upcoming Hoodsport, WA rally

[Jo-Ski]

Hi, Blue Birders!

Just another friendly reminder that the Pacific Northwest Blue Birders are having our annual Hoodsport, WA rally. FYI, below my signature is the original announcement.

IMPORTANT: If you have signed up for this, you should have just received an update e-mail from me off-list. Still spots available,so please let me know ASAP if you're in!

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

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oANNOUNCING THE 2008 FALL PNW BLUE BIRD RETREAT AT HISTORIC HOODSPORT, WA! ALL BLUE BIRDERS WELCOME!o

Hi, folks!

Time to plan ahead for that time of year again! So many in our Pacific Northwest Blue Birdganghave such great affection forthis quaint little ol' campground hugging the beautiful Hood Canal that we're hereby announcing our4th annual fall retreat there this year!

As in years past, we had a wonderful flock of Blue Birders show up last year!As always, if we get 10 or more Birds, the generous owners host and personally cook up a free oyster (from the campground's private oyster beds) barbecue for us on Saturday afternoon. What with the holidays not too far behind, besides the coach tours,just plain ol' fun hangin' out talkin' Blue Birds and everything else,and our traditional Saturday night potluck, we willalso continue our Saturday evening "white elephant" gala tradition again this year. Last year's "white elephant" was an even bigger "laffriot" than the year before! Talk about some warpedly wonderful senses of humor out there!! It's bound to get funnier!

Anyway, here are the full details:

Dates: September 26-28, 2008
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/ (check out the photos on the home page for
an idea of the area's breathtaking natural beauty)

Please note: As always, the campground has asked that you please use me as your contact person instead of each person calling them individually. I've reserved 12 spots, but more are probably available if we want them. Only about 30 spots along the water, so please let me know ASAP if you're in 'cuz the campground can still get busy at that time of year! Please e-mail "josl@nas.com"as soon as you can firm up your plans.

As in all past years, we'll have the spots directly overlooking the water (yippee!), facing thegorgeous Hood Canal. The campsites are about 30 feet from water's edge, with full power (30-amp and--new this year, 50-amp)/water-sewer hook-ups plus cable TV. Right in front of you at water's edge is a private oystering/clamming beach run by the campground (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 a few steps away 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; they now also have wireless connection.

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 being in Norway. You'll find the natural beauty of Hood Canal just spectacular!

We're hoping the area's year-round resident Orca pod might be visiting the canal when we're there. In years past, the pod has sometimes given the campground a grand show in the canal for several weeks (photos on their Website). So,we have the possibility of our own whale-watching extravaganza just yards from where we're camped! Also, according to the Dive Center at the resort, some of the world's largest octopi have been photographed in the canal.

For you wine buffs, the Hoodsport Winery is just a few miles down the road and hosts wine-tastings. There's also a neat little area with great shops and galleries.

Just think of it--camping right on the water, natural beauty, possible Orca sightings, and, as always, plenty of good Bird-talk and camaraderie! Does that sound great, or what?!

COME ONE, COME ALL FROM EVERYWHERE! IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER GREAT RETREAT WITH A SWELL BUNCH OF PNW BIRDERS AND, WE HOPE, MANY FRIENDS OLD AND NEW!

Hope to see you there!

OK, have we used enough exclamation marks already?!

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