: Well...um....maybe because it's two thousand miles away
: I'm in northern Illinois

That was my origin for the 2006 trip.(Just west of Chicago) And I didn't get the prize for coming the greatest distance, either. A pleasant week driving out, and about a week coming back, as I detoured through California. I came through Sturgis SD the week before bike week and got a taste of what was to come--then decided I didn't want to go back that way (during bike week). I foresaw way too much traffic.

I got to Port Townsend a day early for my reservation at Fort Warden, had lots of time to tour the lovely town, and camped one night at the county fair grounds. Next time I go I'll pitch my tent at the fairgrounds, and drive, or ride a bicycle the mile to the beach. The distance is trivial and the cost is far less. I think I paid $3 for a tent site.

E-mail me if you are interested in going there in August for R2K8. I think I'll go back, but it is too far off to make definite plans now. I wouldn't mind having someone (or two or three) to travel with and split the gas. (I spent about $300 on gas for the round trip.) With more than one driver the trip could be done in a comfortable 4 days each way.

PGJ