I stopped in at a few redwood forests traveling down the west coast into California. On the way there were some places where the fuel stations were unmanned. This was something I’d never experienced before and it became a problem because those automated machines didn’t take my credit card every now and then. Sometimes I think those experiences happen to set in motion a chain of events, just to restore your faith in humanity. A challenging situation you’re placed in where you have to rely on the kindness of a stranger.
I pulled up at one after I’d been driving with the fuel light on for an uncomfortable amount of time. It was in the middle of nowhere. I hadn’t passed any other vehicles except for logging trucks in a long time. Arrived at this fuel station, walked up to pay before fuelling up but before I reached for the door I saw the lights were out inside.
Nooo! I went out and tried my card but as I expected it didn’t work. I looked at google maps. No fuel station for 50 miles. I had cash. These things don’t take cash either. The fuel was here. I wasn’t going to make it to another fuel station so I had to wait and hope someone would spot me on their card.
Within twenty minutes I heard a vehicle. I felt relief but then had to hope that they needed fuel. They didn’t. I watched them drive past thinking oh no. Am I going to have to try and flag someone down and ask them if I can use their card. Another half an hour went by as did two more cars. I took a deep breath and accepted the fact I was going to have to flag someone down.
The thought occurred to me that I would most likely be flagging someone down who is carrying a gun and that this person might assume that I am also carrying a gun…. Or that I might be trying to flag them down at this remote place with nefarious intentions. It was all very uncomfortable but discomfort is something you just have to step into when it’s the only choice you have. I’d just accepted my fate when an old F 250 pulled into the station. I was driving a ford focus. My girlfriend at the times car. It was pretty disarming and in this case, I felt it was an advantage.
I gave him a wave and a smile as he got out of the truck. He gave me a one-finger acknowledgment and removed the fuel cap keeping an eye on me approaching. He leaned with one elbow against the vehicle and started fuelling up looking like an aware kind grandpa lumberjack. I must have caused a moment of confusion for him. I was making my way to the road when he pulled in and now I was walking back to my car. Before I got back to the car I said ‘hi there. I’m in a bit of a pickle’. ‘A pickle’ he repeated. Not with the intonation of a question, just repeated as if to make me aware of how stupid that sounded.
I did that big smile, silent breathe out the nose that I’ve come to understand is a biologically programmed way of showing your submission. A friend of mine would call it a courtesy laugh. I said ‘my cards don’t work here. I have a visa and travel money card but neither are working. I have cash but these things don’t take cash.’ He said ‘let me guess. Australia?’
Relieved at not having to explain I was not from here, he straight away said oh sure just let me finish here and I’ll get you.’ We talked while he was filling up. I asked him if there were any redwood forests close. He said yes not far from here but you have to leave the main road. There was a beautiful, nice, and quiet one 40 mins away.
I said fifteen should be plenty. "‘no fill it up’ he said. ‘You don’t want to get caught short. I asked ‘are you sure?’ He looked me in the eye and asked ‘how long I’d been waiting for help?’ It was almost two hours. He laughed and said ‘exactly. fill it up.’ It was thirty-six dollars. I offered him forty. He said ‘no you have a good trip’. I insisted. He insisted on not taking it.
As I was finishing fuelling up he pulled out. We gave each other a wave and I was left to think how there is always a point where you need help no matter how independent you believe you are. I put the forest in maps. When I arrived there it was raining. There was a heavy fog but after that encounter, I just wanted to see a place he said was beautiful to know him a little better. I went into the forest wearing a rain coast but as soon as I entered it stopped raining and it became more than I could have hoped to experience
