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June 19, 2008

Not-so-happy campers

'It used to be much more economical to use the camper"

By WILL BARTON

PLATTSBURGH -- Area campgrounds are starting to see a decrease in recreational-vehicle campers due to high gas prices and uneconomical gas mileage.

RV vacationers are beginning to second guess how and where to spend their time off from work.

Eryon Kiroy, an employee of Cumberland Bay State Park, said the flow of RV's into the waterfront campground has been slow this summer.

"People have been complaining about going camping because the gas prices are too high."

Donald Clauotier of Valley Field, Quebec, has been traveling around Canada and the United States since 1994 in his RV. He expects big changes in his future travel plans because it is becoming too costly.

"In the winter, I used to go south," said Clauotier. "I may not go anymore."

It costs Clauotier more than $320 to fill up his RV, and it gets only nine miles to the gallon.

Thom and Nancy Roberts of West Chazy also used to travel south with their fifth-wheel trailer. For them, lengthy trips like these are numbered.

"We're going to start picking local campgrounds," Mrs. Roberts said.

"It used to be much more economical to use the camper," said Mr. Roberts. "Now it's cheaper just to get a motel room."

Dan and Sherry White of Peru, own an RV that gets under 8 miles to the gallon and spend nearly $350 to top off their tank.

"We're less likely to go as far," Mrs. White said.

The Whites annually attend a car show in Hershey, Pa., with their RV. However, this year, they did not make the trip.

"It cost us $250 last year," said Mr. White.

It would have been at least $100 more had they gone this year. That's money people aren't willing to spend.

Despite the high gas prices, the Whites still hold onto their yearly trip to Florida every February. They stop four times during this journey to fill up their 80-gallon gas tank.

Mr. White laughed at the idea of flying rather then driving.

The North Pole Campground and Motor Inn, located in Wilmington, normally sees a great deal of campers and RVs during the summertime. Like other area campgrounds, business has been slow so far.

Owner Jim Carmelitano has no worries that things will start to pick up.

"It's too early to tell," Carmelitano said, adding he has faith more campers will start filling sites once school is out.

"If they own the rigs, they're going to use them."

Still, concerns exist among RV owners and vacationers. Ross and Connie Mcgarr have been making the journey from Florida to the North Pole Campground for the past four years. This year, however, it cost them $176 more in fuel.

"If it stays this expensive," Mr. Mcgarr said, "we might not come up again."

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