Tipping Point?

Yesterday, on my way to pick up some bike stuff in Chapel Hill, I had to stop at five gas stations before finding one that actually had some gas. Lots of pumps with plastic bags over the nozzle and hastily written signs that say "Out of Order." It seems the gas shortage we've been hearing about in the news has finally reached Durham. As I got into Chapel Hill, there was one station where a fuel tanker truck was being emptied into the station's tanks. And there was a lineup of cars stretching well beyond the lot, waiting to make sure they could get some fuel. Strange. People are starting to act a little goofy. Apparently all this is due to the refiners being shut down as a result of the latest round of hurricanes. The big financial crisis doesn't help either. Some gas stations recently tried to take advantage of the fear by charging over $7 a gallon. But they're being investigated for price gouging. It kind of makes you realize how fragile the whole system is. But with a full tank of gas, we're still heading to the ocean today. I think we have enough gas to make it there and back.