Friday 8 June 2012

Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC

Comox Valley Farmers Market
Painting by R. Ross
             Travel 
                              
         Cruise News
                 A newsletter from    
         Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, BC
                    Vol. 1, issue #4                                                                
                  Table of Contents 
Comox Valley / Comox Valley Links / Comox Glacier / Art in the Valley / Quote / Travel Tips / TSA Travel Locks/  Teminogy Used / Joke / Booking travel / 
                                                                                                                                         Hotel or Time Share.
          Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia 
                      City of Courtenay - Town of Comox - Village of Cumberland 
                                           A great place to visit, a better place to live.
Did you know that Vancouver Island has no mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, foxes, coyotes, porcupines, chipmunks, skunks or resident grizzly bears. 
Did you also know that Vancouver Island has no poisonous snakes, poison ivy, or poison oak.  (Information from the Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide, www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing guide)
The Comox Valley Regional District is situated on the East coast of Vancouver Island, BC and includes the City of Courtenay (24,099), Town of Comox (13,627), Village of Cumberland (3,398), and the settlements of Royston (1,582), Union Bay (116), Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville well as Denman Island (1,022) and Hornby Island (958). The total population of the area is 63.538. (sorry, no breakdown on population statistics for Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville)

The Valley is also known as “The Valley of Festivals”. Events include the Art & Bloom Festival, North Island Hot Jazz Festival, Comox Valley Shellfish Festival, About Town! Marina Park Main Event, CYMC Summer School & Festival, Vancouver Island Music Fest, Hornby Island Festival, Filbert Festival, Comox Nautical Days, Showcase Festival, Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair and the Big Time Out, Cumberland Empire Days, as well as events such as the Originals Only Fine Art Show & Sale, Comox Valley Highland Games and many others.
 This newsletter was going to feature the Comox Valley in detail but when searching the web I discovered that there was a great deal of information relating to the Comox Valley, too much to put in my newsletter and to create a blog would be to repeat what has already been written. 
Therefore I have decided to create a blog with pictures I have taken over the years and with some links to the location of the places I have featured.  This will give you an idea of the area whether you are planning a visit or thinking of moving to the area. This blog will be posted to the rosswintravel.blogspot.ca in the near future and I will also be sending out the URL link to you. 
In this newsletter I will include a brief outline of some links and events in the valley.
Visiting the Comox Valley! Then be sure to stop at our Visitors Center just off Highway 19 at the Courtenay, Comox Exit.
Comox Valley Tourist Center
Visit the new tourist center just off Highway 19 at the Courtenay/Comox Exit. 
Check out the display of a dug out canoe and fighter jet before you enter the building.
While there see the First Nations display, visit the gift shop and pick up brochures on the Comox Valley and the surrounding area as well as other parts of British Columbia.  Book your hotel/motel, theatre tickets and other venues at the booking/information desk.   There is also a charger if you drive an Electric Car. 
Comox Valley Visitors Center
#101 - 3607 Small Road
Cumberland, BC VoR 1S0
  1. 400-2882 TF 1-855-400-2882
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 Check out the following links to the Comox Valley
History
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Discover the Comox Valley
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City of Courtenay Heritage) first Nations)

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Puntledge River Camp Ground

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Comox Museum, Town of Comox

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101 things to do in the Comox Valley

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Old Photos of the Comox Valley

The following are some of the events that take place annually in the Comox Valley. 
Vancouver Island Music Fest - July 6-8 2012 - http://www.islandmusicfest.com/
contact Vancouver Island Music Fest, Box 3788 Courtenay, BC, V9N 7P2 for general inquiries
Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair, August 24, 25 & 26, 2012 -
Office - 201-580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2M7, 250-338-8177
Cumberland Empire Days , Every year, the Cumberland Empire Days Committee holds a week of events leading up to and including the long weekend in May. 
For more information contact the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau 
2680 Dunsmuir Abe, PO Box 250, Cumberland, BC. VOR 1S0
1-866-301-4636
Filberg Festival, August 3-6, 2012 - 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - contact information 61 Filberg Road, Comox, B.C., V9M 2S7, 250-334-9242,  
Comox Nautical Days 2012, BC Day Weekend, August 4 to 6, 2012

Don’t Forget to Visit the Farmer’s Market
The Farmer’s Market Located at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds at 4839 Headquarters Road from April to October and in the winter at the Native Sons Hall on Cliff Ave. There is a Wednesday Market from June to September at the Comox Bay Farms at Comox Road bypass.     ___________________________________
 Comox Glacier
A visit to the valley would not be complete without viewing the Comox Glacier which you can see by scanning the Beaufort Range, the glacier can be seen from just about anywhere in the Comox Valley.

The Comox Glacier is a glacier on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, located 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Courtenay and 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Argus Mountain.
The highest elevation of the Comox Glacier, 1,960 m (6,430 ft), refers to a rocky outcrop on the north side of the glacier. Lacking an official name, it is referred to as the Comox Glacier summit.
The Comox Glacier is a member of the Vancouver Island Ranges which in turn form part of the Insular Mountains.[2]
Painting by R. Ross
History
The name Comox Glacier comes from the name of the K'ómoks First Nation who inhabit the area. They refer to the mountain by the name Kwénis, which means "whale". This name comes from a traditional account of the Great Flood: a whale was said to be trapped up on the mountain when the flood receded. In the early 1900s, the glacier was known as Dome Glacier. The name Comox Glacier was officially adopted in 1939, at the suggestion of the Comox & District Mountaineering Club.[3]
http://members.shaw.ca/beyondnootka/articles/beaufort.html
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 Art in the Valley
The Comox Valley is home to many Artists and there are several art galleries 
available to display their work. The following is just a few. 
Pearl Ellis Galley, 1729 Comox Avenue, Comox. a non-profit society, 
open Tues to sat 10 am to 4 pm. & Sun. 1 pm to 4 pm
http://www.pearlellisgallery.com/
Whytes Framing and Gallery 
Whytes Framing and Gallery is hosting local artists at 1225 Lazo Rd, Comox,  for information on the current artist e-mail info@whytesframing.com or www.whytesframing.com, Tel. 250. 339 3366

Comox Valley Art Gallery, 580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, BC open Tues. thru Sat from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.  Admission by donation.
http://www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com/

Muir Gallery, The Arts Council of the Comox Valley, 440 Anderton Ave, Courtenay, BC
 250-334-2983. Hours, Tues. to Sat. 11a.m to 4 p.m
"The Originals Only Fine Art Show & Sale"  supports local artists by featuring an art show twice a year, at Marina Park in Comox in August and in November at the Comox Recreation Center. 
Summer Show, August 11 & 12, 2012, Marina Park, Comox, BC. 10:00 a.m to 5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.)
Fall/Winter Show, November 17 & 18, 2012 at the Comox Recreation Center on Noel St. Comox.
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Quote
Calm seas never made a good sailor.

 Thanks to Robin DeFoe distributor for Immunocal - Rocket Fuel for your Immune System, 250-898-8695
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 Travel Tips 
Depending on where you are traveling the following might be good to have with you
. Ear Plugs
. Eye Shades if  trying to sleep on the plane
. Clothesline &  Laundry Soap (Most cruise ships have clothes lines in the bathroom but  hotels do not (or not many if they do)
. Guide Book & Maps
. Flashlight (if you are in an interior cabin on a cruise ship it can be very dark, we usually leave the bathroom light on and almost close the bathroom door so that we get just enough light to see where we are going if we have to get up) 
. Rain capes that will fold into a pouch.
. TSA (Transport Security Administration) Locks for luggage See following article (If the customs think there is something of interest to them in your suitcase they can open the TSA locks and will not have to brake you lock or page you to open your suitcase )
. Luggage tags that can be folded to hide address (burglars can check the address on your tag if is not folded, they know you are traveling and chances are there is no-one at your house)
. Luggage strap to go around luggage, not only makes it easier to identify but helps to keep your items in place if zipper breaks.
. Money belt
. Camera/film/extra batteries.
. Sunscreen (if you are going to the sunny south and plan on sun bathing then sunscreen is advisable, also a wide brim hat)
. Sun Hat
. Extra pair of reading Glasses
 . Travel Clock with Alarm 
(If in an interior cabin on a cruise ship you will not have any sunlight to wake you up, I have heard of passenger’s sleeping well into the next morning before they realized what time it was)
. Electrical Converters/adaptors, 
( An AC extension cord or adapter. While most cruise ships use the European 220-volt power as their standard onboard, they still supply your cabin with one U.S.-standard AC outlet. It is usually by your desk so you can plug in your hairdryer or laptop.
Most CruiseMates take along a power strip so they can plug in other incidentals. Typically, you will need to plug in your laptop, digital camera recharger, hair dryer, curling iron, etc.
Never plug anything made for 110 volts into a 220-volt socket even if you have an adapter to make it fit. Your curling iron will burn your hair off, and you may see your video camera go up in a puff of smoke. Many separate power adapters for laptops and cameras, however, can sense what voltage they are plugged into and will automatically reconfigure for it. Read the fine print on your adapter.
A three-way AC adapter you plug directly into the socket is handy and small to carry.
Depending on where you are going the following items might be useful:
     . Laxative
     . Insect repellent
     . Diarrhea Medicine
     . Aspirin/pain reliever
     . Motion sickness medication
     . Malaria Pills
     . Antibiotic Cream
Most of these items can be bought onboard ship or at the airport before you board the plane but will be more expensive than from your local drug store. 
More tips
TSA Locks
Missing Locks and damaged baggage including zippers and zipper pulls
TSA LOCK POLICY: In some cases screeners will have to open your baggage as part of the screening process. If your bag is unlocked, then TSA will simply open and screen the baggage.
However, if you decide to lock your checked baggage and TSA cannot open your checked baggage through other means (TSA Recognized Locks ), then the locks may have to be broken.  For soft-sided baggage, this process will NOT damage your zippers or zipper pulls.  TSA is not liable for damage caused to locked bags that must be opened for security purposes.
Locks (including TSA recognized locks), along with your baggage, can also be damaged by airport conveyor belt systems as shown below:
The image below is a collection of 244 locks pulled from under an airport baggage handling conveyor belt where the two belts come together.  These were collected over a period of one month at a New York Airport.
Please understand that unseen forces besides TSA may have contributed to your lock missing or your baggage damaged in transit.
Air Travel, Travel Assistant
Tsa Recognized Baggage Locks
TSA screens every passenger's baggage before it is placed on an airplane. While our technology allows us to electronically screen bags, there are times when we need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal "master" keys so that the locks may not have to be cut. These locks are available at airports and travel stores nationwide. The packaging on the locks indicates whether they can be opened by TSA.
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 Terminology Used by the airlines and Hotels etc.
Define Pat-down. -  Pat-down. A form of physical search in which a screener uses his or her hands to determine if a passenger is carrying any weapons or other contraband. Without the hyphen, to perform such a search.
Define Chat-down - Slang. Chat-down. A term for a behavioral detection program instituted by the TSA in which screeners asks airline passengers a series of questions about where they have been and where they are going in an attempt to detect those who are behaving suspiciously. The term is a play on the word pat-down. 
Define Airplane Foot - airplane foot. Slang. A swelling of the lower extremities associated with long airplane flights; a possible symptom of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (qv).
Define Airline Appointed Agency - airline appointed agency. A U.S. travel agency that holds airline ticket stock or has e-ticketing capabilities.
Define agentless booking - Agentless booking. A booking made by a consumer using an automated system and bypassing a travel agent.
Define Air Mile - Air mile. A unit of distance measuring approximately 6,076 feet.
Define Adventure Tourism - Adventure tourism. Recreational travel undertaken to remote or exotic destinations for the purpose of exploration or engaging in a variety of rugged activities.
Define Autopilot - Autopilot. On an aircraft, a computer-controlled system that keeps the plane on a predetermined course without the intervention of the pilot.
Define Available Seat Miles - Available seat miles. One seat, occupied or not, moved one mile. Used as a measure of airline capacity.
Define Alliance Fare - Alliance fare. A round-the-world fare offered by a group of airlines (an "alliance"). See also construction fare.
Define Air/Sea - Air/sea. Trips, tickets, or fares that include both air and sea components, as in a cruise package.
Define Air Courier - Air courier. A person who accompanies time-sensitive cargo being shipped as passengers' baggage, usually in exchange for a deep discount on the air fare.
Define ABC Tour - ABC tour. Slang. A playful term for a guided tour that crams in too many historical monuments. The “ABC” stands for “another bloodychurch.”
Define AARP - AARP. American Association of Retired Persons. Many hotels and other suppliers offer reduced AARP rates.
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Joke of the Day
ONLY A GRANDMOTHER WOULD KNOW... 
~A Cup of Tea ~ 
One day my Gramma was out, and my Grampa was in charge of me.
I was maybe 2 1/2 years old. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of my favorite toys.
Grampa was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Gramma came home.
My Grampa made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Gramma waited, and sure enough, here I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Grampa, and she watched him drink it up.
Then she said, (as only a gramma would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"

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Hotel or Time Share?
Have you ever thought about renting a “time share” instead of going to a hotel?  Why not check out the cost of a time share and compare it to your hotel cost, more amenities and cost effective. We have a “time share” for rent, send us an e-mail with the location of your vacation destination and we will see if we have one available in that area and what the amenities and costs are.  e-mail rosswin@shaw.ca
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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
If you liked this newsletter please pass it on 

Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, BC
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
Also check out last months newsletter if you missed it.

If you do not wish to receive these newsletters let me know by e-mail and you will be deleted from my mailing list. Please put in the subject line “delete newsletter”
Thank You.
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Location: Courtenay, BC V9N 2X2, Canada

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