Tough economy hurts holiday travel plans
Santa's not the only one readying a sleigh.
Mady Kawahara of Yuba City bought plane tickets to the Los Angeles area a month ago. She plans to fly out of Sacramento International Airport tonight and arrive in Ontario to see family.
"When you live far away, you cherish the times you get to be together," she said.
Kawahara will be one of 92 million Americans who will travel more than 50 miles from home for Christmas, a 1.4 percent increase from last year, according to the American Automobile Association.
Travelers should be able to take advantage of similar conditions over the next couple days, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.
Most drivers gassing up their cars at the Yuba City AM/PM mini-mart on Colusa Avenue planned on staying home for the holidays and weren't expecting any callers from out of town.
Renee Cambra of Colusa is staying put, but would normally haul her family down to Hayward to visit with in-laws. The cost of gas, however, has kept the family at home the last couple years. Driving to Hayward and back costs about $80, Cambra said.
"It's a fortune," she added as she filled up her SUV.
Sharon Schroeder, too, is staying in Yuba City when she'd rather be at her daughter's house in Long Beach. It's there she normally meets her family, including her son from Maryland. No one has the money to fly across the country or even across the state, however, she said.
"It'll be fine," Schroeder said, saying she was trying not to cry. "There's always next year."
Richard Kramer already drove the 830 miles from his home in Blaine, Wash., to his second home in Plumas Lake. He set out last week on Thursday night, arrived Friday afternoon and plans to stay till Dec. 30 or so. He makes the trip to see his two daughters who live in the Yuba-Sutter area, and his 6-year-old granddaughter, his only grandchild.
"We like to spend Christmas with her," he said.
The drive to get to Plumas Lake was good. There was a little fog, but no traffic or snow.
Other travelers should be able to take advantage of similar conditions over the next couple days, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.
Forecasters predict light fog will blanket the area with temperatures bottoming in the high 20s to mid 30s and capping in the high 50s to low 60s.
CONTACT reporter Jonathan Edwards at 749-4780.
