Damn that Hurricane Ike!

[SCJJR65]

Geez, you would have thought it was WWII and gas rationing was in effect around here in upstate SC!  Lines at every gas station in town, everyone trying to get their tank filled up in anticipation of Hurricane Ike destroying the oil platforms in the gulf on its way to Galveston and Houston.  By evening on Friday, nearly every gas station and convenience store in town had pulled their big price tag signs down and put bags over every pump nozzle.  Fortunately, Pattimarie had insisted that we fill up early Friday morning, which we did, paying $3.59 per gallon.  So at least we were able to drive by and smile at the poor souls parked in long ques to get their gas, which by now had gone up to between $4.50 and $5.00 a gallon.

Today after lunch, I had decided to change the oil in Britta (I saw in my log book that the last time I had done it was in August of '07!  I know, shame on me!  ), so I decided to ride her around for a few minutes to get the oil warmed up.  I didn't remember until I took her cover off that I had to put her on reserve the last time I rode her, which was about three weeks ago.  Crap.....

So, guess what I got to do?  That's right, ride around town, looking for a gas station that was open with gas to sell.  I finally found one and took MY place in line behind about 6 cars and trucks, waiting my turn to put in some gas at $4.60 per gallon.  D'oh!!  

[Melena]

Oh oh!  I wonder if it's affected gas prices here in California.  I know I'm really low on gas in my car and need to fill up today or tomorrow.  But California is on a different gasoline forumula.  I guess I'll find out.   :-/

[NC Steve]

There's a Shell station near my office, and I usually pass by there 2-3 times per day.
When I left work Thursday evening, Regular was priced at $3.63.
Friday morning it was at $3.89. By lunchtime, it was up to $4.19, and when I left work around 6:00 it was set at $4.69.

A dollar and 6 cents per gallon in less than 24 hours!!  
Shameful, shameful, shameful.....

[MrRiden]

Oh oh!  I wonder if it's affected gas prices here in California.  I know I'm really low on gas in my car and need to fill up today or tomorrow.  But California is on a different gasoline forumula.  I guess I'll find out.   :-/

You bet Melina! I remember making a gas stop near Big Sur 2 years ago and then the price was $5.00 a gallon. Makes me want to fit a huge tank to Muffy [oh shoot, did I really name my bike that?] and gas before I go. I still firmly believe that the price of gas has more to do with commodity traders than any supply / demand B.S. more drilling won't fix it. I saw where gas in Hotlanta went up to $4.95 from an average of $3.69 in one hour and all they had was drizzle! Damn.
rich
who's' local station is at $3.70

[Melena]

YIKES!  $5 a gallon?    Oh, yeah.  That's Big Sur.  Gas is more along Hwy 1 there in Big Sur as it takes so much to get it there.    It's off the beaten path, you know.  

The last gas I got was $3.95/gal. and that was for the middle grade as my car doesn't like regular.  I tend to put that in my bike too.  I guess I could use Regular.  

Okay, so this is a good question for all of you.  Which grade of gas do you put in your bike?  And why?  Is it because it works better?  Or is because it's cheaper?  (I'm sure no one will say because it's the most expensive.   )

[MrRiden]

Regular in the cool months, middle grade June-Sept. as the high desert heat sometimes makes the engine ping in around town driving. Oh and I'm cheap!
rich

[montmil]

We 'uns in North Texas and the DFW area were forecasted for anywhere from 2" to 6" of rain and winds up to 45-50 mph from Ike's energy. Didn't happen. My little village got less than 0.25" of rain and no winds beyond 20-25.

I spent a pleasant Saturday in the shop tweaking on the Cabriolet. Plan a ride on the R65 later this morning as the sun is shining in clear, calm skies.

Fuel went up 0.25 to 0.30 per gallon yesterday but haven't seen anything today. Filled the 'vert last week for $3.36. Did read of price gouging in the nor'east with regular gas $5.00 and up. Hang the bastids!

We have close family friends who have (had) a beautiful new home in Seabrook, Texas.. near NASA. There home sits (sat) at 8' ASL elevation. Storm surge was over 17 feet ASL. I feel so sorry for them. They cannot even go home for several days. Power out for an estimated 4 million+ residents and estimated to remain out - for individual homes- for up to two weeks or more. Hospitals, fire and police get power first.

Fortunately, our friends are with their family in the land of the Texas Aggies. Hurricanes and Aggies... lord help them  

[Melena]

Monte,

So glad you got missed by that  storm.  Luckily it didn't get quite as bad as it could have.  So sorry about your friends.  That is a hard one.  At least they are okay.

I did go out today and got gas.  It was at $3.85/gal for the middle grade.  That works.  It only took $40 to filll up the tank in my car instead of $50.  (sigh)  At least I only do that every other week.  Thank goodness it wasn't at $5/gal.  I think I would have skipped it and figured out how to walk to work.  

[Sunbeem]

Hope you folks are enjoying your cheap gas, in England we're paying around $12 per gallon.

Sunbeem.

[montmil]

Hope you folks are enjoying your cheap gas, in England we're paying around $12 per gallon. Sunbeem.

But you don't have to drive for ten hours just to get to the Gulf Coast and fresh shrimp!  

We'll be drilling in the Alaskan oil patch soon enough. Why we trade with the same nation that funds Osama and others is beyond my simple comprehension.  [smiley=wall.gif]

[not-so-fast-ed]

Mine too, Monte...... [smiley=1drink.gif]

[NC Steve]

I had to stop on the way home tonight to tank up the Civic, and I hit 4 stations before I could find gasoline period! The last one was advertising Regular @ $3.66, but they were out of Reg. and Plus, so I once again had to fill up on Premium, at $3.91. From there, I rode on home listening to a report on NPR about the number of stations running out of gas, with owners having no idea when they'd get more.

High prices are one thing, but having no gas a'tall in an entirely different matter.
For those of us who have no other choice but to commute some distance to work, this could become a real problem if the refineries don't get back online soon... :-/

[nhmaf]

I guess that I don't understand the problem with gas lines, overnight price hikes of more than 10 cents per day, etc....   We are NOT seeing these things up here in New Hampshire.
The price of gasoline has gone up a bit, but we're still at less than $3.65 / gallon, and there is plenty of gas at all the stations with no lines or hording going on...  We are about as
far away from the fuel refineries as one can get, too.    Folks in Massachusetts are also apparently having issues, but I think that the majority of the problems are related to local hysteria about a possible gas-crisis becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy -> everyone is scared about fuel shortages so they all go out and buy more fuel, result = fuel shortage and localized price gouging.
What are ya'll doing down south to cause such a ruckus ?
 :-/

[msbuck]

It's my understanding that there is a pipeline that supplies the southeast US that is not at full capacity because of the refineries that were shut down for the hurricane.  There is a limited supply that the major companies seem to have control over.  The independent dealers are not getting their share because these companies are supplying the corporate dealers first.  

But what do I know...?  

[Ed Miller]

No problems here in Oregon.  I don't watch the prices so don't know if they changed.