I ran out of gas on the way home from work today.
Heard the ping and saw the light go on as I arrived at UC Davis this morning.
Came out to the car this evening and was on the phone to a colleague, noticed it again and thought
"I must stop on the way home."
Then my boss called, so I spoke to him for a bit, and then called
juana b. to catch up on goings on in his family. Needless to say the need for petrol suddenly slipped my mind until I ran out, at 65mph in the fastlane of I-80 around Hercules.
![Dunce :dunce: :dunce:](/wp-content/themes/gtp16/images/smilies/dunce.svg)
Put the hazard warning lights on and coasted to a stop in the emergency lane, on an upslope.
![Dopey :dopey: :dopey:](/wp-content/themes/gtp16/images/smilies/dopey.svg?v=3)
You'll have to ask
juana b. what I said because it's not suitable for posting here!
Called the fleet management company that is responsible for the car (it's a company vehicle) and was just getting them to arrange to have a rescue vehicle sent out, when one of the California Highway Patrol rescue vehicles pulled up behind me.
Was embarassed to say I'd run out of fuel, but he said that's no problem and he would give me a gallon to get me on my way again safely.
When I asked about the charge for it, he said there wasn't any and it's part of CHP service to get non-seriously disabled vehicles moving again. 👍
A mighty fine job they do too!
Couldn't start the car though... Being on an upslope, all the gas ran to the back of the tank and the fuel pump wouldn't prime. Was just getting ready to be towed along the emergency lane to a flatter spot when he had a great idea. Grabbed the huge trolley-jack from the back of the rescue truck and jacked the back of the car up so it was practically level. Fired up right away after that!
Thanks again CHP!