Saving Gas Money By Vacationing Close To Home
This story appeared on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
It's an unusual form commuting where total strangers actually "hitch" a ride to their 9-to-5 jobs.
We picked up Jason Mendrey.
"Even people around here that I've told that I do this think I'm crazy," Mendrey said. "'Cause it does sound a little funny to say I do organized hitchhiking."
Whatever you call it, it helps everyone. Cars carrying three people get to use the HOV lane, and don't pay a toll.
Up next, 120 miles east, the Sly Park Campground in Pollock Pines.
That's where our CBS News crew found Mike Morrasy, who's owned a 38-foot RV for 10 years.
"She's been all over the place, right?" I asked Morrasy.
Morrasy replied: "Yeah."
Since it gets only 7 miles a gallon, this year, Morrasy's vacationing only three miles away from home.
Reservations here, mostly locals, are up 140 percent this year. People who don't even want to think about how much a longer trip would cost.
"It costs so much that its one of those things where if you keep track of it too much then you get upset," Morrasy said.
Here's another way to get your mind off the road … go in the water.
Whitewater rafting on the American River, off Route 49.
But even though the rafts are fuel free, the drive here is not.
There's a 15 percent bus surcharge owner Don Koomees has to soak up.
"Does that extra money you're paying potentially mean you're not profitable?" I asked.
"It really cuts into the profit to make it really, really tight," Koomees said.
Team Cordes, on the east coast is paying an average of $3.72 a gallon, getting 24.7 miles per gallon.