2 December 2006
Zipcar to Tomales Point
Some things I saw today:
- man riding a high-wheeler on Lucas Valley Road
- dozens of Tule elk on Tomales Point
Despite the December date, today was a perfect day for a hike. I walked about eight miles total, stopping halfway to enjoy a sandwich and lie in the grass. I saw several large harems of elk, some wearing radio collars, and some small groups of bachelor males.
- CLOSED signs on Highway 1
I intended to return home on Highway 1 to watch the sun set over the ocean, but was thwarted. Highway 1 is closed until March! Bummer. However, the detour is Panoramic Highway—not too shabby in the scenery department—and although I didn't get to see the sun set, the sky was still rosy when I reached the Golden Gate Bridge.
Today was made possible by my brand new Zipcar membership. As a former member of City Carshare, I think Zipcar's pricing structure is much better suited to someone like me who's more interested in regional trips than in errands around town. In particular:
- Zipcar offers a daily rate in addition to the hourly rate.
The brand new Honda Civic I drove today costs $11/hour or $65/day. City Carshare charges only per hour.
- Zipcar includes 120 free miles per trip.
After my trip to Tomales Point, I pulled into the Zipcar lot with 116 miles on the trip odometer and no per-mile charge. City Carshare charges per mile starting with the first mile.
So today's trip cost $65 plus tax, or $70.53. The same trip with City Carshare would have cost $4/hour plus $0.44/mile, which would have added up to $87.04. City Carshare is much cheaper for short, in-town trips, like an hour at the hardware store two miles away. But Zipcar is cheaper for a day of hiking or a long shopping trip to IKEA.