Friday, Nov 21, 2014 at 18:55
Bruce - Yeah, it doesn't pay to cut it too fine. I was travelling down the GCR and calculated I had enough to reach
Laverton with at least 15 litres to spare.
However, I stopped to help one of the indigenes who was broken down with a flat and no wheelbrace.
I couldn't help him him with a wheelbrace, but he just had to put the bite on me - first, for water, then for fuel! (Opal).
I thought I gave him about 5 litres, but it must have been closer to 10 litres.
Then when I started off from Tjukayirla, I reckoned just under 2/3rds of a tank would see me into
Laverton, with what was left in one jerrycan after giving the quantity to the black fella.
However, I ran into a sudden stormy change of weather that resulted in a change of wind from Easterly to strong Westerly. I didn't realise how strong the headwind was until I stopped for a leak.
This wind change affected my fuel consumption and calculations, and I ran out, 130kms from
Laverton!
I only had the remainder of the jerrycan, that I had partly emptied into the black fellas container - and I was shocked to see it was only half full!
I certainly engaged in some "fuel saving driving techniques" when I did the final leg into
Laverton!
I reckon I was running on fumes the last 5 or 10 kms!
I filled up in
Laverton - and the tank is only supposed to hold 65 litres, and it took 69 litres!
I suppose I could have always put the bite on some passing black fellas for some fuel, if I didn't make it into
Laverton! LOL
Cheers, Ron.
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