The vagabond, when rich, is called a tourist.

-- Paul Richard

High gas prices may cut short many vacations this summer.

And it makes me wonder if anyone ever just decides to "vacation" here in town?

You know: check into a local motel. Swim in its pool. Eat at a nearby restaurant.

Maybe we could set up an exchange.

People from Aiken could come over to Augusta's hotels, while Augustans went over to enjoy Aiken's for a few days.

If you're looking for local sights to see, listen to these readers.

Tom Sutherland , of Augusta, suggests: The Morris Museum of Art, Augusta Museum of History, Woodrow Wilson boyhood home, Fort Discovery, Confederate Powderworks Chimney, ASU campus, Telfair Street from the Amanda America Dickson House to Ware's Folly, the old Richmond Academy building, the neo-classical old Medical College, First Presbyterian church, and Saint Patrick's (Church of the Holy Trinity), North Augusta Living History Park and Sacred Heart Cultural Center.

Shirley H. Whitaker , of Appling, writes: "At the top of our list is Old Kiokee Church on Tubman Road near Appling. ... The architecture of the church and the cemetery there are magnificent."

Finally, there was this recollection sent in by Tom Parker , now of Garland, Texas:

"When I was growing up in North Augusta, we would take our relatives who came visiting us to some places. One summer evening in the late '60s, we drove by the Augusta National. The gate at Magnolia Lane was open and there was no guard in sight, so we drove down Magnolia Lane, circled the flagpole and then drove out. Absolutely true story."

(Tom, we don't do that anymore.)

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GAS GAME: Gas has hit $4 nationally and is getting really close in Augusta, according to the AAA Web site. Our gas game continues with 62 of you still in the running. Predicting local regular will hit $4 a gallon today are: Mildred Napier , Sherra Holden , Beverly Nelson and Bram Collins .

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TODAY'S JOKE: An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years.

He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100 percent.

The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again."

The gentleman replied, "Oh, I have not told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I have changed my will three times!"