I learned to carry at least 5 gallons of fuel with me on trips
I was on I-20 in Texas, driving West in Abilene, my coffee cup was more than 1/2 full, so i did not look at my fuel gauge.
I entered Big Spring & it smells bad of refining Oil, so i continued on to Midland & Odessa, while in Odessa, i looked at my fuel gauge.
The last turn off in Odessa didn't have a gas station.
I saw a sign announcing next fuel x amount of miles ahead in Monahans
My fuel gauge was low, but no low fuel light, had a choice, illegally cut across the center divide & go back to a fuel station in Odessa or go on to Monahans.
Well i chose Monahans & that fuel station was boarded up
Pecos was the next town & the town looked abandoned
My low fuel light was on & i knew that there was no town until I-10, at least i knew that I-10 had 2 or 3 times as much traffic on it, If i ran out of fuel, someone would surely stop because it was August.
Van Horn was the next town & i knew there were several gas stations there, but i could never reach there.
I noticed an off ramp ahead & spotted a single building
The ramp was only 1/2 paved & there was a cattle crossing guard & then a run down gas station. I would never use the coffee area it was very dirty, so was everything around the property.
I got $10 worth of fuel & hoped to get to Van Horn.
That $10 only got me part way & luckily there was another hole in the wall station, again all by itself, again with over priced fuel.
I made it to Van Horn & filled up & refreshed my coffee.
After that trip i carried jugs of fuel & i make it a point to stop in Van Horn & Sweetwater near Abilene for fuel