2023 – 2024 Snowbird Year Wrap Up

Well our route home this winter was one we have taken many times, through Las Vegas Nevada, Twin Falls Idaho, Wenatchee Washington. We were pushed a little faster because of a snow storm following us but all in all it was a good route with hardly any snow, so we were happy with our choice.

The city of Kelowna is waking up

Over the past five months:

We spent time in six states; Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho.

We covered 6,859 mi (11,039 km) up slightly from 2022/2023. Our first winter away still showed the most distance, when we travelled 14,093 mi (22,663 km) from Kelowna, B.C. to Key West, Florida.

Once again our fuel prices heading home were much lower than our trip south. On the way south we averaged $5.36 USD per gallon ($1.897 CND per litre, which sadly with the recent increase in taxes on fuel in Canada is only $.10 CND per litre more than we are paying at home) and on the way north we averaged $4.021 USD per gallon ($1.423 CND per litre, which is about $.35 CND per litre less than we are paying at home). So we paid a $1.34 a gallon less heading heading home than heading south and the main reason for that was the two weeks we spent in California. This winter we spent $2,854 on fuel which was only up $291 over last year but we also travelled 909 miles more than we did in 2022/2023. 

In previous years it has always been cheaper to do our travelling in the US even with the exchange rate but the last few years it has worked out to be about the same as travelling in Canada. While fuel prices work out comparable even when you add the exchange other things are much more expensive. We have noticed that eating out costs the same in the US as it does at home in Canada but when you add the 35% exchange it makes it pretty pricey! Also food prices, other than milk, cheese, and eggs, are comparable to home but again you have to add that 35% exchange. So all in all it isn’t cheaper to travel in the US anymore 😦  Of course the warm weather during the winter will have us going back again this winter.

As usual our most expensive diesel was in California but unlike last year when it was in Oceanside this year is was in Fortuna, CA at $6.259 USD per gallon ($2.216 CND per litre). Our cheapest diesel was $3.739 USD per gallon ($1.324 CND per litre) in North Las Vegas and Wells Nevada and Jerome Idaho.

A pretty sunrise

We have enjoyed some nice sunny warm weather since we arrived home, but we have also had some chilly mornings. I spent three nights with three of our grandsons which is always fun. My sister and I attended the Jazz Festival where the youngest of the three was performing and he had three solo’s that I thought he did an awesome job on 😀 In fact his band was chosen as the outstanding band in their category and invited to play at Student Showcase Concert!

We have a few trips planned for next week so I should have something to blog about 🙂

Beautiful skies this morning but chilly!

Until next time …