Spring 2023 Escape Rally Ft. Casey, WA April 23-28

[Bobbie54]

Escape Rally: Fort Casey April 23-28 2023 (Sun-Thurs)

Booking a site: you can book 9 months in advance for Washington state parks, which means you could book July 23 for April 23. If you book earlier, you can drop days at a later date, but there is a penalty, depending on how long you hold the extra days. And you cannot drop any for a month. So the earliest booking to go through April 28 would be July 18, today. This would be best for those hoping for waterfront sites at the end and hookup sites as those fill first.

We are currently told we can NOT get refunded for using off-season senior passes unless we book with the 2022-23 pass which cannot be purchased until September 1. So most likely you will pay full rate if booked before September 1.

So… Book now for most selection, and drop days you don’t want. Booking opens at 7 am.

Or if you aren’t picky, you can book July 23. (Or 24 if coming Monday).

Or wait until September 1.. but remember we fill up!

Once you do book please PM me or post here your site and dates!

Sorry for not much advance warning (none) but things are hectic here.


https://washington.goingtocamp.com/

I have not yet booked a site as I want to leave the front sites for someone else this time but will probably do it soon as likely by the 20th people will be booking ahead to get the weekend of the 28-30th.

[KarenH]

Booked: Site #9, 20-28 April 2023.

[Bobbie54]

Still wide open, 3 sites booked for us that I know of (I'm probably going to do one around 7 or 8 but haven't yet) and still hookups available. A couple of front end sites becoming available in a couple of days (can book from the 23rd but I recommend being ready at 7 am that day..)

[outwiththedogs]

Bobbie, I have tried to book a site and I get an automatic response that it cannot be booked until the 23rd of July. Am I missing something?
Thanks, Catherine

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by outwiththedogs

Bobbie, I have tried to book a site and I get an automatic response that it cannot be booked until the 23rd of July. Am I missing something?
Thanks, Catherine

Yes, You can only book from the 20th or earlier today. So you could book the 20-28 for example and then drop two days later on (at a 10% penalty if done after 1 month, can't do it until then.) Or wait to the 23rd. The people (not us) wanting weekend sites the 21-23 will likely book some or all of the hookup sites tomorrow which is why some people start 10 days early and drop days. It's a weird game..

So book now and then drop extra days, or just keep an eye out and when it starts looking like filling up book then. Depends on how popular the site you want is.

Two more waterfront non-hookup sites should open the 23rd though.


Bobbie

[Bobbie54]

On the other hand, I started doing this years ago for our corgi campout and I still book 10 but now I use them all!

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

...So you could book the 20-28 for example and then drop two days later on (at a 10% penalty if done after 1 month, can't do it until then.) Bobbie

Of course, if people start "gaming" the system too much, the state may increase the penalties dramatically to discourage this which would penalize those who have a legitimate reason to cancel a reservation. I think we've already seen this increase as I don't believe there used to be much of a penalty at all for canceling. Could be wrong, often am.

[Bobbie54]

Yeah, I think a more reasonable approach to early booking is to limit how many days someone can book early. Although with this system those who do not book 9 months early still have chances to get sites as other people drop them- and with the new notification system fewer probably stay empty.

The other approach I've thought they could use is limit people to 7 days including only one weekend (consecutive weekend days) in popular parks. Why allow 10-20 days in sites that would stay booked anyway? It's frustrating at Ft. Casey as the best hookup sites on the water are always booked and even the non-hookup ones are hard to get for 2 days in a row in the summer, if you don't book way in advance.

[outwiththedogs]

Bobbie thanks for explaining the early booking. We have #34 booked from the 20th and might keep the extra days. It feels great to have something for 2023 as several trips fell through for us this year.
Thanks for your organizing efforts.
Catherine

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by outwiththedogs

Bobbie thanks for explaining the early booking. We have #34 booked from the 20th and might keep the extra days. It feels great to have something for 2023 as several trips fell through for us this year.
Thanks for your organizing efforts.
Catherine

I know! after 2020 fell through I'm always worried something will happen.

[Bobbie54]

I booked 7 for 7 days. But I want to note for some of you that tomorrow at 7 am (the 23rd) several front end waterfront sites open up for booking. It's also the first day you can book without extra days. (I will probably use all of my days- it is nice to get settled over the weekend before the rally!)

Site 7 sits in a sheltered area adjacent to the back area that used to be tent camping, so will be an ideal cold/windy group area! But let's hope we can enjoy slightly warmer weather in 2023!

[siamblue]

Mark & Shane
Site 31
04/23–04/27

[Killercook]

Just booked site 30 23 to 28

[KLBM in SD]

Kevin & Linda
Booked, site #27, April 23-28.
Can't wait to get back up to Whidbey Island and the PNW.
Looking forward to the Rally!

Kevin & Linda

[Dorikeast]

Just booked site 26 for April 23-29. Really excited to visit Washington.
Dori & Paul

[Pasi in WA]

Pasi and Bobbi Virta. We booked #10 for 4/23-28.
Exited for the first ever Escape Rally!

[Bobbie54]

We are up to eleven sites booked (for sure, there could be others) for our rally. Eleven non-hookup sites left and no hookup sites so I hope some of the others are with us!

[garyjohn1]

Gary and Selina will be in site 23, Apr. 24 - 28. Look forward to seeing everyone again.

[rbrandenstein]

We're in, site 28

[ghosthunter]

Bobby & Patricia
April 22-25
Site 24