A cautionary tale about the perils of red-lining one's gasoline supply in far, far northwestern British Columbia.

On Thursday, I'm heading from Masset down to Tlell to hike the Pesuta trail.

I'm low on gas, but I figure, what the heck -- I'll gas up in Port Clements.

I arrive in Port Clements just as my gas gauge starts screaming "low fuel! low fuel!"

And upon pulling up at the Gas Plus pumps, I see a sign saying "out of gas."

Oh dear.

"This place is going under," said the apologetic clerk. "We can't afford to buy any more gas."

I phone the rental company and explain I'm in a low fuel situation. I ask if I can realistically make it back up to Masset.

"You could try," offered the guy.

Yes, I suppose I could. However, I was hoping that the guy could give a reasonable estimate of the probability of my doing so successfully.

Fortunately, the good people of O'Brien Road and Bridge, a contracting company, were able to sell me some gas, thus averting a crisis. They charged $25 for 17 litres, or about $1.50 per litre.

Now, during the course of my conversation with the car rental guy, I told him about the Port Clements problem. "They hardly ever have gas," he told me offhandedly.

Oh REALLY?!?! Do you think that would be useful information to volunteer to your customers, buddy?

Agghh!!

So I top up when I return to Masset, and it only cost me ... $1.767 per litre!!

Thank God oil prices are dropping! :)

Afternote

Gas in Masset was down to $1.689 per litre on Saturday. But on Friday night, it was $1.515 in Skidegate.

I got to the Skidegate Esso at 9:03 p.m. The lights and pumps were still on. "We're closed," said the sullen young clerk.

Afternote 2

I typed the first part of this posting out using Internet access in the Queen Charlotte Islands Visitors Centre in Queen Charlotte. I mentioned this story to some people.

One woman, who operated a local gift shop (Funk It On The Beach), burst out laughing ... before suggesting this was a chronic problem in the little logging town. The centre's staff sheepishly agreed that perhaps the dearth of gas there would be useful information to share with tourists.

The guy from whom I rented the cabin also allowed that this Port Clements situation was a known known, if I can paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld.

Ever get the feeling you're the last to know? :)