On the road again ...
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on June 30, 2006 1:54 PM
Gasoline prices nearing $3 a gallon haven't stalled Fourth of July travel plans for many Wayne County residents.
Most of the people interviewed Thursday and today said they don't intend to let the high cost of fuel prevent them from hitting the road.
Lisa Williams is from New York City, where a tank of gasoline is several dollars higher than in Goldsboro, and she's going home for the holiday.
"When I go home, I ride the train and the bus," said Ms. Williams, who was filling up her truck at the Trade-Wilco station on Ash Street. "But here, gas prices haven't slowed me down a bit."
Robert Thompson at the Friendly Mart on Indian Springs Road said he will have to work through the holiday, but that if he did have plans to travel, he wouldn't let the price of gas stop him. Most people feel the same way, he said.
"I'm just like everybody else. If they have the money, they'll travel."
At the Comco station on Arrington Bridge Road, Abraham Mack Jr. was fueling up to go to work. He said he doesn't plan to go anywhere for the holiday but that he has relatives coming in from as far away as California and that the price of gas has not kept them from planning a get-together.
Valeria Stevens said her Fourth of July plans include a cookout with friends in Clinton. The price of gas hasn't figured into her plans, she said.
"You know you have to buy it. You kind of just deal with it and go ahead and go on," she said.
At the Amoco station on U.S. 117, store clerk Angela Overton was busy this morning. She said gasoline sales have gone up over the past week as people prepare for the long weekend.
"It's not slowed them down a bit," she said.
She said her family doesn't have plans to travel, but that it has nothing to do with the price of gas.
"We'll be off, but we're not going anywhere. We can't afford to, but it's not because of the gas prices. Hotel rooms are worse," she said.
Ervin Lane was getting gas at the Kangaroo station on Berkeley Boulevard. He said the gas prices haven't slowed him down.
"Even at $5 a gallon, you've got to have it," he said.
Dave Taylor was getting ready to pull his work truck out of the parking lot. He also doesn't have travel plans.
"But it's not because of the gas prices," Taylor said.
Nearby, Johnny Parker's truck had stalled and he was waiting for a co-worker to pick him up. He said he will be off for the Fourth of July but that he will probably stay home. He had planned to go wilderness camping with a friend but he has to work Monday, and that prevented them from making a long weekend of it. They will make up the trip later when the campground is less crowded, he said.
Parker admitted the rising price of gas has caused him to re-evaluate his camping plans. Gas for a camping trip 10 years ago cost him $13. Now, he said, it's closer to $40.