I guess you file this under, “Why little Timmy didn’t get a Li’l Tyke fuel refinery for the holidays.”

On the was back from the Ashland Shakespeare festival, we decided to stop at Crater Lake.  (It was beautiful, pix to follow)

Unfortunately, as we got to the rim of the caldera, the low fuel warning

went off.

Unfortunately, it’s HARD to find a gas station in the middle of a National Park.

We FINALLY pulled up to a gas station in Dry Creek (I’m not joking here), Oregon.

Unfortunately, their pumps were dry, and the next nearest station was 27 miles away!

The guy at the gas station, Pablo, was very apologetic, and called his sister to see if sure had a Jerry can of gasoline.

I looked around, and communed with my inner McGiver.

I saw some camping supplies, and looked to see of the had any Coleman fuel (also called white gas), which is gasoline without any additives to boost octane our detergent additives.

No such luck.

I checked the automotive section, and there were two bottles of STP, which could be used to run a cart in a pinch, as long as the engine was warm, but that was about a pint, which wasn’t enough.

While we were waiting for his sister to call back, Pablo looked in in the back shed, and found an old can of Coleman fuel about 3/4 full.

So I added the Coleman fuel, and the two cans of STP, and we managed to coast 28 into Idleyld and pick up some fuel.

One of the reasons to add the STP is that, on addition to dealing with potential contaminants in the old fuel, it’s that out had a lot of methanol in it, and so will to boost the fuel’s octane.

So we made it to the airport on time, (I would have posted it then, but this is when the plane started boarding, and then, after flying overnight, we all slept), dropped off the car, and checked in.

Crater Lake pix to follow.

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