The crunch of no gasoline

Written 5/11/21

Hackers in Russia did something that meant the Colonial Pipeline was shut down, and the southeastern US, (and I think some of the northeast as well) now has a shortage of gas. 

My friend who works in a gas station went to work today, though they ran out of gas yesterday, selling just the premium until it was gone. She's answering the phone and nicely telling people they have no gas.

Today after I gave my blood for medical tests (to be added to my yearly physical) I took my friend a cup of coffee. And had a croissant and coffee myself as well. But while driving US 70 from Black Mountain to Swannanoa, I saw a 2 blocks long line at the Shell Station (at the exit on I-40)...people lined up to get whatever gas there was. 

There were many semi-trucks at the Ingles grocery's huge warehouse, where lots of trucks (not just Ingles) go to get weighed...or spend a night. I wondered suddenly how our interstate products would be delivered? If they have no gas, they have to stop driving.

And then I remembered I needed some things at a grocery store, and stopped there. Again I can understand how folks felt at the beginning of the Pandemic. Do I have enough food? Do I need more cleaning supplies? Do I have paper goods to last a month? 

Oops, I forgot to get more toilet paper. 

Anyway, there weren't that many people at the grocery. Nor were the shelves completely filled. The stores seem to be filling in shelves with the products which they already have...so some areas were kind of illogically filled with items. Where there used to be potato chips in one store, they now have lots of gadgets displayed.

But besides the thoughts of how our area may have to deal without any transportation for a while, including resources...I am home again after a rather strange occurrence at the railroad crossing.

My little street crosses the railroad right at US 70...with a light as well as the railroad crossing arm. Today the railroad was working to lay a new piece of track near that crossing.

I was on my way home with lots of groceries (mainly snack items, I confess) and a salad for lunch, when I crossed these tracks and the light was green. But the little car in front of me stopped when it suddenly turned red. That left me halfway on the tracks. I wasn't worried about trains, 'cause that machine and truck were still there.

But the light stayed red for a long time. Cars were lined up on the other side of US 70 waiting in a line to get gas at the Gulf station...at least 2 blocks long, but not across the intersection at least.

We continued to sit with a red light...much longer than the usual cycle. And I noticed a police car (unmarked) sitting in the left turn lane on 70, but for some reason he just seemed parked there. Sort of like the car in front of me. (I finally realized the police car was there in case the line of cars did go as far as the intersection.)

I didn't worry, until the working truck and machine started to come behind my car on the tracks. My bumper was probably sticking in their way, so they stopped. I inched closer to the car ahead of me, still at a red light. The police car was still sitting doing nothing. The truck on the tracks loomed over my back right shoulder. I inched closer to the car ahead. I finally beeped, hoping she would give me a few more inches.

The truck on the tracks was much wider than the yellow track-laying machine, and it slowly moved behind me. Finally a worker went over to the signal control box and gave us the green light, so I could get out of the way. The truck somehow gets off the tracks and now can be on a road...but I wasn't able to watch it. 

I went home... carried groceries inside, ate my salad, carried more groceries inside, then rested!

So our roads already were very lightly traveled. All the people who depend on having gas for their work are suddenly confronted with a big problem. Delivery of goods is screeching to a halt...unless they come from another area which doesn't depend on the Colonial Gas line.

Today's Quote:

You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.

PABLO NERUDA