We turn to the holiday now and millions of Americans are traveling tonight or have reached their destination for the Memorial Day holiday. But for millions more that destination is simply home. The economy is slowing and so is travel across this nation. ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi joins us now with the changing habits this holiday. Sharyn?
David, for the first time in more than a decade fewer Americans are hitting the road this weekend and you don’t have to look any further than the corner gas station to figure out why. Soaring gas prices have stalled the start of the summer driving season. 360,000 fewer travelers will take to the road, down 1%.
The reason? Gasoline is up 20% from a year ago, airfare is 8%, and renting a car up 45%. "I’m trying to keep close to home where it doesn’t cost so much." AAA says more than a third of travelers this year have either shortened their trip or cancelled it altogether, saying it’s just too expensive. Those who are venturingout may find a little more elbow room.
At some national park campgrounds reservations are down as much as 10%. Some lakes are quieter too in the wake of rising gas prices. Marine fuel now averages around $4.25 a gallon. Filling up the boat can cost upwards of $1000. At this amusement park in Atlanta the lines aren’t quite as long.
Six Flags is offering kid prices to adults hoping to lure cash-strapped families back to the park. Gasoline prices have the American family holding on tothe idea of a holiday weekend for dear life. “We are mapping out different ways to save mileage and to save gas.” The Wilke family is heading to the Grand Canyon this summer. Their trip will cost them about $300 more than it would have last year.
“We’re eating in the... in our RV a lot so we’ll be saving some money for that to help compensate for the expense of the gas.” Last year gas prices hit their peak over Memorial Day but they show no signs of falling after this weekend. $4 gas is now a reality, David, for people in five states. All right, ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi with us here tonight. Sharyn, thank you.
※ hit * hit the road : 출발하다, 길을 떠나다 * hit the ceiling/roof = blow one's top : 노발대발하다 * hit the ground running : 시작부터 열심히 제대로 일하다 / to immediately work very hard and successfully at a new activity. ex. If elected, they promise to hit the ground running in their first few weeks of office. ex. His previous experience will allow him to hit the ground running when he takes over the Commerce Department. * hit the jackpot : 크게 성공하다. 땡잡다 * hit the nail on the head : 바로 맞히다, 요점을 찌르다 * I have to hit the books. 공부를 해야 한다 * A glass of hot water would hit the spot. 따뜻한 물 한 잔 마시면 아주 좋겠는데 * Prices hit a new high. 물가가 사상 최고치를 기록했다.
destination : 목적지, 도착지 * tourist destination : 여행목적지 hit the road : to leave or start a journey * hit the ceiling : to become very angry / * hit the ground/floor : fall to the ground / * hit the nail on the head : to say something that is exactly right or very true figure out : ~ 을 계산하다, (생각한 끝에) (~ 이라는 것을) 알게 되다, 이해하다, ~ 을 해결하다, 생각해내다 ex. We figured out how much time the trip would take. 여행에 소요되는 시간을 계산해 보았다. ex. I can't figure him out. 그 의 마음을 알 수 없다. soar : 높이 치솟다, 날아오르다, <온도 등이> 급상승하다, <물가가> 폭등하다 stall : 1. 마구간 , 마구간 [ 외양간 ] 의 한 칸 , 매점 (stand), 칸막이한 작은 방 2. < 자동차 비행기 를 > 실속시키다 , 실속하다 , 엔진이 멎다, < 말.자동차 등을 > 오도가도 못하게 하다 [ 되다 ].~ 을 막다른 궁지에 빠뜨리다 [ 빠지다 ]. ex. Her car was stalled in the snow. 그녀의 차는 눈 때문에 오도가도 못했다. take to the road : 여행을 떠나다, 방랑자가 되다 AAA : American Automobile Association altogether : 전적으로, 완전히, 다 합하여, 총계 로 venture : 모험적 사업, 벤처사업, [방향 부사와 함께] 과감히 나아가다, 위험을 무릅쓰고 가다, ex. He ventured deep into the jungle. 그는 위험을 무릅쓰고 정 글 깊이 들어갔다. ex. He has recently ventured into an export business. (to do something that is a risk) elbow room : (팔꿈치를 자유롭게 움직일 수 있는) 공간, (행동·사고의) 자 유 / 1. enough space around you so that you are comfortable 2. the freedom to do what you want, without other people annoying you campground : 캠프 지 정지, 야영지 in the wake of : ~ 에 계속해서 , ~ 에 뒤이어 (happening after an event or as a result of it), ~ 의 결과로 서 * wake 배가 지나간 자리 , 항적 ( 航跡 ), 지나간 자국 , 흔적 ex. Miseries follow in the wake of a war. 전쟁에는 불행이 잇따른다 marine : 바다[해양]의, 바다에 사는, 해병대원, [the M~s] 해병대 ex. marine life : 해양생물 fill up : (기름을) 가득 채우다 upward(s) of~ : ~ 이상(more than) ex. His car cost him upwards of ten thousand dollars. 그는 그 차에 만 달러 이상 들였다. lure : 사람의 마음을 끄는 것, 유혹물 (enticement), 미 끼 (decoy), ~ 을 유인하다 , 꾀어들이다 strap : 가죽끈, [ 전차 따위의 ] 손 잡이 가죽끈, ~ 을 가죽끈으로 묶다 * strapped (보통 돈이) 곤궁한 * strapped for ~ ~ 이 부족해 곤궁한 ex. They're strapped for cash. hold on : 견디다, 지탱하다, 꼭잡다, (전화를) 끊지 않고 기다리다 ex. He held on for the win. 그는 승리를 위해 참아냈다. * hold on tight : Hold on tight everyone -- the driver's getting ready to go. / ex. Hold on a moment while I get him. 그를 찾는 동안 전화를 끊지 말고 기다리세요. * hold on to ~ : 1. ~ 을 꼭 잡다, 손을 놓지 않다 2. to continue feeling or believing something. ex. Hold on to the seat in front when we go round the corner. /ex. I always held on to the belief that one day he would succeed. for dear life : =for one's life 필사적으로, 열심히, 목숨 걸고 ex. Run for your life! (죽어라) 뛰어! = Run for dear life! ex. They threw down a rope and I held on to it for dear life. 나는 죽을 힘을 다해 밧줄에 매달렸다. map : 지도 , 지도식 도표 , ~ 를 지도로 만들다 , 지도위에 나타내다 [ 표시하 다 ] * map out : <토지 통로 등을 지도에> 정밀하게 표하다, ~ 의 계획을 세 밀히 세우다/ If you map out something that you are intending to do, you work out in detail how you will do it. ex. I went home and mapped out my strategy. / ex. This whole plan has been most carefully mapped out. compensate : 보상하다, 배상하다, 보수[급료]를 치르다 ex. compensate a person for loss 에게 손실을 배상하다 ex. The company compensated her for extra work. 회사는 그녀의 초과 근무에 대해 보수를 지불했다. * make up ( for~) : (~ 을) 보상하다 (compensate), 만회하다, 벌충하다 ex. Nothing can make up for the loss of a child. peak : (뾰족한) 산꼭대기, 봉우리, 뾰족한 끝, 절정, 최고점[도], 피크, 우뚝 솟다, 최고 한도에 이르다 * hit one's peak : = reach one's peak 최고[절정]에 이르다 * at the peak of the boom 호경기의 절정에서