I'm a little surprised that everyone is still traveling the same as they were before. We did a 2 month, 6,000 mile trip across the country and there were definitely fewer RV's on the road.

Diesel prices have impacted the way we travel. We rented a house and will fly to Key West later this year partly because of fuel prices and partly because we don't want to take the chance of geting all the way over there again and have to leave to escape a hurricane, again.

We leave next week on what was going to be a 3,000 mile trip. We decided to stay longer in fewer locations and make it a 1,000 mile trip instead.

In the past we've put on about 20,000 miles per year on our RV. I'm guess we'll do slightly more than half that this year. We are back to flying more places and staying in hotels or resorts. I'm not sure it's completely the price of diesel. To a certain extend we are changing the way we travel. We live in our motor home full time.

I think a bigger direct impact on us is the value of our dollar. We would have loved to have gone back to Europe again this year, but it gets more expensive every day and you have no idea what it will be like by the time you get there. So any European plans are on hold.

Another impact is that we have put off plans to get a new motor home until we are feeling a little more secure about diesel prices. If you look at the number of RV manufactures who are going bankrupt we are not alone in that decision.

I really think the price of fuel and the economy is hitting people very hard, espeically the middle class. Most of us are changing the way they live and drive. The others are living on credit cards!

Michael

2005 Dutch Star 40' 4 slide
2005 BMW K1200LT on lift
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid