From page 8

Roberts Creek and breath-
taking at Davis Bay, where it
straightens to sea level and
parallels the Georgia
Straight and Vancouver
Island. North of Sechelt,
ferry traffic thins out, hous-
es are harder to spot, and
fakes and inlets punctuate
the view.

At the site of a former
logging camp the road
squeezes between Ruby
Lake on one side and a
lagoon, complete with float-
ing wooden bridge, on the
other.

This is where the
Cogrossi family decided to
change their lives seven
years ago,

On a fishing, holiday
around Princess Louisa
Inlet, far. from their native
Milan, the Cogrossis fell in
Jove with the area and
decided to settle here.

They paid $700,090 for

- the property and another
- $700,000 transforming it
“into a resort reputed to

y) . serve the best Italian cuisine:
-- in the province:

Cabins ring the lagoon,
across from ‘the main lodge
and restaurant. A ncon caj

uccino sign hanging in the

Lene and-the Traltan flag

flying overhead hints at the’

- eclectic atmosphere within.
“Inside, the. bistro looks’

: thing David Lynch “
* might have created for Twin’

Peaks:: With assorted. hunt- ;

ing trophies mounted on
yellow cedar walls, a two-
foot-tall, 200-year-old
alabaster cagle perches
above the brick fireplace and
jooks down on diners. A
family crest dating the
Cogrossis back to 1468, a
100-year-old mechanical
organ and, above the bar, a
TV playing recorded Italian
shows, gives the place a sur-
real air.

It’s noisy, too. At
lunchtime and between 5
and 9 p.m. the restaurant
fills with guests, many of
them locals, who return for
chef Aldo Cogrossi’s master-
piece — lobster
Michelangelo: one and a half
Jobsters served with spinach,
fettuccini sautéed with
brandy, sun-dried comatoes
and fresh prawns. Aldo’s
brother Giorgio, an infec-
tiously happy man — partic-

_ularly since his soccer ream

A.C, Milan had beaten
Bologna 4—0 that day-works
the tables, occasionally bel-
lowing “Ciao” at customers
coming and going.

Als, my appetizer — a

_ huge bow! of mussels
_. steamed in a tomato and
white wine sauce — put paid

to my date with
Michelangelo. Instead, I

‘_/chose a more modest dish of

chanterellc mushrooms
(picked that morning)

- tossed in creamy linguine.

Thankfully, the appetite
. I'd worked up paddling a
canoe on Ruby Lake for.an:

north shore

hour before dinner, allowed
a shared tiramisu for dessert
before waddling across the
lagoon to the cabin.

it might have been the
perfece weekend escape but
tor the sound of someone in
a neighbouring cabin cough-
ing up a lung (or a lobster)
half the night.

mews

Noise travels fast in such
a peaceful setting.
Ruby Lake Resort is 120
km north of Vancouver and
a 75-minute drive from

Gibsons. It’s 10 km south of

Egmont and Earl's Cove,
where B.C Ferries crosses
to Powell River. Ten min-
utes” drive cast is

1 dino this coupon shen you book your next two-person vacation with American cogress E
Travel (minimum $1,600** per pervon) and you'll receive $200 Cdn. in American Express

Siraveliers Cheques. Or get $100 Cdn. when you spend $850** per person,

Sunday, October 10, 1999 - North Shore News — 43

Skookumchuk Narrows and
its tidal rapids. Check the
tide chart at the resort to
see when the rapids are in
full flow.

@ Uneii Oct. 32, Ruby Lake
Resort’s end-of-summer spe-
cial features a night’s accom-
modation for two, a three
course meal for nwo and a

; Hotel internacional
(Standard Room - - Includes 2 meals daily)

Hotel Iberostar Tainos.
= (all inclusive Standard Room)

atoms Puntarena

& RIVIERA MAYA,
El Pueblito Hotel
. (All Inclusive Std Room)

Reef Club Play jacar
all Inclusive Standard Room) —

Gran Caribe Real -
(All inclusive Superior Room)

Yalmakan Cancun
(All inclusive Standard Room)

Porto Real

Nov. 28," . .
‘ Dec. § -. “Dee. 5, 12°
2 Weeks

Dee. 24. Jan:
2 Weeks 1 Week.

2499 1369
2849 1464

“Dec. 19 |
4 Week . oA Wesk

ectic decor

two-haur canoe rental tor
$149. (Taxes, gratuities and
holidays not included.) For
more details, call (604) 883-

2269 or visit <www.rubylak-
eresort. com>. After Oct, 31,
the resort closes for the win-
ter.

Visit made anonymously.

3 dan. 7,14,17. Jan7, 10,17.

1 Week” 2 Weeks”:

1309 1869,

(All inclusive Junior Suite)
* Hotel available on request.
Varcouver departures. New Buokings Only. Package prices are per person, double occupancy unless stated otherwise and ate subject te thangs ‘without nol

Transat Holidays te terms & conditions apply. Not included: departure taxes, transportation fees, supplements and insurances, Space i is available at time of our adver-
jing deadline. BC REGS 28e4