The Black Bullet popped and stopped on the path this morning, with a comic 'chuffing' noise. A squint into the tank confirmed that it was out of gas. I pulled on the reserve slider which came right out in my hand - all a bit slapstick for first thing in the morning. It seemed to go back in okay but I’m a bit pissed off about this, it was the first thing I changed on the bike and it wasn’t a cheap replacement.
Luckily the plastic can I keep fuel in for the garden machinery had enough to get me to the petrol station in town. I say ‘luckily’ but the truth is I never drain it to the last unless I'm going into town straight afterwards, and I can refill it. Then if something runs out unexpectedly, there's always a little left. I'm forgetful, so I have to have rules like this to keep things moving.
Some of the Iceland travel advice I read over the weekend, which put me in such a funk [TBB 5.6], noted large distances between filling stations. I have no idea what the range is here so I put a full tank in, at 145 miles covered, we will see how far this takes me (no fuel gauge, of course). There will be mpg data out there for this model but who knows what the truth is after all the wear and tear and recent carb tinkering, and my riding style of course. I might need to install a rack and jerry can arrangement to make this trip.
The petrol station woman was interested in the bike, because her son would have been if he‘d been there. Her daughter popped a gum bubble and stared disinterestedly out of the window. I’ve begun to note people's reactions. It’s an unusual sight this bike and even if you don’t know anything about it, or care, it pops and bangs like Christmas. Some people, though, seem oblivious.
A curious side effect of this burgeoning interest is that I look into peoples’ faces as I go along. I hope I don’t look so bored and unhappy so much of the time. The only guy who smiles unreservedly every day, collects trolleys at the supermarket. What’s his secret? I know what you're thinking but maybe he’s on some huge natural high, so stuffed with goodwill that he just had to get a job facing some of the most miserable people on the planet. ‘Come on everybody,’ his smile says, ‘at least you’ve got choices’.
