For the past couple days I went with my brother, sister-in-law and my nephews to camping along Pacific Coast. I hadn't been to the area for twenty years. This trip I only went to Mendocino - Manchester - Fort Bragg area. Twenty years ago I pretty much visited the entire California coast.
Twenty years ago there weren't brochures reminding everyone the enviromentally-kind ways to visit the coast. Today those brochures, that I'm sure they're hoping will be recycled, are focusing on being eco-friendly. They even have "hybrid cars only" parking spots in California because they're so progressive thinking.
Interestingly, what I remember from twenty years ago was that there were so many people biking the coast that it was kinda scary driving. Every other sharp hairpin corner ... there was a group of biking tourists. There was no way that you could sight-see while driving because you never new when you'd come around a corner and kill a biker if you weren't careful watching for them.
In contrast, today....
Despite all the people who say they want to live green in California (and the US in general because I'm really piking on Al Gore and his private jet and not Californians) I passed 3 single biking tourists the entire time I was there! I counted them because it was so strikingly different from twenty years ago I remember passing biking tourists 3 deep at every other corner.
At Manchester State Park I saw only one biking tourist that set up a tent and the walk-in area was empty when I checked it out. There weren't even that many tents at the campground with people that drove in a hybrid car or something and pitched a tent. Most of the campground was filled with completely gas-hogging motorhomes.
I guess this goes to show that Californians are no different than the rest of us gas-hogging Americans. They could have driven their green cars and pitched a tent. Or they could have biked up the coast. But no, they drove the coast getting less than 5 miles per gallon in their motor homes.
I should also add...
I don't think Americans are burning excessive fuel each weekend on these evil gas-hogging camping trips. There actually did seem to be fewer cars on the road. This is probably a sign of the CA economy. Gas was higher in almost every California town than it is in Reno, Nevada ... and Reno is higher than national average. Also, the hotel costs twenty years ago were around $25-50. Now the motels ranging from $110-250. Expensive gasoline and motels probably help keep people away from California coast.
Twenty years ago there weren't brochures reminding everyone the enviromentally-kind ways to visit the coast. Today those brochures, that I'm sure they're hoping will be recycled, are focusing on being eco-friendly. They even have "hybrid cars only" parking spots in California because they're so progressive thinking.
Interestingly, what I remember from twenty years ago was that there were so many people biking the coast that it was kinda scary driving. Every other sharp hairpin corner ... there was a group of biking tourists. There was no way that you could sight-see while driving because you never new when you'd come around a corner and kill a biker if you weren't careful watching for them.
In contrast, today....
Despite all the people who say they want to live green in California (and the US in general because I'm really piking on Al Gore and his private jet and not Californians) I passed 3 single biking tourists the entire time I was there! I counted them because it was so strikingly different from twenty years ago I remember passing biking tourists 3 deep at every other corner.
At Manchester State Park I saw only one biking tourist that set up a tent and the walk-in area was empty when I checked it out. There weren't even that many tents at the campground with people that drove in a hybrid car or something and pitched a tent. Most of the campground was filled with completely gas-hogging motorhomes.
I guess this goes to show that Californians are no different than the rest of us gas-hogging Americans. They could have driven their green cars and pitched a tent. Or they could have biked up the coast. But no, they drove the coast getting less than 5 miles per gallon in their motor homes.
I should also add...
I don't think Americans are burning excessive fuel each weekend on these evil gas-hogging camping trips. There actually did seem to be fewer cars on the road. This is probably a sign of the CA economy. Gas was higher in almost every California town than it is in Reno, Nevada ... and Reno is higher than national average. Also, the hotel costs twenty years ago were around $25-50. Now the motels ranging from $110-250. Expensive gasoline and motels probably help keep people away from California coast.
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