Tag Archives: adventure

Athenaeum Club – 150th Anniversary Offer

Posted on by
Reply

A proud resident of Collins Street, Melbourne, for 150 years, the Athenaeum is one of Australia’s oldest and finest clubs. They take pride in their heritage and traditions, yet are contemporary in their outlook.

The Athenaeum Club’s location, service, facilities and first-class dining reflect their Australian and international reputation as a welcoming place of relaxation and good fellowship in a busy world, and their members are proud to bring their guests into the Club to enjoy the fine ambience the Athenaeum Club is renowned for.

This year, the Athenaeum Club, Melbourne celebrates its 150th anniversary and invites Union Club members to help celebrate this significant milestone.

During the month of August the Athenaeum Club’s charming accommodation rooms are available for only, $150 per night.

If taking advantage of this offer for accommodation, why not make it even more special by dining in the elegant mixed dining Athena Room.

Reservations for accommodation or dinner can be made:

10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Kentucky Derby

Posted on by
Reply

As far as live horse racing track competitions go, the Kentucky Derby is the crown jewel of live horse races. Since the official race is almost here, we want to share some Kentucky Derby facts so that you can impress your friends over a refreshing Mint Julep.

10 KENTUCKY DERBY FACTS

The Kentucky Derby Has Never, Ever Been Canceled

The Run for the Roses has lived through some hard times in American history. But since its founding in 1875, the race has never been canceled. Come rain or shine, come depression or war, come what may, there will always be a race on the first Saturday in May.

Space is Limited

Only 20 of the best of the best thoroughbred racehorses compete every year. When you compare this to the number of horses born every year, that’s less than one percent of horses that get a chance to run.

Extravagant Hats Are a Deep-Rooted Tradition

Kentucky Derby facts aren’t all about the horses. The founder of the first race in the Triple Crown series wanted this event to compare to Paris Fashion Week. To this day, women come dressed to the hilts. Every year gets more and more fabulous.

Female Horses Don’t Always Run the Live Horse Racing Track

One of the more troubling Kentucky Derby interesting facts for owners of female thoroughbred horses to hear is that only three fillies have won the competition.

Horse Lovers Know How to Party

Kentucky Derby facts for kids that could get them excited about the festivities is that for over 60 years, there are two weeks of parties, parades, and events before the great race. Those familiar with the scene call it the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Triple Crown Winners Are the Most Physically Fit Thoroughbred Horses

Racehorses in Kentucky are strong athletes. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must take first in three competitions all held within the same month. Can you imagine the kind of energy that takes? Some interesting Kentucky Derby facts trivia you could spread is that only 12 horses have ever been honored as Triple Crown winners.

It Costs a Pretty Penny to Enter

It’s not polite to talk about money, but when talking about Kentucky Derby facts, we’ll make an exception. If all deadlines are met, it costs over $50,000 to enter the race.

Mint Julep is the Official Drink of the Race

A hot day at the live horse races requires a refreshing beverage. Mint Juleps are the official drink of race lovers. Attendees drink more than 120,000 of these things during their visit at the track.

You Can Win Big

On top of a sweet blanket of roses, Derby winners take home $2 million. That’s a nice chunk of change.

People Bet Big

When it comes to Kentucky Derby facts, it’s no surprise that people bet big. But would you be impressed if we told you people bet nearly $209.2 million in 2017?

A lot of luck and just $1 could’ve made you $75,974.50 richer at the 2017 Derby. All you would’ve had to do is pick the top four horses in the 2017 Kentucky Derby in the correct order.

36 Hours in Victoria, British Columbia

Posted on by
Reply

The following article recently appeared in The New York Times:

On lush Vancouver Island, this urban jewel offers innovative restaurants, gorgeous parks and gardens, and museums that celebrate the area’s many cultures.

The Inner Harbour, with the majestic Parliament buildings in the background. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

By Suzanne Carmick, New York Times

This compact, eminently walkable city, set amid the breathtaking beauty and bounty of Vancouver Island, is lauded as one of the world’s top smallurban destinations. Beyond the picture-perfect downtown waterfront, British Columbia’s capital is an exhilarating blend of cultures, from Canadian and First Nations to Chinese and European (especially British). There are three universities, thriving arts and cultural institutions, significant historic preservation, a celebrated local food scene and Canada’s mildest climate: That means year-round forest visits, biking and golf; gardens galore (daffodils in February); even beehives downtown (at the Fairmont Empress hotel; atop the Harbour Air floating terminal). There is wildness too: “bear jams” disrupting traffic, cougar sightings and soaring eagles, towering ancient trees, log-strewn beaches and distant snowy peaks.

Friday

1) 3 p.m. EARLY DAYS

The blocks north of the Empress and west of Douglas Street, including Chinatown, comprise the Old Town. Start at Bastion Square and Wharf Street, overlooking the harbor, where James Douglas founded Fort Victoria in 1843 as an outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company. This area became the heart of commerce, industry and government, swelling in size after the 1858 Fraser Gold Rush drew thousands of immigrants. Next to the Old Victoria Customs House is a grassy overlook with a display telling the history of British settlement and the indigenous Lekwungen people. Check out the lively Bastion Square pedestrian area of shops, restaurants and cafes, music and markets; then, on Government Street, browse through Munro’s Books, situated in a century-old bank, and founded in 1963 by the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian writer Alice Munro and her then-husband. Detour through Trounce Alley (note the 125-year-old gaslights), then walk east on Fort Street to La Taqueria to snack on Mexican tacos amid festive music and colorful tiles. A juicy carnitas taco with pickled red onions and salsa is 3 Canadian dollars, or about $2.35, and a Baja fish taco with cabbage, salsa and chipotle mayonnaise is 6 dollars; wash it down with Mexican fruit soda or local beer.

Munro’s Books, situated in a century-old bank, is a book lover’s paradise. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times.

2) 6 p.m. ON THE WATERFRONT

The Inner Harbour is where seaplanes, water taxis, kayak outfitters, whale-watching tours, restaurants and festivals can all be found. Sit under the trees and watch the boats and passers-by; then head to the chateau-style Fairmont Empress, one of several luxury hotels built across Canada by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at the turn of the century. Don’t miss the Q restaurant and bar, with its coffered ceiling, gold and purple accents and portraits of Queen Victoria. An elaborate British tea is served daily in the spacious lobby. The nearby majestic Parliament buildings were erected in 1898 to boost the capital’s profile after Vancouver became the railway’s western terminus. Open daily for touring, they are spectacularly illuminated at night. Thunderbird Park on Belleville Street is a quiet spot among the trees, where a regional First Nations house and totem poles were recreated by the Kwakwaka’wakw master carver Mungo Martin in the 1950s.

3) 8 p.m. THE ART OF DINING

Stepping inside Little Jumbo feels like a warm embrace: The exposed brick, aged wood and glowing copper ceiling take you back in time. The restaurant, which has received accolades for everything from design to food and drinks, is a homage to two New York City saloon owners in the 1860s who championed the art of dining and mixology. Dinner for two — try the warm Halloumi cheese salad, spicy Fernet-roasted nuts and grilled lingcod — including choice British Columbian wines, costs about 131 dollars.

The 19th-century Old Victoria Customs House exemplifies the Second Empire architectural style. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

Saturday

4) 9 a.m. URBAN OASIS

Fol Epi bakery is known for its wild-yeast breads, made from milled-on-site organic flours and baked in brick ovens. Choose from an array of loaves, pastries and quiches, then think ahead to a packable lunch of sandwiches. Walk down Douglas Street to Beacon Hill Park: This 200-acre oasis is to Victoria what Central Park is to New York City. The landscape varies from manicured and natural gardens to forest, swampland, lakes, Garry oaks and camas fields (originally planted by the Lekwungen, who harvested the edible bulbs), and includes a children’s farm and a 127-foot totem pole. Great blue herons nest in the towering firs and peacocks strut; relax and listen to birds fussing and fountains gurgling. Make time to tour the nearby Emily Carr House (6.75 dollars); the Victoria-born painter of forests and First Nations scenes spent her childhood gamboling in the park.

5) Noon. ALONG DALLAS ROAD

This scenic stretch on the southern shore of the city, from Fisherman’s Wharf to beyond Ross Bay Cemetery, draws walkers, joggers, bikers and dogs. Have a picnic, clamber down to the beach or simply marvel at the water views and roadside homes. Start at Ogden Point, where interpretive kiosks tell about the Breakwater and the Unity Wall murals painted on both sides, depicting Coast Salish First Nations culture. Walk out to the lighthouse, watching for sea otters and seals. Farther east, past Clover Point, cross the road to Ross Bay Cemetery. This rambling, peaceful resting place of many of Victoria’s notable citizens is also where you’ll find some of the city’s oldest heritage trees, cuttings from which were planted all over the young city (see treesofvictoria.com). Look for deer lying on the spongy grass among the weathered obelisks, statuary and stones in this wondrous place.

Seven modern gallery spaces adjoin an 1889 mansion to form the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

6) 2 p.m. TO THE GARDEN

From the cemetery, head to the exquisite Abkhazi Garden, tucked away on a quiet block behind rhododendrons and Garry oaks. The tranquil gardens, with their several distinct outdoor “rooms,” were designed to harmonize with the rocky glacial outcroppings and native trees on the hilly property, which includes rock ponds (with mallards and turtles) and the 1950s Modernist summerhouse and former home (now teahouse) of the couple whose love story started it all. Suggested fee: 10 dollars (includes guide).

7) 4 p.m. AFTERNOON ART

At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, seven modern gallery spaces adjoin an 1889 mansion that once served as the museum. On permanent display are works by Emily Carr and an impressive Asian collection and garden — second only to that of the Royal Ontario Museum. There are amber and ivory carvings, a Japanese Shinto shrine, and a Chinese Ming dynasty bell presented to Victoria in 1903. Admission is 13 dollars.

The Bastion Square pedestrian area is filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

8) 6 p.m. CHINATOWN

The 19th-century gold rushes and Canadian Pacific Railway construction drew thousands of Chinese immigrants to Victoria, where they settled above Johnson Street. Today, Canada’s oldest Chinatown is a National Historic Site, a small, colorful (especially red, for luck), vibrant community of narrow streets and alleyways, shops and restaurants, beyond the resplendent Gates of Harmonious Interest. The Victoria Chinese Public School, built in 1909, is still used to teach Chinese language classes. Climb the stairs to the top floor of the Yen Wo Society building to see the oldest active Chinese temple in Canada, honoring the sea deity Tam Kung.

9) 8 p.m. DOWN TO EARTH DINNER

Olo (meaning hungry in Chinook) serves up serious farm-to-table fare with a nod to the region’s cultural diversity. The space is comfortable and rustic, with warm light emanating from hanging spheres of loosely wound wooden strips. A recent meal included crisp Hakurei turnip salad, garganelli pasta with a meaty sauce, and a dreamy dessert (rhubarb, salmonberries, elderberry ice cream, fennel macaron), with local wine (about 140 dollars for two).

Agrius, which opened in 2016, is known for its organic, local menu. Credit Ema Peter for The New York Times

Sunday

10) 9 a.m. BRUNCH FOR BREAKFAST

When it opened in 2016, Agrius garnered rave reviews for its organic, local menu. Now the restaurant serves brunch, with hearty buckwheat and rye pancakes, egg dishes (cured salmon scramble with fennel, capers and cream cheese), house-made lamb sausage and pork belly, kale and mushroom Benedict, vegetable pâté, even fried oysters (9 to 21 dollars). In fine weather there is pleasant outdoor seating along a pedestrian way.

11) 11 a.m. ROYAL BC MUSEUM

You could spend hours in this stellar repository of natural and human history, with its singular collection of British Columbia First Nations archaeological materials, as well as provincial archives. The First Peoples gallery includes a totem hall and ceremonial house, an interactive language display and a collection of Argillite (black shale) carvings from Haida Gwaii, while the Old Town recreates period streetscapes and trades — a cannery, hotel, sawmill — even the 1790s ship quarters of George Vancouver. Admission: 17 dollars.

12) 1 p.m. DRIVE UP THE COAST

Beyond the cemetery, Dallas Road takes other names but continues along the dramatic rocky coast through neighborhoods such as upscale Oak Bay, where you’ll find art galleries and British-style pubs and teahouses. Stop at Willows Beach for a walk or a swim, then continue north past the University of Victoria to Mount Douglas Park. You can hike or drive up; either way, the panoramic view is remarkable: across Haro Strait to the San Juan Islands, toward downtown, or across rural Saanich. Hungry again? Head back to town for Foo Asian Street Food, where a hearty, steaming bowl of curried noodle stir fry with pork and shrimp, prepared while you watch, costs 14 dollars. Alternatively, the charming Venus Sophia Tea Room serves organic teas and sweets — Cream Earl Grey with scones, cream and jam costs 14 dollars — and vegetarian lunch items.

The Union Club Travel Club Is Pleased to Announce…

Posted on by
Reply

There is ongoing enthusiasm among experienced members interested in hosting small-group trips for fellow members to bond and enjoy as a benefit of membership. The UC Travel Club encourages you, dear reader, to come forward to us with your own proposals, if you have a trip or an outing that you are familiar with that would provide pleasure to our membership.  You could propose to host a group or just tell us all about the opportunities out there.

We are pleased to announce the following future hosted trips for your consideration. As new trips are proposed and vetted we will update the list.

2018:  Day trip to Othello Tunnels on Kettle Valley Rail Trail at Hope

2018 or 2019:   Art Tour of London

2018 or 2019:   Experience Yukon!

2019:   Wine and Culture Tour of Italy

2019:   Great Migration and Highlights of South Africa

2019:   Via Rail Winter Wonderland Cross-Canada Trip

2019 or 2020:  Self-drive Canal trip in France

2020:   The Road From the Past: Traveling Through History in France

 

EXPERIENCE YUKON 

Possibly for later this year or 2019.  Presented previously at the monthly UCTC meeting on March 26, 2018

Hosted by member David Leverton, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum of B.C.  David has a long history of close museum and cultural workings with First Nations of the area. He will host a set of unique experiences in Yukon that his special relationships and knowledge will facilitate. While ready with a proposed format, he is open to suggestion by early responders with interest. Be sure to see his presentation for more details of the moment. For expressions of interest or questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

David Leverton at dleverton@telus.net

 

ART TOUR OF LONDON 

Possibly for later this year or 2019.   To be presented at the monthly UCTC meeting  on April 29, 2018.

Hosted by UC member and art tour expert Lara Tomaszewska, PhD  ISA ,this adventure is forming up to comprise a comprehensive guided art appreciation tour in select renowned venues and opportunities in London. The trip will feature the tour over several initial days of arrival and then allow participants complete flexibility for unhosted enjoyment of London or other destinations for as long as desired. Opportunities will exist to stay in reciprocal clubs. Further details to be released, but early responders with interest can have a hand in shaping the details.  For expressions of interest and questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

Lara Tomaszewska, PhD, ISA 

OPENWORK Art Advisory

www.openworkart.com

+ 1 250 213 2111

+ 44 (0)747 031 4475

 

WINE AND CULTURE TOUR OF ITALY

Possibly for 2019 . To be presented at the monthly UCTC meeting on May 28, 2018.

Hosted by members Kerry Brown and Richard Larkin, this tour would be based on the premier wines of Italy and some little-known fabulous ones, likely Tuscany and Piedmont, visiting such wineries in Chianti, Montelcino (Brunello region), many of which have accommodation and/or restaurants with meals paired with their wines.  The northern part of Italy is unique – lakes and mountains and not often traveled; UNESCO World Heritage sites, good wine and food. We would also see if we could tie in any affiliate clubs for a stay or at the very least a meal. We could tie in Rome which is a perennial favourite with lots of things to do/see/experience. For expressions of interest or questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

Kerry Brown at kerry@successbizcoach.com

GREAT MIGRATION AND HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA 

September 2019

Hosted by member David Bate, Victoria resident turned long-time South African entrepreneur and traveler, his tour is described as follows: Experience the greatest annual wildlife event on Earth.  Join a discerning group of Union Club members on a trip to Southern Africa in September 2019 to witness the arrival of millions of zebras, wildebeests and other antelopes at the end of their journey across the plains of East Africa from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.  This annual pilgrimage is known as the Great Migration and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should top the bucket list of every travel enthusiast.  The 15-day trip includes highlights of South Africa, Victoria Falls and Kenya.  Touch down in South Africa and begin your journey with an introduction to Cape Town and visit to iconic Robben Island, the Alcatraz of Africa, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 prison years.  Move into the heart of South Africa’s nearby winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl and spend two days exploring some of the best wines and cuisine the New World has to offer, including at least two restaurants listed in the World’s Top 100 restaurants.  Fly into Victoria Falls and experience the largest waterfall and one of the wonders of the natural world.  Return to Johannesburg and spend a day touring the Apartheid Museum and Soweto.  Enjoy an overnight train journey on Rovos Rail, rated as the most luxurious train in the world, from Pretoria to Durban with stops to tour the Kwa-Zulu battlefields where figures such as Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi and Jan Smuts all participated in the same battle. You will also get a brief taste of a safari before disembarking in Durban for a flight to the Maasai Mara and the heart of the migration.  During your four night sojourn in the Maasai Mara, witness river crossings where hundreds of thousands of antelopes and zebras test their luck against lurking crocodiles.  Watch packs of lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs track the herds and, if your timing is right, see a kill in action from the safety of your safari vehicle.  During your down time, enjoy luxurious ‘Out of Africa’ styled tented camps where butlers cater to your every whim and rose petals await you in the bath drawn in your old fashioned iron bath tub.  Dine on gourmet meals and fine wines that introduce the culinary delights of Africa.  Options available for extended tours to South Africa (golfing tours, garden routes) Namibia (sand dunes and Skeleton Coast), Botswana (Okavango Delta), and Mauritius, Zanzibar, The Maldives and Madagascar (all great beaches), among other locations.  This trip will be guided by Dr. David Bate, a Union Club member who has lived in South Africa for over 20 years and owns wine cellars in the heart of South Africa’s wine country.  Space is limited.  If this trip piques your interest, please reach out to:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

WALKING DAY-TRIP TO THE OTHELLO TUNNELS ON THE KETTLE VALLEY RAILROAD TRAIL AND COQUIHALLA RIVER AT HOPE, BC    

Proposed for later this spring or summer.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrube this will be a simple ferry/bus ride to Hope with lunch and an opportunity to walk the trail along the Coquihalla River and through the tunnels. Travel site ratings are 4.5+ out of 5. Easy walking and available in a 1K or 4.5K version along the rail trail. Easy possibility of both distances being accommodated in the same trip. Timing will be determined by member input. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

VIA RAIL WINTER WONDERLAND FIRST CLASS ALL-INCLUSIVE PRIVATE-CABIN RAIL JOURNEY ACROSS CANADA 

Proposed for winter of early 2019.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrube this trip is from Vancouver to Toronto during the season where all the sights are snow-clad wonderlands, taking advantage of the lowest rates for travel plus discounts for seniors. Great for single travelers, no single supplements, as there are cabins for one as well as for two or more. All meals (very good) included and 4 + days of wonderful relaxation and bonding with members. Plenty of room to move around so we aren’t glued together. Stay on or travel further when arrived in Toronto.  The destination is not important here, nor is the schedule: the immersive journal is all. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

A SELF-DRIVE CANAL TRIP WITH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN FRANCE

Proposed for 2019 or 2020

Hosted by Rob d’Estrubé, this will be a two-week bit of life in the slow-lane through some backwoods of France. Depending on the canal and the size of the locks we will limit the group to 12, likely divided between 2 or maybe 3 boats. Single travelers welcome as there are a variety of accommodations.  The journey is everything here, the French Immersion experience transcends place and time: You will neither be in the here nor the now: you will be “in the present”.  We will drive our own boats, cook our own food aboard or dine out along the way as desired. Happy hours are long and usually all on one boat. Stories, lies and exaggerations, through the blur of wine and cheese, replace the real world. This will be perhaps your most relaxing and engaging holiday ever. Quaint villages and towns, chateaux and market places abound at our side. Have semi-independent days away from the boat if you are fit enough to cycle or walk down the towpath: you’ll never get lost. Read a book while the world goes by but be ready to help in the locks. It’s easy work and you can get off and explore the lock keepers’ gardens. Tie up anywhere between locks for the evening and let the birds serenade you in a countryside without road noise. Acquainted members will become fast friends. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

THE ROAD FROM THE PAST: TRAVELING THROUGH HISTORY IN FRANCE  

Proposed for 2020.  A truly unique and once-in-a-lifetime exploration.

Hosted by Rob d’Estrubé, this adventure will follow closely the famous book by the same name written by Ina Caro, historian and gourmet food and wine writer. We would be a small group traveling for about 3 weeks, professionally driven and guided. The history of France will be discovered in the locations where events and paradigms took place. Reading the book will reveal the excitement ahead and the book will be a constant companion on the trip. Quoting from the NY Times here a partial review of the book and what the trip will essentially offer:

“She begins in the ruins at Orange and Nîmes, and then ushers us through blood and fire, religious wars, feudal rivalries and monarchical madness, into the light of the Renaissance, up to Louis XIV’s punishment of his superintendent of finance, Nicolas Fouquet, for the in-the-king’s-face magnificence of Vaux-le-Vicomte. And thus we visit Provence, the Languedoc, the Dordogne, the Loire Valley and the Ile-de-France.

Caro brings the reader along gently, with precise information on how long it takes to drive from one place to another, what roads to choose, how much time to budget for this or that sight; she is also helpful on where to linger, on what towns are pleasant places to have a long coffee or a picnic, and which are dull or overcrowded or seem to have metamorphosed into parking lots.

Although the book is written for visitors who don’t know France well, it is packed with information even for people who do. Caro does not seek to be exhaustive about hotels or restaurants, but she tells us about the ones that have become favorites and about others that have failed her test.

She approaches every new step visually – what’s the view from the hotel or restaurant, what can be seen and measured and studied before it is visited.

Caro is an opinionated traveler…taking no guff from unpleasant restaurateurs and snotty tour guides, and refreshingly direct about what to avoid…etc.”  The route is essentially C shaped as we start in Roman times in Provence and progress in time West and North and then East to Paris for the Revolution.

There is at least one copy of the book in the UC library for your perusal but is easily available online.

Interested early responders can have a hand in formulating many aspects of the trip, like timing, as well as determining price points for levels of accommodation and cuisine where practical.

Rob d’Estrubé has traveled extensively in France and is directly related to many of the nastier characters in this history. To express an interest in the trip and answer questions contact:

Rob d’Estrubé at robdestrube@gmail.com

Cathy Scott at Cathy@departurestravel.com

The Union Club Travel Club (UCTC) Lives!

Posted on by
Reply

The Union Club Travel Club (UCTC) Lives!

The UCTC is a member-driven resource existing independently from Union Club administration and committee direction.  As such, the UCTC will operate with the blessing of the General Committee and management but with a firewall saving the Union Club harmless from liabilities.

The UCTC is formed altruistically to offer at least the following:

  • Information on interesting and worthy DIY travel experiences.
  • Presentations from experienced members who want to host small groups on exciting travels.
  • Presentations from members who will recount adventures.
  • Offer a variety of member-hosted trips throughout the year and be the central reservation resource.
  • Offer an optional central travel agency service to facilitate ease of planning of hosted trips.
  • Hold monthly presentations on the last Monday of the month coinciding with opportunities to enjoy the weekly buffet beforehand.
  • Blog informational updates and articles.

The UCTC has no commercial interest in the offerings but will provide travel agency services and advice or members’ insights as requested or needed.  The hosted trips may be structured to allow free or discounted travel to hosts if numbers allow.  Discounts, where available to group travel, can be applied. The optional travel agency of record will be Cathy Scott’s Destinations Travel but individuals can retain their own agencies to work with the host or the agency of record to facilitate arrangements if logistics allow.

As the Union Club website and reservation system evolve we hope to be able to access the service to make it easy to confirm or express interest in proposed activities. At the present moment questions, expressions of interest or reservations for any particular out-of-club event need to be addressed to either the event hosts or the UCTC committee. The main contact members are Cathy Scott and Rob d’Estrubé.

Cathy Scott  Cathy@departurestravel.com

Rob d’Estrubé  robdestrube@gmail.com

Jon Watson  rory55858@gmail.com

Leda Townshend  ledanell@shaw.ca

Barrie Hewstan  hewstan@shaw.ca

Please continue to regularly search the blog for updated information about presentations and trip proposals.

The Trilogy is Now a Quartet!

Posted on by
Reply

Union Club member Henri van Bentum is proud to announce that the previously announced trilogy of children’s books is now a quartet!  Mr. van Bentum has released his fourth children’s book!

Henri’s charming new children’s fable is titled “The Quickest Claw in the Reef”

“The Quickest Claw in the Reef” is a fun-filled, whimsical and enlightening visit to the realm of coral reefs, charmingly illustrated. We meet octopuses, cuttlefish, Fiddlehead crabs and other reef dwellers who set out to solve a mystery. Plus, there is one, presently undisclosed, major character.

For more information, or to order your copy, please click here.  Also, Henri will be pleased to autograph any copies purchased by fellow UC members.

UC Walking Club

Posted on by
Reply

Many members have commented that they enjoy nothing more than a decent walk in our fair city. The Union Club figured: if so many members are out and about walking, and more and more health benefits from walking are being realized, why not form a Walking Club?

Recently, on February 28, the Walking Club hit the streets:

Please join Past President Barrie Hewstan for any of the following walks, all departing the Union Club’s front stairs at 9:00am. If interested, please register at the Front Desk.

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Time: 9:00am
Walking Area: Around the downtown core, viewing public art pieces.

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Time: 9:00am
Walking Area: Blossom Walk: Beacon Hill Park & Fairfield

Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Time: 9:00am
Walking Area: Fairfield, Gonzales Beach & Abkhazi Gardens

Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Time: 9:00am
Walking Area: David Foster Walkway & Ogden Point Breakwater

Date: Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Time: 9:00am
Walking Area: Westsong Walkway & West Bay Marina

Murder & Myth: Jack the Ripper and the Royal Family

Posted on by
Reply

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Jack the Ripper is the most famous murderer in modern history. In 1970 an eminent British surgeon published an article which suggested that the Ripper was a member of the Royal Family. Over the next three decades, that idea metastasized, inspiring several books and films, and drawing an ever-widening array of individuals into its net.

This talk revisits this increasingly bizarre and esoteric pattern of speculation about this most famous of crimes — a classic example of conspiracy thinking in our era of “Fake News”.

Reserve today – 250-384-1151 (ext. 0) or reservations@unionclub.com

Visiting London? Check Your Bags from Your Doorstep!

Posted on by
Reply

Recently, a Club member was travelling to London, England, and he had the pleasure of making use of a great new luggage service – AirPortr.  As AirPortr says, It’s “Time to Travel Better – We’re changing the way you fly with luggage for good”.

ABOUT AIRPORTR

Goodbye to Luggage at the Airport

Back in 2014 AirPortr’s founders came to a realization. As frequent flyers they understood that getting your bags to and from the airport came with a little too much, well, baggage. They were tired of checking in cases. Of organizing their days around luggage. And of arriving at the airport two hours early to queue.

Travel agents had gone online. Boarding passes had moved onto mobile phones. Surely something could be done to make getting your luggage to and from the airport a little easier?

With that in mind, AirPortr was founded with one clear aim – to make travel simpler.

Hello to Home Bag Drop

In 2016 in London AirPortr launched Bag Check-In with British Airways. They moved the bag drop desk online, allowing you to give your luggage to their friendly, professional drivers at your front door.

So now, when you fly BA, you can check in your bags on your doorstep. Then relax in your very own departure lounge, safe in the knowledge your bags will be returned to you when you land.

No time-wasting. No lugging. No lifting. No queuing. No wondering now where on earth can that bag drop be? No stressing. No worries.

What Next?

AirPortr is working with some of the world’s largest airlines and airports to help shape the future of air travel.

One day we’ll take your bags from your doorstep before you fly and return them to you at your doorstep at the other end – wherever in the world that may be.

All you’ll have to do is take it easy….

Top 5 Reasons Why Autumn Golf Is The Best

Posted on by
Reply

GORGEOUS AUTUMN COLORS, LESS CROWDS, OFF-SEASON PRICING—THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY AUTUMN GOLF IS SO GREAT.

With summer somewhat of a distant memory and autumn upon us, there is still lots of great golf to enjoy – especially in Victoria!  So don’t put away the sticks quite yet. It is true that start times might be a little later but crisp cool weather, clear skies and beautiful course conditions all make fall a great time to enjoy an extra round of golf or two.

Here are some great reasons to extend your golf season this fall…

1.  Beat the crowds:  Summer is over and the crowds have by and large gone home.  So you probably won’t be rushed along by the anxious foursome behind you.  You can take a bit more time, relax and really enjoy the round – hone your golf skills that much more.

2.  Your game is in top form:  You have had an entire golf season under your belt.  You’ve been playing all season long and you are feeling comfortable with your swing, your putting is in top form and your equipment is feeling like an extension of your arms.  Chances are that your golf game has never been better (hopefully, or the theory goes).

3.  Great time for a golf lesson:  Your local golf pro is probably less busy than he has been throughout the busy spring and summer golf season.  He or she can spend a little extra time giving you the personalized instruction you need to take your game to the next level.

4.  The courses are in fantastic shape:  The golf courses have enjoyed a full season of primping and coddling by obsessive grounds keepers – every blade of grass has been nurtured to its natural best, greens have been babied to near perfection and tee boxes in are pristine shape.  Greens tends to be smoother, fairways thick and lush, and landscaping at its best.

5.  Scenery is at its best:  There is nothing like golfing though a forest of fall colors.  Yellow poplars, red maples, golden tamarack often grace the fairways – adding an extra element of beauty to the golf experience.  Blue skies and majestic mountains seem closer and even more dramatic in the crisp fall light.