On our trip down the Eyre Peninsula we were planning on visiting Tumby Bay until Woody suddenly realises that we are low on fuel and this being Sunday it isn’t worth the risk leaving the highway (it’s sometimes easy to forget that not everyone has 24 hour trading). We press on grimly, calculating the car’s DTE, Distance To Empty versus the Kms to Arrival on the GPS. Of course, we’re punching into a head wind with the caravan on the back. I’m trying to keep our mates The Prado’s informed of our situation but can’t reach them on the CB when a Liberty servo comes into view and Woody blissfully sails past, muttering something about being able to do better than that price! At this point I blow a gasket. The car is so low on fuel that it has stopped telling us the DTE and there is a red light flashing Low Fuel, Low Fuel! Eventually we limp into Port Lincoln and a service station, only to learn that the Liberty that we had passed is actually the cheapest in the whole district. The Prado’s behind us can’t raise us on the CB and are wondering what on earth is going on. Then Elle discovers that their CB is on Channel 39 not 40. Another fun day on the road.
I still can’t get out of the erroneous belief that you should drive as fast as possible in these circumstances, to get to the nest filling station quicker!
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Ha ha. Don’t worry we weren’t hurrying!
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I can relate to that! I hate that feeling of the fuel guage dropping faster than the “kilometres left to travel” indicator. These days I apply the “dollar cost averaging” theory and top up as soon as the tank hits half way. Sometimes I win on price, and sometimes I lose, but on average I do OK. And I’m not atressed!
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Best way to go. Especially when the wind is being unreasonable.
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And then there’s the time you get to a servo in a small place a long way from anywhere else, only to find thay have no diesel because a few big tag-a-long tours have come through, and the fuel tanker isn’t due for a few more days……..
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Oh good one! I’ll bet you got to know that town well.
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It was Halls Creek! Enough said….
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Oh dear, we were given a Coles discount voucher there and the nearest one was in Broome. That left us scratching our heads.
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In the late 1960s I actually ran out of petrol right on Piccadilly Circus. I trotted off with a can. When I returned the car, unmolested, was still there. Imagine how long it would last today.
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And how far you’d have to go to find fuel. I’ll bet the petrol station is long gone.
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I’ll bet. It must have been some way, even then
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That day wasn’t too bad only 266kms. Though we all wished that he’d mentioned fuel earlier in the day as we passed through a few small towns. 🙂
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I’m now laughing out loud!
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I wasn’t!!!
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So glad you made it! I had to laugh!
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It’s all about the coasting. 🙂
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I’d be much happier with a lot less coasting thank you! 🙂
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Oh yes, been there done that, travelling in the outback on an almost deserted road with the warning light flashing and heart in mouth. Thank goodness you made it. Had to chuckle when you discovered the price was cheaper way back down the road. Done that too!!!
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Ah the joys of travel….
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