Running Out of Gas - Literally

I never, ever drive with the tank less than half full. I have never been in a position to run out of gas - I am too practical to allow that to happen. People have made fun of me for being so paranoid about it. Our Subaru Forester also has a few readings in the dashboard that show the fuel status, as well as how many more miles one can drive until the tank empties. Driving back home on the day of my mom’s funeral in Florida, we were already in a weird state of mind. Our destination was Savannah, Georgia and we had at least thirty miles worth of gas to go - or so we thought - to reach the exit which was only a couple more miles off I-95. Without any warning or red light or anything, all of a sudden our car stopped in the middle lane right before dusk on an overpass/bridge. I’m not sure how we managed to reach the side of the road - in all the traffic - without getting hit. I had just asked my husband if we should stop for gas - at this exit - just to be on the safe side. When we looked to our right, and down the hill there was a gas station. So we put the flashers on, got out, locked the car, and slid down the muddy incline. Of course, no gas can was available to buy, and none of the customers coming in had one either. So the attendant called the gas station across the very busy street - during rush hour - and found out they had one gallon containers. So we ran for our lives across the street as the sun continued to set. We purchased the gas can and one gallon of gas, ran again across the highway, and back up the muddy hill to our car. Neither one of us could figure out how to use the darn thing - just sticking the nozzle in the slot didn’t do anything - it was splashing on us. Finally I figured out to turn the gas can and nozzle a different way, and pump the nozzle until the can emptied. We lost the cap to the can but kept the nozzle on. We started the car and got off the next exit to fill the tank. Looking back we were so fortunate that this event happened while it was still light outside, the weather was fine (no rain or snow), we didn’t get hit while miraculously pulling to the side, the gas station was within walking distance and not in the middle of no where, and we had AAA if we really needed it. I’ll be writing Subaru a letter about our experience. It just should not have happened - especially on the day of my mom’s funeral. 

Captains Quarters in Santee and Sam Sneads’ Oak Grill & Tavern in Savannah

Whenever we drive to Florida we have a certain routine. It depends upon the time of the year. When it stays lighter later in the day we usually go as far as Dorian or Brunswick Georgia. But if it’s winter and the sun sets at four or five, we always stop in Savannah. The main reason is because we absolutely love Sam Snead’s Oak Bar and Grill and don’t like driving at night. It doesn’t matter when we go - the place is always busy. So this month we did just that and the parking lot was even busier than busy - probably more from Christmas parties than travelers. The restaurant is located on the airport exit. The French onion soup is fantastic - we always get that along with a burger and some sort of blackened fish. On the return trip we also have a favorite called Captains Quarters in Santee, South Carolina. We made reservations a couple of hours ahead of the time once we knew we would be reaching that location for dinner. Captains has the best steak and seafood. We rarely eat steak anymore - which may be why it tastes so good! This place is also always packed - with people standing in line waiting to get in. Of course, being a Friday night didn’t help. We decided to stay in Santee for the night, which made the next day drive a bit longer than usual. We both agree it is worth the visit at both places and now has become Florida trip tradition. 

Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern

Sometimes you just have a taste for something, or there is a place you want to go. That happens whenever we pass through Savannah. During the summer months we travel further than Savannah because it stays light longer in the day. We'll end up in Darian or Brunswick. But during the winter months, we will stop sooner and that means Savannah. Unfortunately I don't always remember the actual exit. We like going to Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern for dinner, then stay at an inn close by. But I couldn't match the location of the restaurant with the inn and booked a room one more exit past the restaurant. So we decided to drive back the ten miles just to go to this place for nothing more than a hamburger - but it beat the typical Applebee's or something along those lines. We have always had a good overall experience there. I should have set google maps for Sam Snead's and then move along to the inn, but I wasn't thinking straight. In the end it worked out okay and was at least the fourth time we were there. Now I know the exit and put it in my reminder notes so we don't make the same mistake again. After all, we aren't in any hurry. So we're entitled to making a mistake here and there. It doesn't matter.