About twenty-two years ago, while I was living in Vancouver Washington, a friend of mine and I decided to go to Tenino WA., near Olympia to observe and possibly take part in a sky-diving event.
Our mode of transporation was our Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
It was summer and the weather was great, perfect for a nice putt and jumping out of an airplane.
After observing only, we left the airfield and headed for the nearest watering hole.
On our way to the second tavern, my friend blew a generator.
There was no Harley shop around Tnino so I called a friend in Longview WA., which is about forty miles north of Vancouver. She went to a shop and got the parts we needed and brought them to us.
After repairing his scooter we headed for Longview and a party, which is another story. My friend wasn't really programmed to party so he left before me and headed back to Vancouver.
Now on to the subject of this story...
Hours later I'm finally on my way home to Vancouver when my bike started coughing. I immediately knew what the problem was. I had forgotten to gas up before I left Longview. Hell, I'd been having too much fun.
I knew there was an exit down the road that had a service station, restaurant, etc. I started weaving from side to side in order to get what gas I had left in the tank to get me to the service station. Of course it was closed. No problem, I'd just go to each pump and drain the gas that is usually left in the hose when the pump is turned off.
I didn't find out if there was any gas left in the hoses or not because the nozzles were all padlocked to the pumps.
I think I'm starting to get a taste of Murphy's Law?
My next plan of attack was to go to the restaurant which was open all night and see if I could buy some gas from one of the customers or employees.
One thing I'd like to mention is that I was not dressed like the stereotyped person that would be riding a Harley. I was wearing the type of clothes I would wear to work; tan boots, levi's, heavy shirt and a navy foul-weather jacket. To top off my ensemble, a black knit cap like a lot of commercial fishermen wear.
When I entered the restaurant I announced that I'd run out of gas and would like to buy some if I could. Two guys got up, came over, and said they could help. I told them I didn't have a hose or a can for siphoning gas. Hey, no problem. Riiiight!
When we got outside they asked me which car was mine. I then pointed across the street and told them I was riding the Harley parked at the service station. Should have been riding a Honda that night.
The next thing I heard was, "Sorry, I don't know if I have enough gas to spare and get home myself." Sure! I went back to the restaurant and asked again if anyone had a little gas to spare. No response, and being on unfriendly Harley ground I decided it was best to leave without expressing my gratitude.
Back at the service station I sat on my scoot hoping a friendly, gratutitous person would pull in from the interstate for coffee and sell me some gas.
After sitting for a while my eyes focused on the rubber hose that makes the bell ring when you run over it with a car. At that point I knew I'd be home in less than an hour and had just found a new use for my Buck knife.
Seconds later I had my very own 6' siphon hose. My gas tank was too high to siphon directly from one of the cars parked at the station, but in the back of an old pickup I found a hubcap to use as a container to put the gas in and then transfer it to my bike.
Needless to say I was looking over my shoulder while doing this and to my surprise I didn't get too much gas on my bike while pouring it from the hubcap.
I only took about a gallon of gas from the car, but for a long time I kind of felt bad about cutting the 6' chunk from the middle of the service station's hose... but not bad enough to ever leave home on a putt without my hose wrapped around my waist or in my pack.
About 1 1/2 or 2 years later when I parted with that scooter, I sold it at a reasonable price and of course I threw in the hose at no extra charge.

By Hatziman
The "Ludwig Drummer"

Return to Main Contributions Page