Hey kids,
I am getting so excited about spending this time with you all on this adventure!

Some things I thought you might find helpful to know....

Transportation
Most of you already know this but the ferries are no longer accepting reservations for Friday. So......I think it is best to aim to be there to try to get on the 6:20 am ferry. (ugh, I know that sucks....but it will be worth it when we are happily making our way up island before dark!)

Pods (sorry to go all cheezy and whale-y on you but what the hell)
Kate, Laura, Shane and Lucy (in Kate's car)
Raj, Hayley, Ness, Jamie and Christina are in a rental
Jodi and Deanna (will be heading up thursday in Jodi's car)
Nola and Jason (*when are you heading up, girl? and are you in a car or what?)

Location
Sites have been booked. We are in site #'s 20 and 22 at Bere Point Regional Park...BC's beautiful Central Coast is ready and waiting for us!
Directions: http://www.rdmw.bc.ca/brochures/BerePoint.pdf
Further reading on Sointula: http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=74

Equipment
I reccomend coordinating among your "pod" that means tents, tarps, stoves, pots, pans and food. I think with a group of this size it is better that we all plan for our "pods" and share where we feel so compelled and where it makes sense to do so. Right?

Food and "stuff"
In keeping with the spirt of "pods" please coordinate meals with others in your pod. I reccomend buying groceries in Sointula at the co-op (lets promote and support the local economy eh?) You should know that the coop closes at 5pm. If it looks like you are going to arrive in Sointula after 5 and dont have groceries...go to the IGA in Port McNeill and buy enough to get you through Friday evening and Saturday B-fast. We can go into towm to the coop on Saturday and shop for the rest of the weekend as well as do a tour of Sointula!

I reccomend bringing your own wine and beer and other fun things from here. The selection in Sointula can be slim pickings.

Coordinating while on the road
My cell number is 612-0937. I suggest those with cells post the number to the blog so we can coordinate en route if we need to.

What else to bring
I know you are not children, but I do have maternal tendencies so I am going to make a list of things to remember (also for my benefit as I tend to need lists to get me going!) (this list assumes that you have remembered the expected: cutlery, pots pans, tent, sleeping bag, thermarest, pillow (this is car camping you know)

-sunscreen
-camera
-warm clothes (fleece pants etc)
-Summer clothes
-raingear
-swimming gear
-paints, musical instruments...anything that your creative self might cry out for after having been exposed to such a beautiful place
-running gear (I will be hitting the trails for sure)
-tarp
-wellies
-bicycle (do you have a rack on your car?)
-lanterns
-rope
-frisbees, hacky sacks (sp?)
-SOCKS

Call me if you have any questions at all.

Kate

copy of an email for the campsite....comments please

below is a copy of an email I got from the folks at the campsite I was thinking we'd go to. Are people still into this? It is not far from the water...I dont think it makes a big difference...but thought I would put it out there. I am still going. Please let me know if you are so I can make reservations.

Hi Kate,
The fee to camp at Bere point is $10 a day and a reservation is strongly suggested. There are sites available for the days you wish to camp but they are in the back in our new sites in the trees. There are no water sites available for those dates. If you wish to make a reservation, there is a $10. non-refundable reservation fee in order to guarantee you a site or you can just take your chances & show up at the park and go from there. You can call our office @ 956-3301 if you would like to make a reservation.
Any questions, please give me a call or send me an e-mail.

Thank you
Robyn

Dates, departure times, carpool
Gear
Food

Who is in who is not. Lets get to it!

K

Welcome!
Here is where we can chat about and plan this trip together. Please make your comments, suggestions etc here.

here is my original email too...

Hello friends.
I'd like to start a conversation among some of my favourite people (you) on a possible camping trip to the North Island (Sointula to be exact) While many of you do not know one another, I think you would all get along famously.

My dream here is to get a group of people together (size doesnt matter big or small) to go to this wonderful place I know. The campsite is on a whale rubbing beach (sometimes as many as 100 Orcas come to rub their bellies there) where it is not unheard of to wake up to the moon and mist and see the glistening backs of an orca and her calf as they peacefully drift past the site, or to be awakened by the sounds of orcas frolicking in the water.

I want you to come on this adventure, hike, laugh, play, sing, cook and eat together with freinds new and old. I am suggesting the August long weekend July 28ish-August 1. Although I am open to other dates too. So if you want to do this with me but those dates dont work speak up, for goodness sake! I would be happy if two of us went or if 20 of us went. I just really, really want to go

I have made this blog for us to use to discuss and plan this trip. I have set it up so that you dont have to sign up to comment, but please sign your name under your posting so we know who said what. http://campingwiththewhales.blogspot.com/

Cant wait to hear what you think!!!

Kate