Jake drummed his fingers on the steering wheel of the 85 Ford pick-up as he checked his rear view mirror to double check the trailer he was hauling. He was loaded down with ten Starlight cattle ranch bulls headed for California. Easing down the twisting turning curves of I-80 pulling into Salt Lake City, he was running low on gasoline, and needed to stop soon. Traffic was heavy on the east side of the city, and it was nearing four thirty on a Friday evening. "Might be better just to push through and get on the west side before stopping for gas or else I might get caught in rush hour traffic." Jake thought to himself. The mountains faded away as he came arround a soft curve leaving Salt Lake sprawling out before him. There was no problem as he made it quickly through the city traffic just staying one on ramp ahead of the rush hour traffic that roared onto the freeway always behind him.
Jake passed the airport on the west side of the city, and thought sure he would stop for gas at the next exit. His heart sank as he spotted the mileage sign on his side of the road, Next Exit 75 miles. "Oh shit!" Thought Jake unsure if he would have enough gas to make it that far. The miles seemed to drag on forever as Jake watched the desolate landscape speed by him. There was absolutelt nothing north or south of the interstate as far as the eye could see in any direction. A sigh of relief escaped him as he saw the sign for the exit coming up. Next Exit 1 mile U.S.A.F Bombing Range No UnAuthorized Traffic. Jakes heart sank again not really wanting to test even just a quick turn arround on that exit. There had to be a exit nearby though where he could get some gas, there just had to be. Another 88 miles passed with no signs of a exit till atlast with the truck running on fumes, the truck stop at Bonneville speedway came into sight. Jake wheeled into the gas pumps filling up both tanks on the truck with regular unleaded at 1.85 a gallon which was a bit high back in 1996, but when you had to have it you had to have it. The kicker of it all was that when Jake pulled back onto the interstate less then a mile away was another truck stop just over the Nevada border with gas for 1.45 a gallon. "I'll be a hogs mother!" Jake exclaimed out loud as he slammed his hand into the steering wheel.
Jake passed the airport on the west side of the city, and thought sure he would stop for gas at the next exit. His heart sank as he spotted the mileage sign on his side of the road, Next Exit 75 miles. "Oh shit!" Thought Jake unsure if he would have enough gas to make it that far. The miles seemed to drag on forever as Jake watched the desolate landscape speed by him. There was absolutelt nothing north or south of the interstate as far as the eye could see in any direction. A sigh of relief escaped him as he saw the sign for the exit coming up. Next Exit 1 mile U.S.A.F Bombing Range No UnAuthorized Traffic. Jakes heart sank again not really wanting to test even just a quick turn arround on that exit. There had to be a exit nearby though where he could get some gas, there just had to be. Another 88 miles passed with no signs of a exit till atlast with the truck running on fumes, the truck stop at Bonneville speedway came into sight. Jake wheeled into the gas pumps filling up both tanks on the truck with regular unleaded at 1.85 a gallon which was a bit high back in 1996, but when you had to have it you had to have it. The kicker of it all was that when Jake pulled back onto the interstate less then a mile away was another truck stop just over the Nevada border with gas for 1.45 a gallon. "I'll be a hogs mother!" Jake exclaimed out loud as he slammed his hand into the steering wheel.