Update: PNW Birds 4th Retreat

[Jo-Ski]

Hi, folks!

Just a reminder and a request to confirm departure dates. . .

We now have 10 Birds confirmed (a brand-new confirmation just came in via phone)
for the 4th PNW Bird 2005 Retreat at Hoodsport, WA, coming up Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
Still awaiting confirmation from an 11th Bird from Oregon (Rose Mary?????). Our
retreat coincides with the area's OysterFest a couple miles down the road (West
Coast National Oyster-Shucking Contest and Washington State Seafood Festival w/
live music on multiple stages and art). Just spoke with our 10th Birder, Eric,
who has lived in the area in the past, and he said it's The Best seafood
festival!

Now that we have 10 Birds, we get the discount group rate ($27 per night) plus
an oyster barbecue of our own, compliments of the campground.

The campground has told me that if we want to squeeze in a few more Birds at
this point, we still can, but ya better let me know ASAP!

Departure dates: For those of you who have already confirmed your Friday, Sept.
30 arrival, could you please e-mail me your preferences for departure dates
ASAP? For our other retreats, normally, most of us have pulled out on Sunday
afternoon, but this retreat is different. The OysterFest will still be going on
full-pull throughout Sunday, and for the first time, we have quite a few of you
coming from out-of-state, so at least one of our coaches from CA wants to stay
the Sunday night (Oct. 2) as well. We're planning on that, too. The campground
just told me this morning that this should be no problem.

For anyone who missed the original announcement with all the details, I've
enclosed that below my signature here. If ya wanna attend, please tell me right
away!

Thanks, everyone!

Jo-Ski
(360) 371-0301
'83-FC 35 RB
"The Bird Abides"
Blaine, WA
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----- Original Message -----
From: Jo-Ski
To: Bob Griesel ; Dave Beatty ; jim.ernsdorff@... ;
marvwheeler@... ; jipjob@... ; bobandarlene@... ;
ebirder2000@... ; WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 4:46 PM
Subject: 4th PNW Bird Retreat for 2005


ANNOUNCING THE 4TH PNW BIRD RETREAT FOR 2005! ALL BLUEBIRDERS WELCOME!

Hi, folks!

Here are the details, and you're gonna be just lovin' it!

Dates: Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005 (same weekend as the area's annual OysterFest--the
West Coast Oyster-Shucking Contest and Washington State Seafood Fair)

Campground: Rest-A-While RV Resort, Marina, and Dive Center
27001 N US Highway 101
Hoodsport WA 98548
(360) 877-9474
Toll Free: (866) 637-9474
Website: http://www.restawhile.com/

Please note: I am coordinating this,and the campground has asked that you use me
as your contact person instead of each person calling them individually. Only
about 30 spots along the water, so please let me know ASAP if you're in!

We will have the spots right along the water (yippee!), facing the beautiful
Hood Canal. The campsites are about 30 feet from water's edge, with full power
(30-amp)/water-sewer hook-ups. Right in front of you at water's edge is a
private oystering/clamming beach run by the campground (that was originally
seeded with Pacific Oysters from Japan--quite a change from what is carried in a
lot of markets, and they're just scrumptious). We have reserved a nice little
clubhouse right there for things like the Saturday evening potluck in case of
inclement weather, and we also have a fire pit plus a facility with Internet
connection capabilities.

As many of you may know, this "canal" is really a natural channel, not a
man-made canal--a historical glitch in interpreting the exploratory maps/notes
resulted in "channel" being mistakenly identified as "canal" and hence, the
current nomenclature. According the campground brochure, Hood Canal is actually
one of the only two glacier-carved fjords in the lower U.S. (the other being in
Maine), with most of the world's fjords in Norway. You'll find the natural
beauty of Hood Canal just spectacular!

And, if the above ain't enough, how's this for something special: The locals
told us that a pod of year-round resident Orcas who've been giving them a grand
show in the canal for several weeks had visited as recently as last Friday!
So,we have the possibility of our own whale-watching extravaganza! What's more,
according to the Dive Center at the resort, some of the world's largest octopi
have been photographed in the canal; the Dive Center photo display--not to be
missed--features photos of octopi with eyes as large as dinner plates!

That same weekend, Oct.1-2, is OysterFest, a gala that includes the West Coast
Oyster-Shucking Contest and Washington State Seafood Fair. This is held at the
Mason County Fairgrounds, a few miles down Highway 101 from the campground. In
addition to all the seafood-related events, the festival offers an art fair and
non-stop music on multiple stages plus special concerts of classical and sacred
music at local churches.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming--2 other RV "clubs"
have already reserved the rest of the campground across the highway for that
weekend, so we lucked out getting the beachfront sites.

Just think of it--camping right on the water, natural beauty, possible Orca
sightings, oyster-feeds, festivals, music, art, and, as always, plenty of
Bird-talk and camaraderie! Does this sound great, or what?!

COME ONE, COME ALL! IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER GREAT RETREAT WITH A SWELL BUNCH OF
PNW BIRDERS!

(Dave Beatty will be forwarding this to the other Blue Bird forums. Thanks,
Dave!)

Best regards,

Jo-Ski (Jo Slivinski, also for Stew Sanders)
(360) 371-0301
'83-FC 35 RB
"The Bird Abides"
Blaine, WA

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