Camping summary for the year

[float5]

I went back to look at how much we had the Escape out. 67 days! Even we were surprised. That was over a seven-month period. A few of the days were for maintenance and visiting RV places.

Wish we had better records. We will note more next year. We stayed at public campgrounds five times as many days as private. That includes three city, two county, seven state, and five federal (Army Corps of Engineers.) Six private.

Our average cost at the public places was $14 per night (have a senior pass for federal for half-price) and $33 for private.

Also paid for one ferry, $86 for us and the Escape and tow round- trip. Bought a couple of state park permits.

All in all, I think we used the Escape!

[cpaharley2008]

Very good...

[DonM]

Gotta love Data! Nice record keeping.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Floating Cloud

I went back to look at how much we had the Escape out. 67 days! Even we were surprised. That was over a seven-month period. A few of the days were for maintenance and visiting RV places.

Wish we had better records. We will note more next year. We stayed at public campgrounds five times as many days as private. That includes three city, two county, seven state, and five federal (Army Corps of Engineers.) Six private.

Our average cost at the public places was $14 per night (have a senior pass for federal for half-price) and $33 for private.

Also paid for one ferry, $86 for us and the Escape and tow round- trip. Bought a couple of state park permits.

All in all, I think we used the Escape!

Sounds great! I do like your ferry prices. I just booked a round trip to Nantucket (a 2:45 hour trip) for just my car - $435.00!

[float5]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Sounds great! I do like your ferry prices. I just booked a round trip to Nantucket (a 2:45 hour trip) for just my car - $435.00!

Whoa! I didn't remember Nantucket being that far and we didn't take a vehicle. For that kind of money, we would have to stay the whole summer. Great place to be though. I guess it is Martha's Vineyard that is just a hop.

[JohnB]

Wow, those are expensive ferry fares to Nantucket.

A comparable ferry ride here from Vancouver area to Vancouver Island, a distance of about 46 km would cost $81.60 one way (car and driver) and takes 1:35. This includes an optional $17.50 reservation fee. Not only that you get to travel through the beautiful Gulf Islands on the way.
The distance to Nantucket is pretty well the same distance, as measured on Google Earth.

We like to complain about the ferry fares here without realizing just how good we have it.

The big difference is that our ferry system is a Crown Corporation and subsidized, not for profit.

It truly is 'Beautiful BC' as they advertise.

[Sandra L]

How much more to tow an Escape? Is the fare determined by length?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Sandra L

How much more to tow an Escape? Is the fare determined by length?

I've never had the nerve to ask! The Escape would have to go in the center section of the ferry (6'-8" height limit on the side sections that I'm priced for) and since the actual length is over 17', it would be more expensive than a normal vehicle. While there might be some kind of discount for a trailer, my guess is well over $1K. Since they don't allow camping on the island, I doubt the trailer will ever get there...

As to the Vancouver & Seattle ferries, I've taken them (lived in the Seattle area for 6 months finishing out my 2 years in the army at Ft Lewis) and both are a far better (an cheaper) system.

[JohnB]

Sandra L

The base fares are for a vehicle up to 20 ft. in length.
Towing a trailer they charge $5.60/ft for combined length over 20 ft.
A trailer reservation would be for an over-height vehicle but I don't think there is an extra charge for over-height, there is just less room on the ferry for over-heights.
Additional passengers are $14.85 ea.

Here is a link to the BC Ferry web site which has all the routes, fares etc. (Not sure why BC Ferries use the foot for measurement as we are supposed to be a metric country?)

Home | BC Ferries - British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

[Sandra L]

Thank you both for the helpful information.

[KarenH]

Cathy, I think that your compilation of days out is great. In fact, I will add that log to my trailer journal (diary/guest book) when I get my Escape in May. Days and mileage will be useful in trailer maintenance. Thank you for the idea.

[DonM]

Save the cost of an Alaska Cruise. Take the BC ferry to Victoria. Trust me. I've done both.

[float5]

Karen, I still have to put the mileage together. Had I noted it every travel day, that would have saved a lot of trouble now. I just do not remember to do that or bother with the log on travel days and I need to pay more attention to that. Also, it is good to note points on the campgrounds. We have kept some of the campground maps for future reservations.