Home > Outdoors > Archives > 2008 > May > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGas prices keep me close to home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, we find that average gas prices in Atlanta are getting closer to $4 per gallon (it’s over $4 in some places).
The average per gallon was $3.85 late Thursday for regular unleaded. That’s about a dollar more than the same time last year.
If you’re a boater, count on the cost to be at least 20 cents more per gallon on the water.
If you own an 8-cylinder pickup like me, you’ve already experienced fill-ups at $70 or more. And can $100 per fill-up be that far away, given the curent rate of increases?
I have to admit that gas prices have drastically affect my own outdoors habits. With my F-150 getting maybe 16 mpg, I have yet to make a trip this year to some of my favorite places to fish like Lake Chatuge to the north, Oconee to the east and Seminole to the south.
Me and my family have been hiking/trail walking closer to home at places like Stone Mountain and the Elachee Nature Center near Oakwood. My fishing has been closer to home, too, which isn’t such a bad thing, considering it has allowed me to re-discover some places overlooked in the past.
So, how have gas prices affected your passion for the outdoors? Are you cutting back on trips, or just carrying on?
Comments
By Ted
May 23, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
The price of gas keeps going up. Travel is more expensive and airlines are adding a surcharge to cover fuel costs. Tourist operators are getting worried and with good reason. Eating out is also going to get more costly too. Food prices are going up because it costs money to produce and haul food to it”s destination. Food staples like wheat, rice and corn are getting expensive and fuel costs are partly to blame for this. It”s a vicious circle. Do the gas companies really think this will not come back to bite them. As public trust of oil companies continues to diminish, they may find they could be facing a strong consumer backlash. It”s true they hold the oil and gas but we hold the dollar and remember, it ain”t called the almighty dollar for nothing.
Oil companies sell gas and carmakers sell cars that use gas so it’s a mutually beneficial situation for both of them. The solution is to stop buying new cars for a year until carmakers start building 100% electric or hydrogen powered cars, not hybrids. This would send a message to both the carmakers and oil companies that they understand. Sorry car makers but you brought this on yourself by not speeding up the conversion. No pain no gain. Problem solved. Visit our website and take our gas price poll at http://www.nbtv.ca
The results of the poll on NBTV indicate 76% of the public believe that the gas companies are fixing gas prices. 87% believe they are price gouging. 75% believe the gas companies and carmakers conspired to prolong our dependence on gas powered cars. 57% believe the gas companies and government conspired to keep the price higher than normal and sofar our new trust poll it shows that 85% of respondence DO NOT TRUST the oil companies. These are all the results up till now 11:34 pm Thursday May 22, 2008 You can check out the results yourself on www.nbtv.ca if you like.
Inflation took a big jump this month thanks mostly to gas prices. A study done for the US energy dept says oil prices will spiral upward some day and they predict when this happens all hell will break loose. read the hirsch report http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirsch_report . Harper says he can do little to help the consumer so it’s up to us.
By Dell
May 24, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
While the gas prices have really affected me from a business standpoint, recreation wise I’ve been blessed. You see I live in Young Harris and I’m only five minutes from Lake Chatuge and not far from Nottely either. With a modest 15 minute drive I can be at half dozen great trout fisheries. Gotta love north georgia!
By Get Real
May 25, 2008 5:10 AM | Link to this
Ted,
I didn’t read all your ramblings because if you were up on current event you would have not chimmed in about the oil companies. You would know that the middle class in China and India are both growing and putting tremendous pressure on supply. That coupled with the fact that OPEC is close to its’ peak production because the oil is becoming harder to find.
By Eric Bruce
May 27, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Whatever the reason for the gas prices, its hurting all of us. My trips have been reduced and have stayed local because of it. I also try to “carpool” with another sportsman to split the costs, and plan just a few big trips instead of going every weekend.
By Ray
May 27, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Scott,
Been keeping myself close to the house. The Hooch isn’t far from me (Morgan Falls), so I’ve been going there. I want to catch me some of them ‘Hooch Shoal Bass. Any suggestions Scott? Need to know where to park & wade.
Thanks,
Ray
By Jim H.
May 28, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Well, all I have to do is walk down the hill 100 ft’ to my dock on Lake Oconee and I’m on the water….so getting there isn’t the problem. But with $4.00 gas, my electric trolling motor is currently getting a lot more use than the 225 HP outboard on the back of my Stratos.
“Get Real” - Everything you mentioned is true. One thing you forgot to mention is how unreasonable enviromental regulations are preventing us from getting to our own oil. The Chinese can drill for oil off Florida, but we can’t (even though we could do it much safer) Ridiculous. No new refinaries have been built since the ’70s. US oil production is down 40 percent since 1985, causing us to import way more. It makes no sense.
You’re never going to get through to people like Ted with those facts though….you know the “evil Bush and the Oil Companies intentionaly drive up the price” crowd. They can’t see that is a way more complex issue than their narrow view of it.
By Noland Sturtz
May 30, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
All I know is…not to beat a dead horse, lol…before G Dub and his “oil cronies” waged war we weren`t having these high gas prices!! Do a before and after…How is it that Bush is now richer than he was before becoming the President. This guy actually got rich in the Oval office, lol…
By Scott Bernarde
June 2, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Ray,
For shoalies, go to Cochran Shoals Unit (near I-285 where many walkers and runners take to the trails). Walk the trail upstream perhaps a quarter mile or so and wade in. Fish in the shoals with spinnerbaits and flukes (or other bass lures you like to use). Take into account the water current on your retrieves. This area is very wadeable, but it is fairly swift water, so make careful steps. You may catch a trout, too.
By Scott Bernarde
June 2, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Ray,
For shoalies, go to Cochran Shoals Unit (near I-285 where many walkers and runners take to the trails). Walk the trail upstream perhaps a quarter mile or so and wade in. Fish in the shoals with spinnerbaits and flukes (or other bass lures you like to use). Take into account the water current on your retrieves. This area is very wadeable, but it is fairly swift water, so make careful steps. You may catch a trout, too.