British Columbia Unit #121 CHARTERED JUNE 26, the news

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1 British Columbia Unit #121 CHARTERED JUNE 26, BC UNIT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1-2 President s Column 2 Community Corner 3 New Members, Roster Changes 4 Traveland, Committee Chairs & International Rally 5 Vancouver Island Rally, Website Request 6-9 Small Towns BC rally report and Photo Page 9-10 Othello Tunnel Rally 11 Future Activity Schedule 12 Miscellaneous Photos 13 For Sale 14 Barry s Safety Report UNIT OFFICERS President Paul Wheeler, paul.jan.wheeler@gmail.com 1st VP Joyce Wensley, joyce355@icloud.com 2nd VP Position open 3rd VP Amir John Showrai, ajs79lincoln@netscape.net Recording & Corresponding Secretary Arlene Matches, matches7403@gmail.com Treasurer Jay Tuason, innotu@yahoo.com Past President Tom Akam, lighthouse13381@shaw.ca Directors - One Year (Term ) John Millard, fmillard@telus.net Shelby Brennan, shel.brennan@gmail.com Directors - Two Year (Term ) Dick Moffat, rsmoffat@shaw.ca Position Open the news OCTOBER 2016 PAUL S PERAMBULATIONS Editor: Arlene Matches Home Phone: Cell Phone: matches7403@gmail.com It s hard to believe a month has already passed since our Installation Rally in Merritt. I m humbled by the wonderful support and encouragement of so many of our members both at the Rally and afterwards as I accepted the honour of being President. I m also somewhat daunted due to the reality I still work very full time and am constantly travelling all over Canada on business. Makes me very afraid I won t be able to deliver the support and direction the Club so richly deserves. I will do my best and, I m sure, with all the great members we have the year will go well. I d like to start these ramblings with some thanks. My warmest thanks got out to: All those who worked so hard to make the Installation Rally a great experience for everyone. I m not going to try to provide names because the work was taken up by so many. Suffice to say that all your efforts made it memorable for me and, I m sure, for all who attended; Elsewhere in this newsletter you ll see a report on the Small Towns of Central BC Caravan that was organized and lead by Marilyn and Gene Van Iderstine. Janet and I were on this caravan and, I ve got to tell you, it was wonderful. All those little towns we normally drive right through are full of history and great things to see. We met great people and had an excellent time. Thank you Marilyn and Gene for all your efforts on our behalf and for your leadership. I ve got to thank my wife, Janet Soucy, for the many photo records she makes when our Club members get together. She provides these to members through sharing on the web and in this newsletter. We were both gratified when Arlene submitted two of her Sheridan Lake pictures to the Blue Beret and overwhelmed to see they chose one for their most recent cover. Congratulations my lady!! Special thanks to Jay Tuason who is working VERY diligently behind the scenes to get the annual membership renewal notices out to all our members and collect dues from everyone. A momentous job that is crucial to maintaining our Club. REMEMBER: if you haven t submitted your dues and the renewal information to Jay yet please do it right away. You ll also see elsewhere in this edition that Arlene and Alex are delivering 40 pounds of pull tabs this week. Thank you all for being so faithful about collecting these tabs and thanks to the Matches for all their great work at making this a successful way to support others; And, again, in this issue, is a report from Barry about safety when pulling the Airstream, a subject of great importance to us all. Thanks Barry for this work (and congratulations on your new truck); Paul s column continued on page 2...

2 THE COMMUNITY CORNER Ruth Stahl recently had a fall which resulted in stitches in her head and an operation to implant a screw into her hip...the hip wasn t broken but the surgeon felt the additional support was necessary. She is home and receptive to cheerful phone calls to Carolyn & Ron Wills have asked me to remind everyone that the Vancouver Island Luncheon is being held at the Cottonwood Golf Club on October 5th at 1:00. If you plan to go please give them a call at for directions and to reserve a spot. If anyone has news to share, please advise Arlene Matches for an insertion into this column. Births, anniversaries, health issues, good news or bad...anything you wish to share with the membership is welcome. Paul s Perambulations* (cont d) A HUGE thank you to everyone who submitted so many photos to be included in the newsletter. These are so wonderful at helping us relive warm memories and share our experiences with each other. I know you ll see photos here from the Vancouver Island Rally (narrative from John Neilson and photos from Deb McGill); and many photos from both the Installation Rally and the Small Towns caravan. And finally, thank you to Arlene for doing this newsletter and to Tom who is continuing on with many of the things he started and giving me lots of guidance. I don t know what I d do without either of you. I know I, for sure, forgot to thank lots of people and I apologize. Everyone s efforts are so important in a Club like ours and everyone s contributions matter. I d like to close with asking you to remember. Throughout this newsletter you will find information about the activities of BC Unit #121. Next one I know about is the Island lunch at 1:00 pm on October 5 in Nanaimo (if you re going please let us know because we have to have a count thank you to the Wills for hosting). In the meantime, remember, this Club is about Airstreams and people. I strongly encourage you to get to every event, rally, or caravan that you can. Knowing each other, supporting each other, enjoying each other and celebrating our common love of Airstreams is what we re about. We are less than all we could be when YOU aren t there. Have a GREAT October! Paul * Perambulations: Sauntering, Promenading, Ambling, Moseying, Meandering, Rambling (most likely definition in Paul s case) Members, affiliates and friends have contributed ANOTHER 40+ pounds of pull tabs!!! We received about 15 pounds from the Alberta/Saskatchewan Unit; another large Ziplock package from North Cascades Unit and our members continue to hand us baggies of tabs. We are so very thankful to everyone for their continued support of our charity and, in this regard would everyone please continue to collect pop and beer can tabs and bring them to the next luncheon or rally you attend. We will, in turn, give them to Sharon, our coordinator, who delivers proceeds to the Children s Hospital charity. For your generosity we THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Great idea for use of an old wine bag. Fill it with shampoo and hang it on the shower rod in your Airstream with Acco clips...clever! PAGE 2

3 MEMBER, WEBSITE, and ROSTER CHANGES PLEASE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: None this month although many letters have gone out to new owners. ALSO, WELCOME NEW AFFILIATE MEMBERS: BECKER, Gordon & Sheryl WBCCI #4952 P.O. Box 1923 Kingston, WA, Gordon s Cell: Sheryl s Cell: Gordon s gordbec@hotmail.com Sheryl s shab05@hotmail.com Airstream: TBA Members of Washington Unit WEAVER, Don & ROBB, Carol WBCCI #1101 P.O. Box 364 Members of Sacramento Valley Unit Bass Lake, CA, Phone numbers: Unknown dgweaver@sti.net Airstream: Classic motorhome (year/length not known) PLEASE MAKE THESE ROSTER CHANGES: Patrick & Brenda Armstrong (WBCCI #3087) are now full-timers so change their mailing address to PO Box 100, Station A, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5K4 and their phones are cells only. Patrick is and Brenda s cell is John & Jane Neilson s (WBCCI #5588) telephone number should be NON-RENEWING MEMBERS & AFFILIATES: We will miss... OUGH, Michael & Page (who will be full-timing) PAGE 3

4 COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Audit Committee Tom Akam plus volunteers Budget Committee Tom Akam & the VPs Caravan Committee To be appointed Nominating Committee Tom Akam with Joyce Wensley and one other to be named Community Service Alex & Arlene Matches Equipment Chairman Ron McQuarrie Hospitality & Sunshine Arlene Matches Membership & Mentoring Alex Matches Newsletter Editor Arlene Matches Roster & Handbook Tom Akam Safety Chairman Barry Hook Telephone Committee Paul Wheeler & Janet Soucy Unit Historian Alex Matches Webmaster Monty Sheldan FOR FUTURE PLANNING The 60th WBCCI International Rally is being held on different dates next year and is almost fully booked!! Add July 22nd -29th to your 2017 Calendars. Why not get a group together for a caravan; then plan to visit lovely Escanaba, Michigan where the 60th International Rally is being held. However, if you miss the 2017 rally, we just learned that the 2018 rally is once again going to be held in Salem, Oregon so keep July 2018 available to attend THAT one. Details can be found in all upcoming Blue Berets. PAGE 4

5 VANCOUVER ISLAND RALLY Report by John Neilson and photos by Deb McGill & Carolyn Wills We decided to get a head start on the rally preparations by staying over on Thursday night. We were not the only ones. As we approached the designated RV site I could see a very familiar red head Doug and Deb had beaten us to the punch. With them were Rhonda and Bill from Courtenay/Cumberland. It was great to have them as they gave us a much needed hand setting up the food canopy and getting the activity tables set up in the picnic shelter. Friday we finished getting set up and got ready to welcome the remainder of the group at happy hour. Everyone contributed to a pot luck dinner table with far more food than was needed. Doug kept the fire stoked. He became the official keeper of the torch and continued the remainder of the days with a constant supply of firewood. After dinner was play time with a game called Pass the Ball. Gifts are individually wrapped in various sizes of saran wrap until a ball is created. One person rolls the two dice while the one on the left starts to unravel the ball. As soon as a double dice is rolled, the ball is passed to the next in line to start unravel and try to get a gift before another double is called. This is repeated until the ball has been totally unravelled. Great fun was had by all with Rhonda and Ellen reaping the most prizes. Saturday everyone was on their own. Michel and Ellen took the steam train trip and visit to the McLeans Historic Mill. The rest of us found our way around town and the local Fall Fair. We re-assembled back at the site for happy hour. Dinner that night was at the Starboard Grill at the Harbour Quay. The Harbour itself boasts a small park surrounded by specialty shops and a dock jutting out into the Alberni Inlet. The Starboard Grill is Port Alberni s only on-the-water restaurant with a patio overlooking the harbour and down the channel. Sunday we hosted a pancake breakfast. Many hands helped with prepping the tables while waiting for breakfast to be served. John served up a stack of hots (pancakes) that was accompanied by a baked omelet, pork sausage, pepper bacon and fruit. We said our farewell to Rhonda and Bill in the afternoon, then settled in to a day of visiting, playing cards and testing horse racing skills. A BBQ dinner was again a shared table with everyone contributing. Sunday night Ron and Kay had a mishap with their RV. A curb-side tire had picked up a wayward screw which led to a blow-out late at night, lifting the trailer off its levellers with a loud BANG. A tow-truck arrived in the morning and replaced the punctured tire with a dirty spare which didn t fit with Ron s sense of cleanliness. Ron had the tire repaired in Port before heading off to Ucluelet/Tofino with the Wills. Monday we were on the road again with a commitment to seeing each other more often, and an interest to have a Vancouver Island rally again next year. Thanks to the McGills, Wills, Bourassas, Armstrongs, and McQuarries who joined us on this rally. We enjoyed being your hosts and encourage others to get involved in future rallies.!!...smile!! President, Paul Wheeler, requests new and affiliate members to please forward their info (photo and bio) for inclusion on the BC Unit website. We also encourage our regular and affiliate members who haven t done so to add a picture and update their biographies as well. There is a printable roster available from the website. Please contact our Web Master, Monty Sheldan with regard to accessing the website (if you haven t already done so). The address for Monty is: msheldan@mac.com. Tom Akam also has a printable and up-to-date version of our Mini Roster in Word format which he will upon request. Tom s address is: lighthouse13381@shaw.ca. PAGE 5

6 SMALL TOWNS OF CENTRAL BC CARAVAN Report by Marilyn Van Iderstine Visiting Three Rivers University Horticultural Gardens At Helmcken Falls in Wells Gray Park Most Wanted Two different Socks Day This is my Pet Rock... Snow on the hills in Valemount Paul the Pancake Chef Gene Deanna Wayne Dave Janet Bow Tie Day in Prince George PAGE 6

7 Looks like fall in McBride Larry Stamm (luthier) demonstrates instruments Ice Cream Social Ice cream, maple syrup and macadamia nuts Be sure to ask a caravanner about the Cabaret at the Sunset Theater in Wells. What happens in Wells, stays in Wells. Best Halibut in Wells Crowded in to watch DWTS in Wells In underground house at Xutsan Village Too much fun PAGE 7

8 Caravan Leaders Marilyn & Gene Van Iderstine Barkerville Harold & Rose Nicholson from Alberta More Caravan Photos Dave & Jill Wilson New affiliates Don Weaver & Carol Robb Barry Hook with Sierra and Nevada PAGE 8

9 Affiliates Deanna & Tom Bain Affiliates John & Elain White WINTERIZING AND OTHELLO TUNNEL RALLY CAMP BRIDAL RV PARK (see brochure next page) Bridal Falls Road, Rosedale, BC October 14-17, 2016 FRIDAY, October 14th Arrive any time during the day (if you wish to come in a day earlier, please book directly with campground) 4:00 pm Happy Hour (if nice at the trailers; if inclement, at the clubhouse. Bring your own libations and goodies). During this time we will make arrangements for car pooling tomorrow. Dinner On own or make arrangements with friends 7:00 pm Winterization discussion led by Bob Halliwell (with input from all of us). Make a list of your key ques tions and bring notepad take notes. SATURDAY, October 15th 8:00 am Coffee (thanks Tom) 8:30 am Light breakfast provided ( Bun on the Run thanks to Bob and his helpers) 10:00 am Car pool to Othello Tunnels, Provincial Park, Hope, BC 10:45-12:00 Walking tour of the tunnels (very easy walk, completely accessible bring rain gear if weather is messy) 12:00-2:00 pm Lunch on your own or in group. Tour Hope (lots to see) 2:00 pm Car pool back to Camp Bridal 4:00 pm Happy Hour 5:30 pm Pot Luck Dinner (bring a main and salad or main and dessert enough for your party and one other person that should do it it looks like we will have about 26 people) 7:30 pm Winterization discussion continued (or finished) SUNDAY, October 16th 8:00 am Coffee (thanks Tom) 8:30 am Pancake and sausage breakfast served in clubhouse 11:00-12:00 Leave for home (or, if you decide to stay over to Monday, please arrange with the campground) ~~RALLY FEES ARE $10 PER ADULT AND $5 PER CHILD. PLEASE PAY TOM AKAM~~ PAGE 9

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11 British Columbia Unit # Activity Schedule DATE EVENT HOST(S) October 4 Vancouver Island Luncheon Ron & Carolyn Wills 1:00 pm Cottonwood Golf & Country Club October Othello Tunnels and Winterizing Rally Paul Wheeler & Janet Soucy (see information elsewhere in newsletter) December 4 Christmas Luncheon Joyce Wensley 11:30 am Delta Town & Country Inn January 14 Traveland Luncheon Tom Akam 11:30 am Traveland RV Supercentre Langley, BC February 12 Valentine s Day Dinner Host(s) needed Location to be advised March 19 St. Patrick s Day Luncheon Host(s) needed Location to be advised April 8-9 Maintenance Rally Bob Halliwell arranging Location to be advised April Tri-Unit Rally Tom Akam North Whidbey RV Park Whidbey Island (10 spaces reserved for BC Unit) May Fraser Valley Wine Tour (TBA) Host(s) needed May Sheridan Lake Fishing Rally Bob & Gayle Halliwell & helpers Loon Bay RV Resort (15 sites available $40 deposit this rally fills up fast) June Anacortes Rally (TBA) Host(s) needed Location to be advised July Christmas In July Rally (TBA) Host(s) needed Location to be advised August Installation Rally Alex & Arlene Matches Claybanks RV Resort in Merritt, BC PAGE 11

12 Sharon Moffat and Ron McQuarrie celebrating their mutual birthdays at the Midtown RV Luncheon Thanks to roving photographers: Alex Matches, Deb McGill, Brigitte Sooke, Janet Soucy, Marilyn Van Iderstine, and Carolyn Wills. Without your help this would be one boring newsletter. New club logo Installation Executive Left to right are: Bob Caldwell Tom Akam Darlene Caldwell, Janet Soucy Paul Wheeler Arlene Matches and John Millard New Members Amir John & Maria Showrai with children Keyvan and Atessa (sporting their new blue berets) New members Al & Terry Gamache (Al couldn t wait to attach his new numbers so made some out of blue duct tape temporary fix we hope) PAGE 12

13 AIRSTREAMS FOR SALE I got a phone call from Don Reimer (a reader of RVTimes who got our number from the Airstream Club ad). Don wanted us to put a notice into this newsletter about a friend who is looking to sell a 28-foot Land Yacht that needs total restoration. He didn t have details about age of unit or anything else. The owner, Orest Pyrch, is asking $5,000 or best offer for it and can be reached at He is the person to contact if you want any other information. Arlene Matches, Editor Here is another one. In a recent I received information on this rig that is also for sale Type Airstream Excella 1000 Length 34 feet Year 1989 Location Cloverdale Condition Excellent Price $24,900 For further information and to view contact: Owner Adam Scriver Cell adamscriver222@icloud.com Ex-BC Unit member, John Walker from West Vancouver, is selling his foot Safari for $30,000. It is in beautiful shape although with a small amount of floor rot that John has dealt with and I have attached a couple of photos he sent me. If you are interested in this rig or want more information on it, please give John a call at PAGE 13

14 A Tale of Woe and Redemption by Barry Hook #4442 This is about an incredibly skillful repair job by Bill Verhagen and his crew at Traveland RV Langley While approaching the new Aldergrove Canadian border April I was directed by orange pylon wide right of the agent s booth and unable to see a concrete barrier separating lanes lower down on the right. The lower part sticking out hit the right corner floor area. The lane separation barriers have since been modified and now have white pylons easily visible installed on top (both sides) when exiting. I requested using the truck lanes and was denied. Americans are smarter they make you use the truck lane... Bill Verhagan took one look at my trailer and said it will take a month to fix when he has parts. My insurer hired an appraiser and the initial estimate was a write off as I did not have enough insurance at $38,000. (Considering salvage value.) I had some spare parts that I supplied and that together with some saving on labor and freight that was enough to order parts to save the trailer. This process took 4 weeks and another 5 weeks for parts to arrive exactly as needed. Albert Kramer, a very skilled Airstream repairman, was off work however another very skilled and experienced repair tech Dan Gerspacher did most of the work and it was fixed (3 weeks) and out the door on July 16. The upshot...the trailer has since gone over 8,000 km and not a single glitch. Extremly well done, Traveland! The insurer Aviva had a company adjuster and she was also very competent and professional. The first photo is déjà vu 2002 (34 foot job) with Bill and Albert. The other photos tell the tale. I have since upped my insurance to $52,000 which may be a bit high but better to have too much than not enough. PAGE 14