With the advance of technology one thing disappeared (well a lot of things disappeared) but there is this one thing in particular and that was the little bell that dinged every time a gallon of fuel went into the tank. I kind of miss that. But then again, I am an old coot, and I miss a lot of things. It makes me think of that movie,
“It’s A Wonderful Life” where Jimmy Stewart’s tells his little girl,
“every time a bell rings an Angel gets his wings.”
Now days when I stand there next to my pig iron pony and I watch a gallon go down the chute, I think of that, in my mind I hear the little bell and I think to myself .... “Another Oil Executive just died.” Hey it works for me
Most of the noise on the boards here lately seems to be about the diesel situation, as usual, everyone is up in arms, desperately seeking a solution to the fuel issue. Bus Boards are an interesting haunt on a slow day, every conceivable idea or thought in the world can often be found there. But the bottom line is ... Aint much you can do about it. My Daddy used to refer to this as
“Tilting At Windmills” or in other words,
“deal with it.” What is the big deal, you have to pay, there is no alternative, why get all worked up about it?
Several people have inquired of me,
“What does your bus do on fuel (MPG)?” I just kind of shrug it off. Why bother to talk about it or figure it, doesn't change anything, you still have to pay them to fill up. Regardless of what it costs.
Which brings us to Bio-Fuel ... Which is a good deal “locally” but I don’t do a lot of bus traveling locally. I like the road. My hat is off to those resourceful folks who know how to refine it and all that, good for you. But it isn’t going to work for me. Some of it is pretty off the wall ... I like this
“stop along the way and ask restaurants for their used waste oil" so that you can make this magic elixir that is going to get you down the road dirt cheap.
The last thing, the absolute very last thing I want to do on a trip, is cook up some witches brew out of a fifty gallon drum to get me down the road less than 300 miles. Okies already have a bad reputation, no sense in expanding on that by begging for french-fry residue at a fast food joint. Fuel might be high, but I certainly do not have the discretionary income available
“to hire a tanker to go along with me” on a trip to the frozen tundra. Just kind of unrealistic in the scope of things. I have stopped at Willies in Waco, he sells bio-diesel, but I did not buy any. The food however is exceptional, good place to eat, if you are in the neighborhood.
Here is another one that caught my interest. Aux. fuel tanks.
I get a kick out of these folks who are going
"to install a 100 gallon aux. fuel tank" to make it to the cheaper fuel. First off, a 100 gallon tank is a pretty good sized item, where you gonna put it? Secondly,
"there is no such thing as cheaper fuel" not anymore there isn't. You might make it to a different location, but it is not going to be cheaper, lower in price possibly, but it is still going to be expensive.
For the record, we run about a 65 gallon tank (pulled her washer out to install that awhile back, and then the (ahem)
discussion started) it is in the last bay, and we top it off at about 60 gallons, that is all you need.
Our lifestyle will change now, I am sure. First off. We are going to adhere to the "half-tank rule." A long time ago, outside or Birmingham Alabama, I ran out of fuel and it cost us a lot of money to fix all that went wrong with the coach trying to stretch it to a fuel stop (missed by 4 miles is all). Now we buy it at a half of tank, regardless.
It doesn't seem to hurt as much that way either, just hand them two or three 100's and top it off or try and get as close to the top as you can. Run another 400 miles, do it all over .... makes you stop at least once per day for fuel somewhere too. 85 gallons opposed to 225 gallons will make a big difference in
my attitude let me tell you.
Screw the oil companies! We are not stopping traveling in this fashion, we love it, and will continue. We may not do as much as before, but then again, it is time to slow down and enjoy life anyway. Today finds us a little used up and slowly moving into in our sunset years. The wife and I, like a lot of you, find ourselves basking in the glow of it all, albeit somewhat cranky at times, the senior years. For now, the most immediate change I can think of is, I am going to cease bitching and complaining about it, just go on with the game plan and take my lumps, like everyone else.
My bride asked me just yesterday,
"What are you going to say to them in Cody, Wyoming next August, when they bring up the topic of fuel?" (and they will ... trust me) I just smiled my toothy smile and said,
"I will just tell them this ... If you cannot run with the Big Dogs, best to stay on the porch" and then just leave it there.
Buy the way, you need to get up there, lot to do and see in Cody, Wyoming. Neat place. The Bus Club has a link;
http://www.eaglesinternational.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2069&sid=cee911814aedf62909dd6c328495b3b5 I could not find one here, but I am sure they might list it here as the date becomes near.
We worked way too hard to build it, get it into roadworthy shape and good condition to just sell it off because of things out of our control. We don’t have a lawn, so making a lawn ornament out of it is not a viable option. Nope. We are keeping ours, they can deal with it at the Estate Sale.
Too much emphasis on the money here lately, most everyone wants to talk about what it costs, the ultimate expense of it all. It is all relative, just depends on how you look at it.
Fly from New York to Seattle, load up on a Cruise ship, do Alaska for two weeks or so. Ride the train in Yellow Horse, do the Yukon thing, Dawson the whole nine yards. Fly back home and show everyone the slides and the trinkets. Then add it all up ... About the same as fuel, who knows, maybe more? Works the same way with Hawaii, Miami, just about anywhere else.No free lunch in this country ... If you want to dance you have to pay for the band.
See you in the fast lane ... We might not be stylin on the boulevard as much as before ... but we are still going to be out there.
BCO
