‘Chunnel

‘FHE CHANNEL tunnel, as
we all know, opens on
Friday. But beyond the
pomp and circumstance it’s
all a bit of a mystery. Latest
word is that start of car and
“bus traffic between...
Folkstone and Calais — Le
Shuttle — will not start until
-. June and full service is
-- unlikely before September.

‘Then there is the Eurostar pas-
enger train, a joint effort by
British, French and Belgian rail-
‘roads. It will take three hours
_ between London and Paris. It was
: to begin in July, but asa Rail. -
Europe staffer in Toronto said,
“they. keep changing the date.”
*, Nevertheless, Eurostar looks like
a.winner. Passengers can board at
~ the new Waterloo International
., Station in central London, relax,
‘-have a meal, dispense with border
formalities on board, and then step
“off the Gare de Nord in Paris.
“London to Brussels will be three
ours and 15 minutes.
in the meantime you can call
800-94-CHUNNEL and get a Rail .
“ Europe booking priority number.
:- Eurostar times and prices are not * ”
: ‘available but Le Shuttle in Britain
was quoting a start-up vehicle fare
$225.

It’s likely that the popular
Rail and Ruraltpasses will have

3 B.C. C. ghosts town brought back to

AND. Marlene Mullis thought
chad retired, bul when: ney

This: hamlet in British Columbia
s. destined to. become a ghost
-town:in.1970 —-at least that is

hat: ‘government planners had
an

Vancouver and Prince ‘Rupert,:the, :
wn -has-a “history dating back: 1o°
native’ settlements. Recently: rock
vings were found ngarby;- dating’
habitation ‘of this area to between
5200 and 1,500 years ago.
Modern history started with a:

mill, ia 1906) The -L.ink river, ..

“flowing « “through ‘town, | was

mmed in 1923.and created an 18

mile Jong lake. ;
Ocean Falls became a company
own with over 3,500. inhabitants,
jorking and thriving — until the
‘company. closed down in 1970. -
This spelled disaster for the peo-
‘ple. The government was aot about
to help and the decision was made:
abandon the territory. Houses,
: “schools, banks, businesses and, of
“course, the mill buildings all were
: ~ vacated and left to rot..
“S oThere never was any road access
-to'Ocean Falls and the town would:
oon be forgotten.

* However, a handful of oldtimers
refused to move. They stayed with-
.out any service and little contact

with the outside world.
“S"sThe surrounding natural lakes,
“rivers, the bay and the rainforest all
returned to nature’s fold and devel-
, Oped into pristine wilderness once
‘again. ; :
Vacationing. yachts and fishing
els plying the ocean would at
‘times: anchor at the derelict piers.
- Sailors would wander the deserted
> Streets and talk to the oldtimers.
Because of the newly estab-
Hished surrounding beauty, word
_ Bot ‘around that the village would
“make an ideal cottage community.
«Soon some of the buildings were
‘ estored and d today the ere are

avid
Wishart

“TRAVEL TIPS.

a Eurostar option.

If you're travelling within
Britain consider locally available
Apex fares which offer Edinburgh
round trip for $87 if booked seven
days in advance-and $57 when you
“buy the ticket 14 days in advance,

. The journey to Edinburgh is

“only about five hours and is a relax- *

ing sightseeing trip which can also
‘include a stop al York, a treasure

“trove of antiquities and good pubs,

.. You can get on the train at
London in the morning, have a
quick tour in York plus a pub

~ lunch, and be back’on the train and
in Edinburgh by 6 p.m. :

about 70 permanent residents call

ing Ocean Falls’ home again.

The population’ swells to about
“300 in the summer, when the cot-
tage owners. come and enjoy -the

coastal” mountains, fjords, ‘tivers,’
’ Jakes and the wonderful fishing for-

fresh and salt-water species.
4 Whale’ ‘watching. i isa lot of fun,

.. 00.
Located. on ‘the coast: between :

Even salmon tu Tuns can be found
in two of the rivers at Occan Falls.
The ‘giant crabs, red snapper and

trout are plentiful as well... .. 0.» :

The’ Mullises ‘bought one of the
buildings. They envisioned Ocean
Falls becoming a fishing paradise.

- Since there was no accommoda-
tion available, they redesigned the
former bank building into a two-

storey fishing lodge. : :
“Six guest rooms, a large dining

room, a “Great Room”. and an out-

door patio are going to be the home ©

for fishing men and women from
around the world, according to Jim
Mullis.

He has bought special ocean-

going boats which will keep the

sportspeople dry in inclement

weather (when the fish are biting,

according to lore).

Local guides will bring tourists. .

to where the big ones are, and from

all reports, catching the daily limit

within the first hour is not unusual.

Other residents of Ocean Falls
have not been idle either.

Today there is a new dock, the
school has been re-opened and
power and telephones have been
restored,

_. Asmall grocery. store is operat-
ing and supplies come in regularly
by ferry.

The Air Canada connector,
Pacific Coastal Airlines, is making
scheduled stops with float planes
and every citizen hopes that Jim
and Marlene will be successful in
their enterprise to put Ocean Falls
back on the map, so to speak.

On June 1, their lodge will open
and ail indications ave that the busi-
ness will be good, because the fish:
ing is good. bel

HW you are renting a car, British
Airways Holidays bas daily rites
starting al $22, and even with the
CDW- inclusive tate of $47 this is
as low as you'll get.

British Airways also has London
hotels starting at $50 a night per
person, and if you stay six nights
they throw in airport transfers.
These rates only apply to British
Airways’ passengers. .

Fiesta West, meanwhile, has a
summer brochure on Britain with
couch tours starting at $399 includ-
ing a hotel night in London or
Edinburgh before departure. Also,
if you buy your air ticket from
Fiesta West you get $60 off the
coach tour, and there is a guaran-
teed share program for single trav-
ellers.

London theatres, already a bar-
gain compared to New York and

other cities, are even cheaper if you.

don't mind a little hanging around
the Half-Price Ticket Booth at
Leicester Square.

Unsold tickets are sold on the |

~day of the performance from 2:30

p.m. The cost saving is 50%, there
is'a maximum service charge of .
about $3, and payment is in cash
only. It’s closed Sundays.
Budget traveilers should consid-
er the Youth Hostels Association
(YHA), which has 250 hostels,
mostly in the countryside, but

“including seven in London such as_

the modern 320- bed Rotherhithe

It takes special people to be part

of the revival of a ghost town; peo- |

“ple with vision and entrepreneurial
spirit. ;
Jim-and Marlene have it plus the
attitude that, will make every guest
feel weicome.

The couple are already talking
about extending into the diving
business, another great opportunity
_invund around Ocean Falls. -

Packages start at $895 for three
.days and three nights, per person,
double occupancy, including all
‘meals and fishing excursions with
guide, .

. Brochures are available by
phoning the Ocean Falls: Fishing
Lodge toll free at 1-800-661-7550.

; 7 NIGHT °
INCLUSIVE VACATIONS
from CDN $1175 PP/DBL*’ - &
Child rate from $573 CON. §
fi Inclusive of
# > Round trig non-stop flight from
Ey Vancouver to Maui
& ° 7 night superior room at the ocean
§ front Royal Lahaina Resort
4 (first class - 4 stars)
A ° Breakfast and dinner daily
@ ° Hotel tax and airport taxes

; * Price is per person based on double occupan-

cy. Child rate is based on sharing with 2 adults.
Maximum 3 persons in room. Prices are based §

on various seasons. Please call us for details...

. facilities, and these days you don’t

ren A od oe oe
“Sunday, May 1, 1994 - Norh Shore News - "39
PUES DRT ELAT REAR ATOMS MENTE,

Phote submitted

ALTHOUGH NO one seems to know oxactly when it will begin
its run, the Eurostar train holds the promise of London te Paris
jn just three hours.

fs

ularly in pubs, and there is growing
competition to provide gvod value’
with fixed price menus costing as

Hostel in Docklands.
The YHA has spent $30 million
in the last five years upgrading its

lishments displaying the British:
Tourist Authority’s Fixed Price
Menu sticker.
Six restaurants in the Savoy --
group will be offering lunch or‘din-
ner for only $18.84 in August. They “
include Simpson’s in the Strand and -
Claridge’ s buffet... -:..-
This is a deal. I'd buy the cheap-
‘est air, ticket (as long as.it’s in the.’
’ cabin), ride in a bus, stay in a hi
tel, but shine your shoes every day
and proceed to en sto eat
like a lord or lady.

even have to be a youth — there is
no age limit.

- Cost ranges from $7.82 to
$17.42 if you’re under 18 and from
$11.68 to $23.76 for adults. London -
prices are $31 for under 18s and ©
$37 for adults.

’ They are open to overseas mem-
bers and nonmembers can buy an
sinternational membership for:--. :
$17.82 at the first British hostel _
‘they y Visit.

Eating out in Britain has also
changed. The food i is better, pattic-

little as half price. Look for estab-

UPDATE: YOUR VACUNATIONS B 5 BEFORE TRAVEL a

Ef
ween... LYNN VALLEY MEDICAL CLINIC.
aim. 1200 Lynn Valley Rd. {beside McDonald's}.
*: Open Bam - 9pm - 7 days'a week (988-5389)
Not sppointment necessary Approved oe Health & Welfare Canada.

and

‘WRoyal Cruise Line
invite you to attend a .

Gala Cruise Night
in West Vancouver on
Tuesday, May 3, 1994

oo ¢
This program will feature
a special-early fall cruise of the
Great Capitals of Europe
aboard Royal Cruise Line’s flagship the
Crown Odyssey,
This offer is exclusively for mature travellers,

” Park Royal Hotel, ; RS.V.P.
Riv ag Room 687-5690
6: 30 p.m. Whitney MacDonald