TRAVEL Sunday, September 29, 1991 - North Shore News - 37 On the road again down the American west coast A four-week car trip FAX IS great! You’re getting this column direct from Salt Lake City — Brian and | are on our first-in-a-long-time car trip. As I predicted, we have more junk packed into that car than you would care to see. instead of our two, neat, airline bags we’ve got a cooler, games, magazines, books, three bags (one entirely unnecessary) and my notes. Every tourist stop 1 collect pamphiets, pictures and iocal papers. Cookbooks, a box of wine (bought individually from wineries in Sonoma and Napa), and ~— gag, if you will, a big bag of ornamental switch plates and a mailbox. Quick review: Headed out Saturd:y morning, Sept. 14, down 1-5. “ve don't like to drive that lor: — about six hours, but we like the Pony Soldier (Best We ern) in Atbany, Oregon. The motel is a predictable one -~ clean and comfortable but no more per- sonality than an ice chest. The big draw is a wonderful meal ai the next-door Yaquina Bay restaurant. It hasn't slipped an inch since our last visit — the seafood pasta is to-die-for and the prime rib exquisite. Don't order an appetizer — all meals come with soup and salad. Bill: $52 for Pony Soldier, $35 for dinner. After dinner, we donned bathing suits and soaked out the driving cramps in the hot tub. Darned if this wasn’t a good start for three-to-four weeks of living out of the car. Next day, we sped along I-5 to Grant’s Pass, Oregon .and took a right-hand cutoff — aiming for the Redwood Highway (Highway #101) and Crescent Ci- ty, California. Good choice! The highway is quick and easy — a few narrow spots but good pass- ing lanes. it’s amazing — one minute you're in farmland and the next, the giant Redwoods block the sun. Briefly. We goofed in Crescent City. We drove up to the ‘‘Best Western” and paid too much. Next door is motel — ‘‘American’’ that has lovely rooms for $10 cheaper. Live and !earn. Next day was delightful. The fog settled ocean when I wanted to take pic- tures but we found two elegant little towns — Eureka and Fern- dale. Go there! Eureka i:. on the highway (101) south of Crescent City. Ferndale W. Van rink celebrating twenty-fifth anniversary SUNDAY, OCT. 6 marks the 25th anniversary of the West Van- couver ice Arena. The arena is offering many special activities including face painting, entertainment by a Dix- ieland band, and many on-ice ac- tivities. To make the celebration complete the arena will roll out a giant cake for all to enjoy. Admission is frec, with skate and helmet rentals avaijable. The event will begin at I p.m. and conclude at 3 p.m. For more information call 926- 8621. in over the & arbara WicCreadie TRAVELWISE is still further south by only a few miles. The average traveller will drive through Eureka not knowing that just one block to the West (right) of the highway is the Old Town — a marvellous collec- tion of shops, Victorian architec- ture and a bakery that serves the best coffee and pastries since I’ve left home. Pick up a brochure — available at the Pony Soldier — on Eureka and another on nearby Ferndale. In Eureka, first go one block off Highway 1!01 to the west. Look for Ramone’s Bakery and Espresso between Second and Third Street on E Street. We haven’t had a better cup of regu- lar coffee before or since. The Pastries are tops, the prices wallet-pleasing. For three dollars we each had a pastry and coffee — try the cheese Danish! There are a lot of interesting shops on Second Street but 1 lost my heart to the Restoration Hardware on the west side, just around the corner from Romano's bakery. { bought lovely china switch plates (to match my _ china doorknobs) and a mailbox — brass and brassy. Look there for classy plumbing and lighting fix- tures that you can't find at home. Nice staff, too. Drive North on Second Street and have a look at the homes — beautiful restored Victorian ar- chitecture. There are tours spon- sored by the Sureka Visitor’s Bureau but with a free map, you'll do fine on your own. Allow at least 1% hours. Next, return to Highway 101 south. Watch the road signs for Ferndale — about 25 miles south. Ferndale is five miles west of 101 but worth the detour. Aren’t little towns fun? Fern- dale is little, old and beautifully restored — Victoriana, in homes, shops and way of life. Peaceful, friendly and worth a two-day stay. Lots of classic B&Bs. We didn’t have near enough time but if ! go again it’s for longer. We stopped in the | Ferndale Meat Co. for sandwiches to go. Don’t iniss this! $2.50 bought us a choice of everything .— ‘I chose turkey on cheese bread with tomatoes, lettuce, mustard mayonnaise and pickles. For $2.507 Could go back just for another sandwich. We shopped — and stopped for a beer at the historic Palace Saloon. Nice people everywhere and they like tourists. I asked what, besides tourism, was Ferndale’s industry. A pub ALL CRUISE AGENCIES ARE NOT CREATED EQUALIE Captain Cruise tnavites you to discover the . Craise Holiday difference. © Craise Holidays stores are locally owned and operated cruises exclusively. ° Member Of Nocth America’s largest chaia of agencies seiling 2 ° Sop Producer’ with major cruise fines. * Over 1000 specially priced cruises available. © Your one stop cruise specialist - individual. group, incentive and club cruises. © No charge for our services. (Cur fees are paid hy the cruise fine. You pay so surcharge.) No 4.S.T. Come in and visit. Call us today. 2383 Marine Drive, West Vancouver 926- CEEETE! THANKSGIVING AT THE INN October 13-15th Includes 2 nights Accommodation, 2 Breakfasts and Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Ladysmith, Vancouver Island. Just 20 minutes south of Nanaimo Reservations: (604)245-2Z11 Toll Free: 1-800-663-7327 patron replied, ‘‘Milk and mari- juana. We grow the best in the world."’ Apparently, the crop is harvested late September. {like milk better. We would never have found Ferndale unless I picked up a bunch of travel leaflets. Sor all of us, I’m grateful. And, to round off our visit to Ferndale, I saw my first Volunteer Fire Department in action. The siren sounded while we were strolling up Main Street. In se- conds, men came spilling out of shops and offices, racing down the middle of the street in shirts and ties. The siren kept howling as the first of the big fire trucks whooped out on the street and turned left. More followed — we counted five. Some shops on the street were hastily closed — one had a dangl- ing sign in the window — ‘Fire NIGHT You are cordially invited to an exciting presentation on our April 26, 1992 MEDITERRANEAN HIGHLIGHTS Cruise (Lisbon-Venice) and our May 8, 1992 GREAT CAPITALS OF EUROPE Cruise (Venice-London) Join us at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday October 2, 1991 at Canyon House 3590 Capilano Road North Vancouver Door Prizes, Refreshments R.S.V.P. 926-4344 Admission $3.00 (Refundable on booking) occupancy (Taxes not included) {at Lonsdale} B North Vancouver § —-~Back when j can."’ There’s a large Postuguese popu- lation in Ferndale. It goes back several generations. If you're lucky ~ and arrive late fail, early winter, you may find the town making sausage — thousands of pounds of the ‘“‘best in the world.’’ You can’t buy it. Also, if you're lucky, you may get a taste of it — it’s sold through service clubs to private homes. The best handle on that is going to “‘The Greek’s,”’ a cafe on Main Street where the old-timers gather for lunch. Ask anyone, they'll point it out. The people are more than nice. You'll have good food, kind treatment and a look at the Vic- torian past of a lovely little town. NORTH SHORE VENTURE TRAVEL & CRUISES HAWAII Walkiki 7 NIGHT PACKAGE From Cdn. $559 pp/dbi. : 14 NIGHT PACKAGE : From Cdn. $729 pp/dbl. inclusive of return nirfare from Vancouver to Honolulu, hotel and airport transfers. Valid Oct. 01 to Dec. 23/91 "COSTA RICA Datly Departures | From us. $562 ppiant (inclusive of retum airfare from Seattle to San Jose (valid for up to one month) 3 nights hotel in San Jose, aimort transfer to hote!, San Jose city tour, all taxes 24 days advance booking. PORTUGAL 44 DAY WINTER PACKAGE From Cdn, $1198 pp/dbl. | inclusive of airfare from lj Vancouver to Farolreturn from j Lisbon. Ali Inclusive car rental, 10 nights in the Algarva, 3 nights in Cascais ; Valid Novi31 to Rar {92 = 7 BAY CARIBBEAN CRUISE Inside Cabin rom us. $1095 ppisu. | Outside Cabin | rom us. $1195 spun. | inclusive cf retum airfare from Seattio mane tt Sept ZO 26ST 7 DAY MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE Inside Cabin From U.S. $899 Outside Cabin From us. $9539 Inclusive of retum airfare from Vancouver Valid Nov. 03 to Dec. 15/91 Jan. 05 to Mar. 29/92 1 986-1377 | 110 East 14th St.