gas prices and travel

[mikeschn]

In Europe I think the price is closer to $11/gallon.

Mike...

[Verna]

I think I'll stay close to home this year.

This year I want to start my quest to camp in all of Indiana's State Parks. I already have reservations in two of the State Parks. We'll see how long it takes to meet my goal

[Lgboro]

Have a trip planned from NC to San Diego by way of Alaska. Worked too hard on my tear to shorten my planned trip. Towing with a Jetta TDI but will still
take a lot of fuel with a 15,000 or so mile trip. Can hardly wait to buy the diesel fuel .

[sdtripper2]

San Diego Prices are going nuts:

4 days ago I got a fill up at $3.96 and today It was $4.26:
.36 Cents in less than a week at the most economical Costco stations

Seems from morning to afternoon a 5 cent uP take has been happening each day.

I know that California has a special gas and the oil companies have stopped production in one
of the two refineries in this state. Can't help but think there may be some conspiracy to gouge
the consumer, by manipulating refinery uP time. Also the Oil companies don't like the pipeline not
being given to them right off without any reasonable evaluation of the water table in the lands such
as Nebraska. That is where the water table is 2 feet from the surface and the Canadian company is
threatening eminent domain on the beef producers even though the line hasn't been finalized by our
Congress or the White House. This water is a major supply for Americans and live stock in the Midwest.
Seems like a reasonable route that would go around such a valuable source of water would be prudent,
but I believe the oil companies want the route they have chosen to save them money. The possible
contamination of a major water aquifer isn't in their economic interest. Their track record as in Montana
hasn't been responsible so why would we think the mind set of these for profit at the expense of nature
and people's health be their concern now?

I am sure the Oil companies will get their way by intimidation and or raising the gas and other fuel prices
till the American consumer squeaks in pain, and threatens the political stability here. They will say such things
as China will get the oil, or raise our prices preemptively to intimidate the Administration of the President of the USA.
The saber rattlers would have us attack Iran as if there hasn't been anything learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, and
even the thought of such action has spooked the world trade in oil. Ugh !

We in California have been gouged for years and I suspect this year any camping trip we do will cost dearly.
The oil flow is abundant with ships waiting to unload, but the tourniquet is in the refineries. Ask yourself who benefits
if you tighten the flow of gas from refineries to the public gas stations?
By mid week (say the 29th) I expect $4.50 per gallon for unleaded in San Diego.
The lines are already starting at Costco, and the prices I am quoting is at Costco and not the other stations.
If you go to the name brand stations just add 10 to 15 cents a gallon, here in San Diego.

The agenda of the oil speculation and manipulation of refinery slowdowns will in the end have the effect and their
will shall be forced on America, for sure.

[S. Heisley]

In another thread here, (can't remember where but it was fairly recent) someone said that California has different additives than what they have in the rest of the country and that, because of that, Californians get better gas mileage than we would get if we were using the gas offered in other states. Maybe the gas companies take that into account when they decide how much to charge us per gallon.

[mechmagcn]

Fuel prices will not stop me from traveling this year.... and what a trip I have planned. Leaving south Arkansas 3/22 for a gathering at Beavers Bend in OK and from there it's North to Alaska! via the west coast. I figure somewhere this summer I'll pay well over $5 a gallon for diesel and wouldn't really be suprised to see $6 in AK. If I can get by with it, I plan to do as much off grid camping as possible to help offset the fuel costs. If all goes well, I hope to be out around 4 months.

[pete42]

steve and sharon I was stationed in Long Beach Ca back in the early sixtys there were oil pumps every where.
here in ohio the gas companys said they have to add to the gas to keep fuel lines from freezing in the cold
trouble is gas does not go down in the summer.

Lgboro
bless you brother have a safe and enjoyable trip sounds like a once in a lifetime trip
I have not been to the northwest states and that's why I want to make one last long trip.
I turn 70 on march 4th but hopefully lots of trips left in this old broken body.

[legojenn]

I like go to south of the border. New York gas prices are 25-30% lower than here.

[nrody]

I am trying so hard to finish the tear for IRG. I also have not seen my dad in a few years so I think I will incorporate a long side trip to the middle of Idaho. Have not seen Aunt Marta since about 2000 on our way back from Sturges so Evergreen Colorado may be on the agenda. Ty is 7 now and he needs to see the country and my goal is to make it to every state in the country before he graduates high school. I don't care how much gas is I will travel and find some way to pay for it. Life is short and I will live it. As long as I have a roof over my head, food in my mouth and clothes on my back I will live it. I do not want to be the one at the end of my life saying "I wish I had got to do this or that".

[mechmagcn]

I feel the same way Nancy. I have worked for older customers who have literally worked themselves to death to have something when they retire, only to either not make it or die shortly afterwards. I lost my Dad at the young age of 63, he had so many dreams of what he wanted to do after retirement. I decided long ago to not wait, but to go and do the things I want and see the places I have dreamed of while I still have good health. I might have to sit on the porch in my rocking chair, a poor, broke down SOB, but I will not have to wish I had done something.

[legojenn]

Fuel prices will not stop me from traveling this year.... and what a trip I have planned. Leaving south Arkansas 3/22 for a gathering at Beavers Bend in OK and from there it's North to Alaska! via the west coast. I figure somewhere this summer I'll pay well over $5 a gallon for diesel and wouldn't really be suprised to see $6 in AK. If I can get by with it, I plan to do as much off grid camping as possible to help offset the fuel costs. If all goes well, I hope to be out around 4 months.

Bring as much gas as you can before you enter BC. They have some of the most highly taxed gas in the country.

[BrwBier]

Here's how I look at the gas price situation. If I got 15mpg I could drive 1500 miles on 100 gallons of gas. At 20mpg it would be 2000 miles, and at 25mpg it would be 2500 miles. 100 Gallons of gas @ $3.50 is $350, @ $4 a gallon it is $400 and @ $5 a gallon it is $500. The difference between $3.50 and $5 a gallon is only $150. After waiting most of the year for vacation would I not go over $150? I don't think so. There are too many ways to make up the $150 difference, save $.50 a day and your on the way. Do the gas prices make me mad, you bet, but will I let it spoil a good time for me, never. To me it doesn't make a difference, to some people it does and for them I feel sorry and pray that things turn around. Everyone needs to have some time to go where they want and do the things that make then happy. That's what it is all about.
Brwbier

[Blotto Bros]

You could go the "no gas" way...but those long uphill climbs really SUCK!

[Martiangod]

You could go the "no gas" way...but those long uphill climbs really SUCK!

Ya but think of the awesome downhill runs with all that extra weight

[pete42]

Here's how I look at the gas price situation. If I got 15mpg I could drive 1500 miles on 100 gallons of gas. At 20mpg it would be 2000 miles, and at 25mpg it would be 2500 miles. 100 Gallons of gas @ $3.50 is $350, @ $4 a gallon it is $400 and @ $5 a gallon it is $500. The difference between $3.50 and $5 a gallon is only $150. After waiting most of the year for vacation would I not go over $150? I don't think so. There are too many ways to make up the $150 difference, save $.50 a day and your on the way. Do the gas prices make me mad, you bet, but will I let it spoil a good time for me, never. To me it doesn't make a difference, to some people it does and for them I feel sorry and pray that things turn around. Everyone needs to have some time to go where they want and do the things that make then happy. That's what it is all about.
Brwbier

BrwBier we don't need logic messing up a good rant......

I had lunch with an old flying buddy yesterday he has a Casita he pulls with a suv and he has a Prius.
he said the Prius gets around 40 MPG in the winter and 47 in the summer.
but if everyone had a fuel saving car the gas prices would just go up more.

back many many years my folks went to Florida for the winter, neighbor and I stayed here we all three
paid different prices for fuel oil from same truck!
folks paid most per gallon becaused they used less than the neighbor or myself
I paid the least amount per gallon because I used the most.

pete