Day nine: Running on Empty

Day nine of the adventure.  The exciting part is done. I have crossed the great plains, ridden the Million Dollar Highway, been to the top of the world in the Rocky Mountain National Park, shared lanes with bison in Yellowstone and conquered the Beartooth Pass. 


How was your week?

I am now heading back east, towards family, towards home.  It is downhill from here.  However, I have a few more stops before we get there. 

The next destination is Custer’s Last Stand.  There is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and museum there.  It brings back memories of prior trips.  It is a destination and diversion out in the great northern plains.  There is not really much else of interest, just wide open spaces, in the area.  My parents took me there on one of our early family vacations.  I may have passed by or stopped in either by myself in 1980 or on a trip to Yellowstone in 1990.

The parking lot is composed of about 70 percent motorcycles.  The bikes are out in force the closer I get to Sturgis.   It is vacation time for hundreds of thousands of Americans who ride motorcycles.

A ranger gives a fascinating talk on the battle.  A lot of things went wrong for General Custer.  He was despised by many which led to his death.  Part of his plan was to ride into the Indian camp and grab some women and children to use as hostages.  He had used this technique in the past to subdue and kill Indians.  He was beaten back by the Indians when he tried it here.  Although another troop could hear the gunshots, they did not come to his aid.  He and his men were wiped out.

I enjoyed my time at the park.  I like learning.  Time to head back on the road.  Destination, the Black Hills and Sturgis. 

One thing I will need to get me there is gasoline.  My machine is getting very low.  There is a large gas station and tourist store right next to the park.  I pull in but the gas pumps are all torn up as they are being repaired.  No gas here.  Surely there will be gas nearby

I am somewhat concerned at that point.. 

So off I go.  I get back on I-90 and head towards Wyoming.  There may have been some more businesses near the monument but I did not see any so I kept going.

As I noted before there is lots of space in Montana and not many people.  In addition to not many people there are not many exits.  One notices these things as your gas gage starts getting closer to empty.  They become much more important in my life. 

The low fuel light is on.  There is one exit 15 miles down the road which indicates it has gas.  There is nothing at the bottom of the ramp except a sign for a town. You can see a long way in Montana.  I do not see any town.  I elect not to chase after this town and get back on the freeway.  Surely there will be gas nearby.

There is another exit 12 miles down the road.  There is absolutely nothing at this interchange.  My mind is starting to go a little crazy.  I start planning.  What ifs….. Surely there will be gas nearby.

There is a sign with another exit in 17 miles.  I might be able to do that.  That is 17 minutes of thinking time since I decided I will conserve fuel by slowing down to 60 mph.  I start picturing myself hitchhiking across Montana.  Surely there will be gas nearby.

17 miles later the anxiety gets cranked up a couple of notches.  Another exit with absolutely nothing there.  Access to ranches, that is it.  This is pretty scruffy land.  Not good for farming, not good for too much.  Surely there will be gas nearby.

It has been a long time since the low fuel light came on.  I am running out of Montana.  There is another exit fourteen miles ahead.  I doubt I will make it.  I do run out of Montana and cross into  Wyoming.  I am stressed and in some despair thinking that I will run out of gas at any moment.  Surely there will be gas nearby.

I am still running.  The sign says exit in two miles.  There appears to be some civilization up ahead.  I have hope.  Salvation!  There is another sign advising there is an exit in one mile.  .I am going to make this!  Surely gas is nearby.

There is a gradual hill to climb before the exit.  Full speed ahead. 


I am a half mile from the exit and the motor quits.  I have run out of gas.