Just curious about how much you guys spend on your float trips and if cost limits how many trips you make each year.
The main costs for me are the big 3: gas, shuttle, and camping. Gas by far is the biggest expense. Using the Brazos below Pk trip as an example: It's a 300 mile round trip, I add another 100 cause I take the scenic route back. My truck gets 18mpg so that's 22 gallons time 2.75 equals 60 bucks. Shuttle at Rochelles is 34 bucks ttl. Camping on the river is free. So that's 94 bucks so far. But I like to stay one night at Rochelles after I get off the river to help me ease back into the rat race, another 10 bucks. Add groceries and ice, another 20 bucks or so, I usually just grab what I need from the fridge and pantry at home, then supplement it from the store a day or two before I leave. About $125 so far. Adult beverages? I won't include that here, that's an environmental variable.
I can cut costs by using natural campsites and going in a group to do our own shuttle. But I prefer to paddle solo.
How does this compare with some of yall's trips? Does money or lack thereof ever put a crimp in your plans?

My problem is getting people to go with me. I haven't ever gone alone on a trip yet but Im thinking about it. Im a river addict and want to go on every river any chance I get. I wouldnt mind a day trip alone but over night might get boring in the middle of no where.

Jus take your dog like, ol' mr graves. lol

Yeah, seems like friends always have other stuff going. I go by myself a lot and then rub it in when I have a good day fishing. I hardly ever get bored while by myself but then I'm the funniest, smartest and most interesting person I know.

Money is always a factor since I'm about 2 hours drive time from a decent lake.

but your not that far from the pecos and devils.

The Pecos is a trickle north of I-10 because New Mexico has everything dammed up. We used to go out and shoot guns around it towards Coyanosa and you could usually find a spot to hop across. Good place to catch crawdads, though. It really opens up towards the south where it catches the spring water. Even as far as Pandale, it's not very wide.

The Devils river is a long ways away. Been itching to go up it but I'm still not clear on where you are allowed to camp. That water is gorgeous.

you want get bored really
i bring a radio that includes short wave
have some beer with a couple of shots
by the time you eat you are exhausted

If I didn't have to work I would be out there every day so hell yeah it puts a crimp in my plans. It sounds like your over night trips are pretty affordable. I usually make day trips from Houston and just in fuel and launch fees (for fresh water) can add up to $25 or so. Add water, gatorade, jerky or other snacks and it can be $35 or more. Now let's add gear for break offs, lures lost, serious back lashes.... I don't even like to think about my fishing buget as it puts me in a foul mood.

no body ever talks about carbon footprints on the TFF

my truck gets 13-15 mpg. Hows that for leaving a carbon footprint? By the way are you going to be able to go yaking? The llano is calling! Ill drive.

Yeah it crimps my plans too. I used to make a trip every other other month. Nothing shorter than 3 nights - 2 on the river, one in a private camp or state park. Has gotten too expensive.

Kayak Fishing ? Priceless !!!!!

That's a good point.

I find side work to raise money specifically for the trips. Mostly yard work or beaucoup overtime. Then once I find the money, I have to find the time. Forunately my job is flexible in that respect. My longest trip so far has been 13 days, the shortest has been 2nites - 3 days. Overniters are too short because it's such a long way from my house to a river and the cost is about the same for one nite as for two.

I have done very few float trips for mainly 2 reasons:
1) I didn't know anybody else who kayaked for the longest time until I joined these forums.
b) For me its more about the fishing than the paddling, so if I'm going to drive a few hours or more and spend the night some place, I've more often than not choosen to head down to Copano Bay.
I've fished the San Marcos and the Guadalupe on a two day trip I took last year. I really want to fish the Brazos and the Llano this year. I don't know if I'll get to w/ all this crazy overtime we're getting. I have vacation time but I kinda hate to miss out on the huge paychecks of all this OT to use it. So far I've just been scheduling a vacation day here and there around weeks with holidays in them or when we aren't running 6 days so I don't really miss out on the OT.

I may be doing a llano trip sometime next month. Possibly the weekend of the 11th. Plan on driving out Friday afternoon and coming back Sunday Night. Your welcoem to come along. I like paddling, fishing with other people.