Fellow Cascaders,

 

I had the good fortune this past weekend to take my kids out to the ocean and explore the Peninsula.  We saw many great things including bald eagles, whales and elk to name a few.  In addition to the wildlife, we found many OMG-roads.  These Oh-My-God-roads are the kind of roads that steel your breath away as the car drops out from under you as you crest the hill.  These roads let you test the true stickiness of your tires and your aptitude for not touching the brake through the apex.  OMG roads are the kind of roads that make you want to do a u-turn, just to do it again.  These are the kinds of roads you usually discover in your BJ9 and make you wish you had your Healey with you.  Let me just say it wet my appetite and left me wanting to return with my BN7.

 

 

Many of you participated in the British Car Week Rally & Tour I planned last month.  I'm hoping many of you have talked with those that have and now wish you would have gone.  I had a great time and was very happy with the turn out.  So much so, I am toying with the idea of planning another event - but bigger, better and braver....  Before I go and embark on this endeavor, I'd like to gauge interest among our Club members and your friends.  So read on and let me know what you think.  Don't be afraid to make suggestions that would entice you to join us or suggestions that might make it more enjoyable for others too.

 

Project Bigfoot is the working title for the Fall Sasquatch Tour.  The exact dates are to-be-determined however I'm thinking late September (like the 26-28) early October (like 3-5).  Regardless, it would be a Friday - Sunday tour & car show & other activities.  Departing on Friday, there would be two tours,

The South End Tour would depart from the usual starting point - South Center Mall.  This group would travel south and around the Sound to Aberdeen then through the mountains to our destination at Lake Quinault.  This would be a short tour taking less than 3 hours, maybe a little more with stops.  Perhaps even members in Portland might join this group in route.

 

The North End Tour would meet at the Brick Yard P&R and had north to Edmonds where this group would catch a ferry to Kingston.  This group would follow 104 to 101 to 112 to 113 down along the coast to our destination at Lake Quinault.  This tour would take about 5 hours, maybe a little more with stops.  Perhaps even the Canadians might join us in Port Angeles?

Our destination and lodging for the weekend is tentatively The Rain Forest Resort Village ( http://www.rainforestresort.com/ ).  The lodge has a collection of suites, an inn and a number of cabins that sleep 2 - 6 people to choose from.  I am currently working on a group rate and expect to be in the neighborhood of $75 - $125 for larger units per night. 

 

Here is a tentative schedule of activities:

Friday:   Mid-morning, The North End and South End Tours depart

        Lunch on your own on the way

        Dinner on your own

        Hospitality Room

Saturday:   Morning Car Show

         Sasquatch Tour around Lake Quinault and surrounding area (or relax and enjoy nature)

       Funkhana / Horseshoes / Games

       Pot luck or BBQ dinner lake-side

        Possible pontoon boat tour of the lake and/or bonfire with s'moores of course

       Hospitality Room

Sunday:   Breakfast / Car Show & Funkhana Award presentation

        Tour home via the North or South End Tour routes

Similar to the BCW Rally & Tour, all road-side tech sessions would be free to all participants.  The organization for some of the activities and functions will require a registration fee.  I'm thinking in the neighborhood of $20 - $25 per person. 

 

I'll be the first to admit I will not be able to carry this off all by myself.  I will need volunteers to help execute this.  Don't worry, you won't have to do this alone too.  Remember what your mom use to tell you, many hands make light work or was it many lights make work at night easier?  Anyway you know what I mean.  So what do I need from you now....  The answer to a few questions:

It would a great deal in the planning if you could email me your interest / answers to cruz.n.usa@gmail.com.  Please feel free to make any suggestions or recommendations you think the group might find enjoyable.  On last thing, please indicate if you would be willing to help in the planning or activities.

 

Hope to see you on the road,

Carlos Cruz