Going to York.

Will take more than that for me to not go.

I drove to York in October.  From my home in St. Louis, it was about 825 miles one way.  That whole trip cost a fair amount of money but gas was only about $200 of it.  So even if gas is double and it costs me $400, that's not going to stop me.  IMO, if someone is using an excuse like gas prices, then they weren't going anyway.

I typically only go in October and skip April, but with all the negative events going on in the world, I just registered for April as I need to get away. Even though last October may have been a bit smaller than in the past, I still had an awesome time.  High gas prices for my 700 mile trip won’t keep me away.

@MikeH posted:

IMO, if someone is using an excuse like gas prices, then they weren't going anyway.

Is that a psychological analysis?

Unfortunately, for too many folks in today's world, especially those on a fixed income, they either eat, or they go to York.

I wouldn't call gas prices an "excuse" for not going.  This April, with the price of everything going up ridiculously, the money may very well be needed for something more important.

Mike

I am skipping York this spring, but it has nothing to do with the price of gas.  Rather, York is quite late in April and I am taking a week off in late May to drive west on a vacation, so I cannot take a week off in April and then another week less than a month later. 

It's 550 miles each way for me.  Even at that distance, the expense for gas pales in comparison to food, room, and, oh yeah, the money I spend on trains.  Not going to let a few extra bucks for gas get in the way.  We won't live forever, and considering the demographics, nobody knows how long York will continue. Going to enjoy it while I can. 

Going

Not only high gas prices. That Pennsy turnpike has to be very expensive now. It was expensive last time I drove to York from Canton Ohio which was October '19. I wouldnt mind so much as long as toll booth workers are getting raises. My guess is that is not the case. Very few cash lanes compared to easy pass lanes. Guessing toll workers are losing jobs? Anyway, I really want to go. I probably suck up fuel prices but would like to find another route. Thinking I am stuck on the Pike.

@jini5 posted:

Not only high gas prices. That Pennsy turnpike has to be very expensive now. It was expensive last time I drove to York from Canton Ohio which was October '19. I wouldnt mind so much as long as toll booth workers are getting raises. My guess is that is not the case. Very few cash lanes compared to easy pass lanes. Guessing toll workers are losing jobs? Anyway, I really want to go. I probably suck up fuel prices but would like to find another route. Thinking I am stuck on the Pike.

I think all of PA is EZ Pass and plate photo only. I don't think there are any more collectors at the booths.

@rail posted:

I think all of PA is EZ Pass and plate photo only. I don't think there are any more collectors at the booths.

So if I dont have an easy pass, I cant drive on the Pike?

@jini5 posted:

So if I dont have an easy pass, I cant drive on the Pike?

Sure you can.  They take a picture of your license and mail you a bill.

I only live 1 hour away. 5 gallons of gas round trip.  I will be there Thursday.

Donald

I live two hours away, I'll be there Thurs, Fri, Sat.

I live 2,706 miles from York

I'm not going this April - but that's not due to the cost of gasoline ... I'm not yet willing to put up with all the issues (still) with COVID.   

Yep.  Still holding back.

I'm planning on going to the Meet in October - that will be my 30th York.

Going!

Jini5 the toll collectors were scheduled to be replaced by ez pass. The pandemic caused it to happen six months sooner. Having an EZ pass does provide a discount on the toll.

@rail posted:

I think all of PA is EZ Pass and plate photo only. I don't think there are any more collectors at the booths.

You are correct. And Jini5 is correct about the PA Turnpike costing more. It really is a gigantic ripoff, but there are few viable alternatives (I drive from Youngstown, OH. to York, and the Turnpike is the most direct route).

Am I going to the meet in April? Have not decided yet. My third grandson is scheduled to be born on April 22, so even though I may make a hotel reservation soon (one that can be cancelled on 24 hour notice), I will likely wait until a few days after Noah's birth to decide whether or not to make the trip. Also depends on whether or not some of my buddies from Mercer plan to go. OGR will not have an official presence at the April meet.

I laugh at the guys complaining about just the PA Turnpike.  The easiest route for me includes the Illinois Tollway, Chicago Skyway, Indiana Toll Road, Ohio Turnpike, and then the PA Turnpike.  They all add up!

I'm still going.

I’ll be there.....

Peter

My daughter and I are going

I'll be there!   It's a 1000 mile round trip.   My car gets 40+ miles to the gallon.   Total gas usage ~25gal.    Cost will be around $125 or more vs. last October at $60.

Everything has gone up.  Food, electricity, hotels, etc..   However, my excitement for another York experience has increased more!!

I just pulled the plug on the trip. At the rate prices are increasing, especially the price of gas, something has to go. I can afford to absorb the increases, but I can't justify it. At the rate we're going, I predict $5.00/gallon or more by the end of April. Add to that at least 4 nights in a hotel and eating in restaurants, and it's an expensive trip that is hardly a necessity given the outrageous inflation we are facing. I'll miss being there, but that is life.

The trip and ride is always more fun with friends. Usually 3 of us go together - gas and tolls are split, if not directly, by buying meals for the driver.

255 miles each way for us, We get there Tuesday afternoon and return Saturday evening.

Congratulations @Allan Miller when the baby comes. I won't be able to make April and probably not October either. Currently I don't have my car since it had an issue come up right before Christmas. I have been driving my niece's car around, she is in Hawaii. I guess I will see how the year progresses, see you all in 2023.

Without starting a political fight, and understanding that some folks are reluctant to discuss their medical issues, do we know if there were any people infected by Covid that was attributable to their attendance at York, last year?

Of course, I hope not, but at an event of that size, one would assume at least a few cases might have happened.

My wife and I are going. Nobody is happy about the gas prices, but that is not going to stop us. Our drive from CT to York is around 250 miles. Will be going to Strasburg first.

Pat

An extra $ or 2 for every 35 miles driven?…meh. I could skip lunch and make that up! 😆

I’m going if I have to hitchhike, ride a bike, walk or run there but I’m driving my car to York. About 280 miles round trip. A few extra dollars is not going to stop or ruin my bi-annual pilgrimage to York.
See you folks there on Thursday- Friday.  

Driving? Ha!

I live in California, so have to fly. But because of the airlines hub system, I have to fly somewhere else first. You can't get there from here.

@MikeH posted:

IMO, if someone is using an excuse like gas prices, then they weren't going anyway.

I’ve seen this statement before. I imagine some folks are being hit pretty hard by the high costs of fuel, food, and life in general. I think it’s a bit naive to make a comment like that without knowing each persons situation.

I suspect that some people won’t be able to justify going because of the fuel costs. Each of us has to determine that on their own without judging others.

After not missing a York since 1993, I become a snowbird in 2019. I decided in 2019 that I wouldn't be going to the Spring York anymore because I didn't want to come back from FL that early and because MTH was pulling out of the Spring York shows. That seems so long ago and things have changed so much since then.

I think I understand the psychology and financial aspects of the gas prices. But IMO (and I realize it is my IMO) the cost of gas really shouldn't be the reason not to attend. What do you expect to spend on trains at York? If you are searching for those treasures or hope to find bargains and expect to spend only a couple of hundred dollars, then the cost of the trip really couldn't be cost justified even with $3 gas. Just my $.02.

Gerry

I plan on going for a few hours on Friday (I’m less than an hour away). While I’m not looking for anything in particular, a walk through the halls is always enjoyable and seeing a few old friends worthwhile. I’ll be interested to see what April York now looks like. While we’re still far from “normal”, the march toward an October-only format seems to be growing increasingly likely, especially if the vendor and member halls continue to thin.

@rail posted:

I think all of PA is EZ Pass and plate photo only. I don't think there are any more collectors at the booths.

Be prepared - as I recall from the last trip in October 2021, the tolls via plate photo are double the EZ-Pass rate.  I bought an EZ-Pass many years ago; I only use it for the occasional trip around Chicago, on the Indiana toll road, sometimes on the Ohio turnpike, and for going to York.

The reduced toll on the PA turnpike from New Stanton to I-83 twice a year more than covers the annual costs of the EZ-Pass for me.

Edit:  After thinking about it, the PA toll difference for ONE trip to York more than covers the annual cost of the EZ-Pass.

@MartyE posted:

I’ve seen this statement before. I imagine some folks are being hit pretty hard by the high costs of fuel, food, and life in general. I think it’s a bit naive to make a comment like that without knowing each persons situation.

I suspect that some people won’t be able to justify going because of the fuel costs. Each of us has to determine that on their own without judging others.

Thank you, Marty, for saying this. Most people have (or should have) a point at which the cost is just too high to justify spending. Years ago, a friend of mine stopped buying his non-resident Maine fishing license because the fee more than tripled. He could easily afford the increase, but to him, it wasn't worth it and he couldn't justify the added expense. Some people thought he was crazy to stop fishing because they knew how much he enjoyed it, but bottom line, it was his money.

When I estimate the cost of the trip, the decision is simple: given the current state of our economy, and given the fact that going to York is a luxury, not a necessity, I'd rather keep the cash in my bank account than give it to restaurants, hotels and gas stations.

@BlueComet400 posted:

When I estimate the cost of the trip, the decision is simple: given the current state of our economy, and given the fact that going to York is a luxury, not a necessity, I'd rather keep the cash in my bank account than give it to restaurants, hotels and gas stations.

We'll miss you there John, but since I'm much closer, the gas prices won't be nearly as big a deal for me and I'm still going.  I think your drive could be a bit more expensive with $5 gas.

I'm going but will probably cancel my hotel room and just visit on Thursday.   I have 3 trips I need to make that month to see my son in events at college, one of which is the weekend of York.  I don't think my wife is going to take a day off work to follow me around York for a day and half so I'll go home Thursday night and head out Friday afternoon to see our son.

As for cost, we all have entertainment budgets.  For me, York is entertainment away from the daily grind so I just budget accordingly.   As some of you know, I've been an umpire for ~25 yrs through the high school level.  Inflation means I have to umpire 3 more games...it's my exercise too.

-Greg

623 to 630 miles one way (depending on the route I take), cost of gas, cost of room, cost of eating, no ride along companions and not really looking for anything. I enjoy going just to be around people in this great hobby but not going this time. As others have stated just cannot justify the cost. I can put a partial of what the trip would have cost into my layout and be happier.

People's reasons for going or not going are individual. For me, because my wife and I don't really do expensive things like vacations and the like, a hotel room and gas is a discretionary cost I/we can afford.  I don't think we will see gas shortages, if we did I would think twice about going if that happened, although my car can make that distance without needing to refill. There were many years when I didn't do things like York or travel much because we had the expense of my son's schooling and so forth, so it would have been a luxury for us.  I work in the industry around trading commodities like oil and gas, and I wish I had a crystal ball to say "don't worry, it will be fine by then", but the reality is that this likely is going to be a mess for a while, there is no simple answer to what is going on because it is a massive disruption in a global market no one anticipated, much as Covid was (and I will leave it at that, if anyone actually wants more info, feel free to ping me on the email in  my profile so it doesn't happen on here).