Talk:2009-04-18 49 -123

Normal Discussion

Holy crap. I didn't realize you were that determined! Oh well, too late to back out now... Thepiguy 05:17, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

The zero hour approaches...the suspense builds. It's quiet. Almost too quiet. --starbird 13:41, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

Well, it looks like it's accessible at least. Quite possibly private property, though. The world holds its breath and waits... :-) -- Benjw 14:22, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm reading a farmer's field, there. Looks like an ambassador expedition is necessary, but no camping. If my Saturday commitment weren't right in the middle of the day, I'd be there too. -- Rhonda 14:56, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

Wow, it looks like you guys are more into this than we are! I'm not even out of bed yet! Thepiguy 15:04, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

I've been researching buses, routes, shuttles and contingency plans for the last hour and a half. -Robyn 15:37, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

The shuttle? Alriiight, if you say so! I'll see you there by 1:00 tomorrow, and I;ll leave the snowshoes at home! Thepiguy 15:45, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

I approve of the time change. Thepiguy 15:47, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

What are we going to do about the Surrey double hash?!? It's right on the "No bikes allowed" highway! Are you allowed to pull over there? Or is it a no stopping zone? Thepiguy 15:53, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

The surrey one looks actually doable; it's in a farmer's lawn beside the highway. You can access it if you take the 351 to Arrive South Surrey Park & Ride Bay 1, and then you can walk it by there going on farmers' roads. Or so Google Maps tells me. [1] I'm planning to try it, since the hash on the Island looks too far away during exams to me. Elbie 17:12, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

Pre-coordinates Discussion

Location

It's reachable! Thank god, we're saved!

Planning

Robyn has declared in advance that she will attend this geohash, even if it takes two days to get there.

thepiguy has also committed himself to the adventure and will begin preparing shortly.

On Thursday I will prepare everything I could conceivably need for a Vancouver geohash. That means bike, kayak, wetsuit, hiking boots, ferry schedules, T-Rex, bear repellent, ambassador letter, compass, GPS and camera batteries and spares charged, games, chalk, tent, sleeping bag, stove, food, and somewhere I can rent snowshoes borrowed from thepiguy.

Then at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, I will check the coordinates. If they are in a remote area I will spend at least an hour planning and researching routes, before I set off in search of the geohash.

Vancouver must not defy me!

Actual Planning

I see two (rather large) problem areas: the middle of the Georgia Straight and the northern quarter of the graticule. Just wondering what our crazy-ridiculous plans for those two eventualities were? How much was it to rent a plane? Thepiguy 05:30, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

• for the Straight: My brother has a boat with a motor on it, which he has suggested in the past that I could borrow, and I have a boat licence which took much less training (and verifies far less skill) than a pilot licence does. I'm not sure how fast the boat goes, but I know I've motorboated in a smaller craft from the mouth of the Fraser to Langley and back in one day, so two days should be enough to get to anywhere in our graticule.
• for the northern quarter of the graticule: that's what the snowshoes, extra day and first aid equipment are for! -Robyn 05:40, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

This is one of those moments where I try to decide who is more insane: The person planning the ill-advised-possibly-fatal-adventure, or the person willing to follow the previous person on the ill-advised-possibly-fatal-adventure. Thepiguy 05:48, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

I asked Wade. He says "following". Isn't it unbelievable what can happen within 70 miles of downtown Vancouver? -Robyn 05:58, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

*opens mouth to protest* Meh, who cares. Let's have an adventure! Thepiguy 06:08, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

Participants

• Robyn started this.
• thepiguy said he would come, and bring has access to the following equipment:

• First Aid supplies (and the training to use them)
• Snow shoes (two pairs)
• Bear spray and bear bells (no being eaten)
• Excessive amounts of camping equipment (a shipping container full in-fact)

Post-Coordinates Original Plan

The plan (learning from thepiguy's adventure on Thursday)

• 09:45 - Bike down Knight Street to Bridgeport Road
• West on Bridgeport to No.5 Road
• South on No.5 to Rice Mill Road
• 11:00 - Take Translink Bicycle Shuttle through Massey Tunnel (next shuttle: 1 p.m.)
• 11:15 - Lock up bike at Town & Country Inn, ride in car with thepiguy to Surrey hash
• 11:40 - Bike (or ride in car with thepiguy) highway 17 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal
• 12:45 - Take ferry to Duke Point (next ferry: 15:15 pm)
• 14:45 - Bike 8 km to general location of point
• Do ambassadorial stuff as necessary, walk through field to point.
• 16:00 - Celebrate Saturday Vancouver 4 p.m. Meetup
• 17:45 - Ferry to Tsawwassen
• 19:58 - 620 then 601 bus home

Back up plan if I can't get on the bus home: stay overnight with brother in Tsawwassen. Bike home with thepiguy who will gladly give Robyn and her bike a ride back to Vancouver.