TURNING SAND INTO GOLD

Through our newsletters in 1998, we tried to describe the rewards and difficulties of living on one of British Columbia’s outer islands. But the most revealing evidence of the costliness of building on Middle Rendezvous was the purchase and delivery of sand from Campbell River. All building materials came by water - either private boat or the twice-monthly barge. We needed sand to make cement for the landing pier pads. See below its transformation from sand to gold. (Canadian Dollars)

Sand Purchased at Campbell River:

3 1/2 yards of sand... $93.80
GST Tax... 10.42
Prov. Tax... 6.57

Total... $110.79

Bag Rental for Sand
7 @ $10 each... $70.00

Truck Delivery to Barge... $55.00

Barge Delivery to island... $453.60

Total Cost of Sand As Delivered
to Middle Rendezvous Island... $689.39

... P. L. Morningstar
.