RENDEZVOUS ISLAND Mew secluded resort a good place to dream ROBBIE BEGG was a man with a dream. He wanted to pack up his job as a college librarian in California and return to his native British Columbia and build a secluded home on a beautiful island. He knew of such a place, North Rendezvous Island, 15 minutes by Noatplane from Campbell River on the east side of Quadra Island and just south of Sonora Island. It is one of three islands in the Rendez- vous group, so called after the meeting 200 years ago between the British explorer Vancouver and the Spaniard Quadra. Eleven years ago he and his wife Carolyn took the plunge, making their own landfill on Rendezvous and building a home on a steep dluff. They did most of the work themselves, including the milling of the lumber. Begg worked for a while as a scheol administrator and commer- cial fisherman until he realized that the waterfront of their property was perfect for a resort, a place secluded in the tall trees for privacy yet afiordin’ majestic views across Calm Che mel to the mountains of the Coast ‘ange. So Begg ard his wife — who say modestly they have a practical ap- titude, but do know how to use in- struction manuals — set to work almos? two years ago to construct a lodge with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and an upstairs owners’ suite, lt took them 18 months but chey did it, onve again miving their own Jumber, including 110 beams t2 feet long. They lived in a tent on SHUSWAP GET AWAY VM ADT hay prac dbanttes 4-6-8 10 sleeners VATE Rothe ANT EAD canscdy Pa er a ae CALL. SHeanyous, eer at YO NS AT 1989 PRICES Saas BQ. Pulls equipped: gates Commun bridue Warten slide OS + Pty ye db proce baths Hook before bantars b. PODAY BLUEWATER HOUSEBOAT | (O04) B3O-2255 1-HOO0-G6) 3-40 24 Bon 2468 B.C. VOL the work site until a tree fell on it, and after that they would scramble up the 250-foot bluff after every 14-hour workday. Neighbor Ken Cudmore brought in a bulldozer to clear the land and pull out stumps, and for other short periods the Beggs had out- side help. But for most of the time the Beggs did it all; they took turns at operating the big chainsaw with its milling attachment, and it was Carolyn who hammered on most of the siding. This last spring Secluded Rendezvous Lodge (at Duncaim resort) was ready for business, complete with a superb deck, ramp and dock. Begg in the meantime had been talking to Larry Langford at Vancouver Island Air, a scheduled floatplane carrier be- tween Vancouver and Campbell River ($158 round-trip), and guests began to arrive at the front door. Some came from California via a travel agent, but there were also two sisters from Kerrisdale who heard of the peaceful new resort wirh an unhurried pace. “Being small,” says Begg, 50, ‘*we can pamper guests.’* As this is chinook salmon ter- ritory, just 15 minutes from the Yaculta Rapids, Begg is often on the radio phone to Cudmore ask- ing him to guide for guests. Cudmore, cominercial fish- erman, heavy equipment operator and all-round genial character, drives a whaler-type boat equipped for deluxe travel and deadly fish- ing. One evening Cudmore trolled off Sonora Island near to a Sotilla of boats where the action was slow. We could see, however, that there were shoals of herring just below the surface; salmon had to be there. And they were. Zing! We hooked an 1{-pound spring and landed it, then a few minutes later Zing! again, and we had 3 magnificent 1&-pound spring. Begg also has his own boats and motors for the use of guests who want to fish en their own — cod and seapper ace plentivul —- or to go exploring. He is carving out a hiking trail beside the lodge, & pool is going in, and they have an excellent library, The island has deer, and gagles HOUSEBOAT RENTALS LAKE, B.C. 1 FROM VP ALL THIS SUMMER | (1990); ON A BLUEWATER HOUSEBOAT | | 1990 aie pars EUS yates 2V0 TRAVEL have been known to sit in the trees right in front of the lodge. Meals range from fairly formal en familie to BBQs on the deck, often featuring oysters frorn the oyster bed next to the dock. When the sun goes down the lamps come on (a generator pro- vides limited power) and guests sit with a glass of wine in front of the log fire. Megan, the cocker spaniel, flops on the floor after 2 hard day’s foraging, while in the background the radio phone crackles with the conversation of a lovesick tugboat crewman and his girlfriend in Vancouver. It’s a good place to dream, and to have dreams come true. x Buy an xmas tree you can plant HR “Viosie gis” ae wait RR Santa says no to toys with batteries Take your own bags shopping avold excess packaging Happy Holidays fro. * Sania & The Environment Kf sis Bae ‘aoes Tay F tbat Sue 1989 - North Shore News §7 - Sunday, December 17, i aoa . photo by David Wishart TAKE A late summer evening, the skill of fishing guide Ken Cudmore, a camera with flash, and (he result is a thrilled boy with the 18-pound salmon he landed near Secluded Rendezvous Lodge. KENYA SPECTACULAR SAFARIS - NEW FOR ‘90 x 25-day luxury safari and beach vacations * enjoy 3 nights on the paradise isiand of LAMU ... and much more * Escorted by former Kenyan resident Barbara Suthertand w Departs Jan. 10 & March 7, 1990 644-7843 | PRG OF 6. FACED (2") CUIRESTSTNN CRACKERS elCrepe & Foi SP Pe ed ee NINN HO Crepe & Foil 788 IO RAGE OF ie | For all the people in your life. .. 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