One thing to read about it; quite another to see it. Gasoline prices posted today in Needles, California — $3.199.
NewMexiKen, who can open the refrigerator and not remember why, remembers the first time I ever paid a dollar for a gallon of gasoline. It was in June 1979 in Barstow, California (999 cents to be precise). The first time I ever paid more than two dollars for a gallon was in May 2003 in — you guessed it — Barstow, California ($2.299).
So, heading west today from Needles I’m thinking surely gas will be three dollars or more in Barstow and I can complete a gasoline sticker shock trifecta. As I crossed the Mojave Desert against a strong headwind, however, mileage dropped and 45 miles from Barstow the gasoline warning light came on. What to do? How many miles can I go with the light on? Thirty? Forty? Fifty?
After about 35 miles I began to panic. Running out of gas in these modern fuel-injected cars is no picnic. I give up on the Barstow triple treat (I’m thinking photos, etc.) and exit I-40 at Daggett, ten miles from my objective.
Guess what? Despite the sign, there’s no gasoline for sale in Daggett (which isn’t much of a place). After asking a kid, I follow his directions for almost as far as if I had stayed on I-40. I finally find gasoline in Daggett (at I-15, not I-40). 38 miles since the warning light came on (I had at least a gallon left).
But it was “only” $2.479.
And so… did you then head for Barstow and the trifecta?
No, gasoline prices that I saw ran from about $2.50 to $2.90 in Barstow. Needles seems to have been the anomaly ? for now.
Perhaps on the way back?
I, on the other hand, could not tell you how much I’ve paid for gas (per gallon), ever. They say ignorance is bliss (and they don’t even drive SUVs 300 miles a week).
I agree with Jason – I don’t even look at the price of gas. It will just make my head hurt and start me on a tirade and who needs that aggravation?
I remember refusing to pay $1.00 a gallon on our honeymoon in June, 1979, not too far from Yosemite in California. I should have coughed-up the $$ for at least a couple gallons, though, because, after that, there were no other stations for a very long time, and we nearly had to run on fumes as we came frightfully close to running out.
I admit I do pay attention to the price, but only in order to get the best deal I can. I’ve seen it differ by as much as a dime to a quarter per gallon from one place to the next–sometimes at places right across the street from each other.
Just be glad you don’t buy gasoline in Bulgaria at $4.00 a gallon.