver and CoHo back to Port Angeles,  just cant book online yet.   Seems to have multiple times on the schedules both directions.  The fare is easier to accept when spending 30+ days on the island.

2/23/23

Kept an eye on the Ferries and we now have a boat ride reservations to and from the Island.

Which ferry are you booking on, the MV Coho or BC ferries?

We have a month reserved on the island.  Currently watching the ferry schedule and available booking dates.  They must be released 5-6 months out??   

Site #82 we are booked.  Plans are are coming together!

It sounds like you all had a good time. Congratulations, Kelly!  We will make it up your way one of these years.

booked site 68 today - a few spots left

Enjoy your travels, see you in August.

Our plans are to ferry from Vancouver to the island (Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo), entering Canada a day ahead so customs shouldn't be an issue the day of.  Then to make the ferry cost worth it we depart 30+ days later from Victoria to Port Angles, staying the last few days in Victoria and taking the early ferry.  Research has shown us there is ample must see locations (reservations are made) from north to south and east to west on the island.  Looking forward to the trip!