Talk:2009-05-21 48 -123

When the sun comes up on Geohashing Day, one of these three things will happen:

1) The official coordinates are accessible to everyone, including non-crazy people and won't take all day to get there.

2) The official coordinates are marginally attainable, by people willing to ford rivers, climb mountains, wade through swamps and the like.

3) The official coordinates are freaking stupid and no one can go.

We need to have a plan in place so we're ready to go regardless. Ideas:

• Try to reach the day's coordinates no matter what, and designate a road-accessible alternate for the less foolhardy.

Wed 21 May 2008 in Vancouver: 49.1794680, -123.8615360 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

• The 2008 Geohashing Day coordinates were on the beach at Gabriola Island, very near the ferry terminal. They are in the water in the Maps image but on land in the hybrid view. It looks like you could either kayak from the ferry terminal or walk/bike around by road. There's a campground very nearby. It's achievable by transit or bike and on an island I don't think I've ever been to. I'd be willing to do a retro hash there.

• Obviously, there will be cake.

In case #3, I support a retrohash to Gabriola Island. I've never been there either. Otherwise I'm all for heading for the official coordinates! (But you knew that.) -- Rhonda 23:51, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm fine with hopping over to Surrey, Bellingham, Port Alberni or Victoria should it be accessible there. I've talked to my boss and have booked the day off for a "camping trip." - Elbie 22:44, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

Decision Time

Experience shows that we need time to decide which geohash to go to and time to plan approach to said geohash, and time to prepare equipment for the geohash.

Prepare

Everyone is encouraged to prepare equipment (i.e. make sure your boat, car, skis, bicycle, knapsack, GPS, camera and everything is ready to go the night before). These times aren't final. Comment as necessary until we have agreement, but bear in mind that the later we make the decision, the harder it is to catch appropriate ferries.

Decide

Those online in the geohashing IRC channel between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. will decide on which geohash(es) to attend.

Plan

Between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. will be planning mode, making sure we have the coordinates of every turn, appropriate maps, schedules, phone numbers and have put notification on the wiki on the appropriate graticule pages and meetup pages. If cars are required for what we have chosen (unlikely, but we have to be prepared), lists of available passenger seats are posted below.

However, if it is to be the Gabriola trip, we skip this stage, having preplanned this trip, and leave at 7:30 to get the 10:30 Horseshoe Bay ferry.

Go

If you don't want to participate in the online decision or planning, it should be sufficient for you to check the posted plan in time to make the 10:30 Horseshoe Bay ferry (or earlier Tsawwassen ferry, as required to meet up with the schedule below). If it isn't Gabriola, we'll finalize the plan by 8:30. Everyone should be prepared to leave home by 8:45.

Availability

General If cars are necessary, I have a station wagon with five seatbelts and loads of cargo space, as well as the ability to take on any road that doesn't require four-wheel-drive, located in North Vancouver. I'm not sure at this point if I will be able to carry a backpack on that day, however. -- Rhonda 23:46, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

Gabriola As I don't have a bike trailer, I will have to drive my bike and kayak to HB then beg space on somebody else's trailer (I can carry extra bike panniers in exchange, I have attachment points for four of them). Since I will be driving that segment, I can offer a ride over the upper levels highway to one other cyclist, leaving from either Lonsdale Quay, Park Royal, or the Phibbs Exchange area (2nd Narrows bridge north end) at 9:30. -- Rhonda 14:03, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

I'd be happy to get that ride, but I have my doubts there will be room in my trailer. I'm also wondering if the kayaks are really necessary; even if it is in the water, it's sufficiently close to shore to be swimmable. I'm considering just bringing my wetsuit and a towel instead. - Elbie 15:55, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

If the kayaks aren't needed to actually reach the hash point, they can be used for general fun. -- Rhonda 16:00, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Robyn has a four-seater car that can be added to Rhonda's, but not for primitive roads.

Also, also can we have a show of hands of intended (or thinking of) participants on the expeditino page?) -Robyn 16:09, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Fun and games

Do we have any plans for what we want to do at the hash? I wouldn't mind picking up the Twister Achievement if somebody could bring a copy of Twister along. As far as board games go, I'll try to remember to bring Coloretto, since it's nice and portable. - Elbie 23:50, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

I'll bring Twister. I also want to finally play 1000 Blank White Cards. Old business cards are the perfect thing to use for this, but Rhonda and I also have some cut up (and probably slightly damp) index cards to use for this. I'd also like to try some of the games on my GPS. I've been on hills so much I haven't been able to try any. -Robyn 23:53, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

We need lots of games, because we'll be on ferries for a while. I'll bring Chrononauts, too. -Robyn 01:47, 21 May 2009 (UTC)

I have started baking a cake for tomorrow. -- Rhonda 20:49, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Well, it is decorated with more enthusiasm than skill, but it's a cake! :-) -- Rhonda 23:57, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

I trust your cake to be awesome. -Robyn 01:47, 21 May 2009 (UTC)

Gabriola Planning

Some advance planning to save time if the Gabriola trip is a go. There are three ferry terminals in Nanaimo: Duke Point, Nanaimo Harbour and Departure Bay. Ferries from Horseshoe Bay go to Departure Bay. Ferries from Tsawwassen go to Duke Point. Ferries to Gabriola leave from Nanaimo Harbour. It's 16 km from Duke Point to Nanaimo Harbour, and 4 km from Departure Bay to Nanaimo Harbour.

Gabriola Schedule

• 10:00 check in at ferry terminal
• 10:30 leave Horseshoe Bay
• 12:05 arrive Departure Bay
• bike 4 km to Nanaimo Harbour
• 12:45 leave Nanaimo Harbour
• bike/kayak/walk as required to the park and the geohash
• celebrate/play/eat
• return on desired ferry (they run until late)

More Ferry Data

Ferry times exerpted from BC Ferries website. Recommended sailings in bold.

Leave Tsawwassen for Duke Point, 2h trip. (not recommended because of longer crossing and longer distance to Nanaimo Harbour)

10:15 am - 12:15  	 
12:45 pm - 14:45  

Leave Horseshoe Bay for Departure Bay, 1 h 35 minute trip

08:30 am Daily  - 10:05	 
10:30 am Daily  - 12:05	 	  	 	 
12:30 pm Daily  - 14:05	 	  	 	 
 	 	  	   	 

Leave Nanaimo Harbour Leave Gabriola Island (20 min trip)

10:35 am 		  	10:05 am 	 
11:40 am 	 	  	11:10 am 	 
12:45 pm 	 	  	12:15 pm	 
 1:55 pm 	 	  	 1:20 pm 	 
 3:45 pm 	 	  	 3:10 pm 	 
 4:50 pm 	 	  	 4:15 pm 	
 5:55 pm 	 	  	 5:20 pm 	 
 6:55 pm 	 	  	 6:25 pm 	 
 7:55 pm  		  	 7:25 pm 	
 8:55 pm 	D 	  	 8:25 pm 	
 9:55 pm 		  	 9:25 pm 	
10:55 pm 		  	10:25 pm

Comments

• If we're leaving our respective homes at 9:30 as per the plan, how will we make it to Horseshoe Bay by 10? It'll take me at least three hours to bike there -- I'm thinking we should aim for the 12:30 ferry. - Elbie 15:50, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

If it's Gabriola, we leave earlier, because we can skip the planning phase. If we take the 12:30 ferry, we'd get to the beach after 4PM and really not have a lot of time for a picnic and party. Also, if Tsawwassen is closer, you can go there instead. -- Rhonda 15:58, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

We can give three hours notice, by guaranteeing a Gabriola or not Gabriola decision by 7:30, and then moving everything else as well to give more time for any ferries. See changes above. -Robyn 16:07, 20 May 2009 (UTC)