Be prepared for expensive ferry booat charges to carry your camper van from Vancouver Island to the mainland. Depending on the route and the size of your van, the ferry boat from Vancouver Island will cost you about US$50 or more each way for the van + driver (plus another $10-15 per additional passenger.

As a taxpayer in the State of Washington, I can say that we're more than happy to take your money, but you might want to find something more satisfying to spend it on than parking your van on the lower deck of a ferry boat for several hours.

There are plenty of camping sites in state and provincial parks, and in national parks in Oregon, Washington and B.c., but you might need reservations for some of them. Somebody with more camping experience will probably be along soon with better advice.

There are also Rest Areas every 50-100 miles along the Interstate Highway (I-5) where you can park your camper for up to eight hours (I don't know how strictly that time limit is enforced). And the all-too-common Wal-Mart stores allow camper vans to park overnight in their parking lots (I would not encourage you to do business with Wal-Mart, but the free overnight parking is a nice service).

Sightseeing: From Seattle, head south on I-5 to Portland. It's about a 3-hour drive unless you make stops along the way. If you're fond of antiques, you might want to stop in Centralia an wander around for a few hours; or you might consider a detour to the Visitor Center overlooking Mount St. Helens, our local active volcano.

Returning from Portland, head west to the Pacific Coast through the Coast Range on either Highway 6 to Tilamook or Highway 26 to Seaside, and then go north along the coast to Astoria. Spend some time exploring Astoria. Cross the big bridge across the Columbia River and stay on Highway 101 all the way to Port Angeles, where you can take a ferry back to Victoria. Not as fast as the Interstate, but the scenery is a lot more interesting.

As for music, there's plenty going on in this region. There will be nonstop contra dancing at the Folklife Festival each day from noon until midnight in the "Roadhouse." If you can't find it, ask at one of the Information tents.

There's usually a table next to the stage at the Roadhouse with handbills and leaflets about other dances in the region, so that should be a good place to look for information about other events. And there is generally an ongoing jam session (or several) on the pavement just outside the roadhouse. The people who hang out in that area are among the best of our local old-timey musicians, and mostly friendly, so they'll be good people to ask about other sessions after the festival. Send me private e-mail (johnross@well.com) and I will give you some specific names of people to look for.

If you're arriving in Seattle a few days before the Folklife Festival begins,You might also want to consider volunteering to help set up the "folk floor" where the dances take place. It's a good way to meet some of the most active people in the contra dance community. Again, send me private e-mail and I will give you details.

Another place at the Folklife Festival to find information about other events around the Pacific Northwest is the "Partcipant Services" area on the third floor of the Center House building. There's a big table and a bulletin board where people leave information about concerts, dances, other festivals and related events.

There are always a bunch of Mudcatters at the Folklife Festival. Check the other Folklife Festival topic for specific performance schedules and other helpful information. A few years ago, we arranged to have 'catters wear a colored sticker to idnetify themselves. Maybe we should revive that tradition this year.