If you're planning to take in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver has a deal for you. Two of the city's big beach parking lots will open the gates for RVers to stay with their rigs. Washrooms, concession stands, showers, and easy access to public transportation will be right at hand. Why the big welcome?"People are going to come to the Olympics in their RVs and we don't want our shopping mall parking lots to become de facto RV parks," said Vancouver parks board commissioner Aaron Jasper. Jasper is quoted in The Province, a regional Canadian paper. But don't think the welcome is going to be strictly good hearted. There's a wee bit of business for the city department. At $95 a night to stay, if only the city can see a one-third occupancy rate, they say they'll break even financially on the affair. With the love affair of sports and RVing combined, it would be hard to imagine that the city will have to worry about breaking even.
Lots will open at Jericho Beach and at Spanish Banks. And one more thing: Don't imagine you'll want to bring your swimsuit and sunscreen. There have been occasions in winter where snowmen occupied the beaches in Vancouver, rather than bikini-clad cuties.
Jericho Beach photo by nattie bug on flickr.com
