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The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 10:33:57 AM

Title: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 10:33:57 AM
I'm driving my son down to Liberty University for their College For A Weekend event tomorrow -- about 700 miles total roundtrip (NJ to Lynchburg, VA). He's staying there until Sunday and my husband is picking him up. Wish us well -- hope I don't get us lost!

You all are going to laugh at me but the most nerve wracking part is going to be getting gas out of state!  I don't know how many years it's been since I've had to pump gas. 10? 15? 20 even? I'll be standing at the pump going "Duhhhh???"   :loser:  :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: seahorse513 on April 10, 2013, 10:39:59 AM
Do you have gps on your cell phone. or a GPS in the car?? Maps work well too. Mapquest is usually reliable. Good luck, you'll be fine!!
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: Dori on April 10, 2013, 10:44:55 AM
I'm driving my son down to Liberty University for their College For A Weekend event tomorrow -- about 700 miles total roundtrip (NJ to Lynchburg, VA). He's staying there until Sunday and my husband is picking him up. Wish us well -- hope I don't get us lost!

You all are going to laugh at me but the most nerve wracking part is going to be getting gas out of state!  I don't know how many years it's been since I've had to pump gas. 10? 15? 20 even? I'll be standing at the pump going "Duhhhh???"   :loser:  :-)

A couple years ago I drove over a thousand miles round trip.  It was mostly enjoyable except for a few long stretches.  Just take your time and enjoy it.  How is the weather looking?   :)

The pump isn't hard.  Just be sure you know where your gas cap is.  When I bought my car I didn't realize you had to unlock it from the inside, and couldn't find the switch.  Had to call someone.   :thatsright:




Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: EagleKeeper on April 10, 2013, 10:48:24 AM
http://gasbuddy.com/Trip_Calculator.aspx
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: zeitgeist on April 10, 2013, 11:16:04 AM
A couple years ago I drove over a thousand miles round trip.  It was mostly enjoyable except for a few long stretches.  Just take your time and enjoy it.  How is the weather looking?   :)

The pump isn't hard.  Just be sure you know where your gas cap is.  When I bought my car I didn't realize you had to unlock it from the inside, and couldn't find the switch.  Had to call someone.   :thatsright:






And on the newer cars the gas gage has a little gas pump on it which shows which side the fill pipe is on so you can pull in to the correct side of the pump.   A piece of handy automotive trivia. 
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 11:28:45 AM
No GPS but I've got google map directions all printed out. I'm going to be on I-95 for most of it so that's easy.  Thanks for the trip calculator link, EagleKeeper.  Looks like I'll be able to make it all the way down to Lynchburg or almost all the way on one tank!

My tank doesn't lock so there's no switch for the cap.  I'll just have to let anyone know who pulls up behind me that they may want to pick another pump as I'm just a dunce from NJ and don't know what I'm doing!  :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: CG6468 on April 10, 2013, 11:45:49 AM
No GPS but I've got google map directions all printed out. I'm going to be on I-95 for most of it so that's easy.  Thanks for the trip calculator link, EagleKeeper.  Looks like I'll be able to make it all the way down to Lynchburg or almost all the way on one tank!

My tank doesn't lock so there's no switch for the cap.  I'll just have to let anyone know who pulls up behind me that they may want to pick another pump as I'm just a dunce from NJ and don't know what I'm doing!  :-)

It's not a lock with a key. It's a little lever in the car, often alongside the driver's seat, the releases the gas filler tube door.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: IassaFTots on April 10, 2013, 12:16:18 PM
I can't imagine having someone always get my gas for me.  That seems so....ritzy? 

My step-mom lives in Woodbridge, if you need emergency gas, she could meet you out off the hwy.   :wink:

Make your son do it, tell him it's a life lesson.   :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 12:17:16 PM
It's not a lock with a key. It's a little lever in the car, often alongside the driver's seat, the releases the gas filler tube door.

I apparently don't have that lever as the attendant just opens the gas tank door and unscrews the cap without my doing anything.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 12:22:09 PM
I can't imagine having someone always get my gas for me.  That seems so....ritzy? 

My step-mom lives in Woodbridge, if you need emergency gas, she could meet you out off the hwy.   :wink:

Make your son do it, tell him it's a life lesson.   :-)

 :rotf:

I can see where it seems like a luxury not to have to pump it yourself but it certainly comes in handy when the weather sucks! When I lived in Ohio, I got used to it but that was in the late 80s.  I remember my MIL, who lived in OH, asked me once if I needed to give the attendant a tip (the answer is No).
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: IassaFTots on April 10, 2013, 12:26:09 PM
:rotf:

I can see where it seems like a luxury not to have to pump it yourself but it certainly comes in handy when the weather sucks! When I lived in Ohio, I got used to it but that was in the late 80s.  I remember my MIL, who lived in OH, asked me once if I needed to give the attendant a tip (the answer is No).

I have driven through NJ before, but I guess we never stopped for gas, and if we did, I just don't recall.  That just seems so foreign. Why do they do that? 
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 01:16:13 PM
I have driven through NJ before, but I guess we never stopped for gas, and if we did, I just don't recall.  That just seems so foreign. Why do they do that? 

A safety law that's been on the books forever.  Every once in a while, it shows up as a ballot question during an election year to repeal it and gets soundly defeated.  We hate pumping our own gas here!  :-)  I think Oregon is the same way also.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: Eupher on April 10, 2013, 01:23:02 PM
A safety law that's been on the books forever.  Every once in a while, it shows up as a ballot question during an election year to repeal it and gets soundly defeated.  We hate pumping our own gas here!  :-)  I think Oregon is the same way also.

Yeah, I had the opposite problem in Oregon back in 2004 when I pulled up to a gas station, got out to pump my gas, and some guy damn near tackled me to keep me from doing it.

WTF? What are you doing, buddy? He said, "You can't pump your own gas." I said, "WTF are you talking about? OF COURSE I can pump my own gas, you idjit! Whaddya think I am? Lame or crippled or an idiot?"

Eventually it became clear it was a state law that you can't pump your own gas.

Personally, I think it's just another nanny-state thing. As long as the government is dictating, freedom dies.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: BlueStateSaint on April 10, 2013, 01:29:12 PM
I apparently don't have that lever as the attendant just opens the gas tank door and unscrews the cap without my doing anything.

If that's the case, then pushing on one side of the gas cap filler door should open the door, IIRC.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: CG6468 on April 10, 2013, 02:11:27 PM
What's the make, model and year of your wheels, Sue?
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: J P Sousa on April 10, 2013, 02:18:17 PM
Yeah, I had the opposite problem in Oregon back in 2004 when I pulled up to a gas station, got out to pump my gas, and some guy damn near tackled me to keep me from doing it.

WTF? What are you doing, buddy? He said, "You can't pump your own gas." I said, "WTF are you talking about? OF COURSE I can pump my own gas, you idjit! Whaddya think I am? Lame or crippled or an idiot?"

Eventually it became clear it was a state law that you can't pump your own gas.

Personally, I think it's just another nanny-state thing. As long as the government is dictating, freedom dies.

The  interesting thing is, New Jersey's gas tax is very low if they even have one.
.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 02:21:06 PM
What's the make, model and year of your wheels, Sue?

It's a 2006 Ford Focus (sedan) with a 5 speed manual transmission.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: J P Sousa on April 10, 2013, 02:21:27 PM
No GPS but I've got google map directions all printed out. I'm going to be on I-95 for most of it so that's easy.  Thanks for the trip calculator link, EagleKeeper.  Looks like I'll be able to make it all the way down to Lynchburg or almost all the way on one tank!

My tank doesn't lock so there's no switch for the cap.  I'll just have to let anyone know who pulls up behind me that they may want to pick another pump as I'm just a dunce from NJ and don't know what I'm doing!  :-)

Let me know how you make out on I-95. The last time I used 95 I was "parked" on the part that goes around Washington for about 30 minutes.  :argh:
.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 02:25:36 PM
The  interesting thing is, New Jersey's gas tax is very low if they even have one.
.

The gas tax has been the same since 1988.  10.5 cents a gallon, 3rd lowest in US

Let me know how you make out on I-95. The last time I used 95 I was "parked" on the part that goes around Washington for about 30 minutes.  :argh:
.

Oh I fully expect the same, both going and coming back.  There's never a "good" time to try to get around DC  :argh:
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 02:28:34 PM
I don't mind this bit of nanny-statism, Eupher.  I'd just as soon not smell like gas  :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: CG6468 on April 10, 2013, 02:28:54 PM
It's a 2006 Ford Focus (sedan) with a 5 speed manual transmission.

Gee. I thought that would have had such a release for the gas door.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: CG6468 on April 10, 2013, 02:29:54 PM
I don't mind this bit of nanny-statism, Eupher.  I'd just as soon not smell like gas  :-)

You don't want an "aura" around you?  :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: njpines on April 10, 2013, 02:33:17 PM
Gee. I thought that would have had such a release for the gas door.

It's probably what BSS wrote earlier -- "pushing on one side of the gas cap filler door should open the door". I'll test it out.

You don't want an "aura" around you?  :-)

Yeah, not so much!  :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: zeitgeist on April 10, 2013, 05:08:24 PM
It's probably what BSS wrote earlier -- "pushing on one side of the gas cap filler door should open the door". I'll test it out.

Yeah, not so much!  :-)

Essence of Ethyl doesn't do it for ya?  :whistling: You can use disposable vinyl gloves if it really bugs you or just carry a small bottle  of hand sanitizer in the door pocket.
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: BattleHymn on April 10, 2013, 05:13:41 PM
A safety law that's been on the books forever.  Every once in a while, it shows up as a ballot question during an election year to repeal it and gets soundly defeated.  We hate pumping our own gas here!  :-)  I think Oregon is the same way also.

So....how do you put gas in your lawnmower?  Or your weed trimmer?  Or your chainsaw?   :-)
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: IassaFTots on April 10, 2013, 09:31:04 PM
So....how do you put gas in your lawnmower?  Or your weed trimmer?  Or your chainsaw?   :-)

Right!  I just don't get it!
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: BattleHymn on April 10, 2013, 10:47:06 PM
Right!  I just don't get it!

I'm stubborn.  If I lived in NJ, which I wouldn't, but if I did, I'd have them pump my gas into a gasoline container (old style, not the EPA-approved nozzle that sucks), and then pour THAT into my vehicle, right there.

Any laws against that?
Title: Re: Road Trip Tomorrow
Post by: Eupher on April 11, 2013, 03:32:52 PM
I'm stubborn.  If I lived in NJ, which I wouldn't, but if I did, I'd have them pump my gas into a gasoline container (old style, not the EPA-approved nozzle that sucks), and then pour THAT into my vehicle, right there.

Any laws against that?

 :cheersmate:

h5