Advise me please... A while ago I booked a long weekend in Kent for next Friday to Sunday, staying in a lovely AirBnB in Whitstable with the intention of riding my new Tiger around the Kent coast. I know it's not a mega-tour but it would be my first, and it would be on the new bike. I need a break badly and I've really been looking forward to it. Ironically, the thing that worried me when I booked was the weather, and luckily it looks like that will be perfect. However, the fuel situation is something that I obviously didn't foresee, and now I'm thinking that to go in the midst of the current chaos is just too much of a risk... I don't want to be scared to ride the bike in case I can't top up, and obviously I need to get home again. The problem, too, is that I need to cancel by tomorrow morning to get a refund from my AirBnB hosts; they're not prepared to extend the cancellation period, so I really need to make my mind up by the end of today. What would you guys do?
Dunno about Kent, but up here the fuel shortage is a thing of the past thankfully. I went out and abut yesterday (in the car) and all the filling stations around here now have supplies of petrol and diesel and there were no queues that I could see. Unless its particularly bad down there, perhaps someone who lives in Kent can chime in and advise, I'd go for it
Sadly it isn't that easy a decision. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/live-kent-petrol-shortage-updates-5990828
It really is, there is another week before you go and there is no shortage of fuel just the panic buying causing a supply issue. It will have died a death by next Friday. Stop worrying about what might happen and enjoy the break.
What I would do is fret loads and get stressed about the fuel situation. However, as it's 6 days away I would believe it's probable that the fuel situation wouldn't be much of a problem by then. Things are getting better and once people see that they'll stop panic buying or will already have filled their tanks. You say you "need a break badly and I've really been looking forward to it" so in that case I would definitely not cancel the AirBnB.
You should be able to get there and back on a tank. If you can’t fill up along the way, just explore on foot and have a mini break, nice meals and sample too much beer - all the while knowing you can get home. if there’s fuel then you revert to plan A and zoom around and enjoy the new bike.
There are lots of micro pubs to explore in this area and you can reach most via the train so all is not lost if you can't use the bike.
Enjoy your well needed break @learningtofly, and hopefully some Kent locals can give you reassuring updates this week
Just don't get suckered.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230 I had similar worries riding my Bonnie across rural Spain and France with that piddly little tank, so I bought a couple of 1.5 litre petrol bottles from Ebay or Amazon. Never used them but it gave my sphincter a bit of an easier time once or twice. I reckon it was this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/FuelFriend®-PLUS-Jerrycan-liters-spout-lockable/dp/B00XG74A7I/ref=asc_df_B00XG74A7I/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=324886249090&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11800775304540026779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006965&hvtargid=pla-708476258098&psc=1 Didn't pay all that for them though. In answer to your dilemma-given the time frame, I'd continue with the original plan, and go.
I'm actually sick of the way you respond to my posts, you knob. How about you just don't bother in future?
Say's the man who's last comment to me was "Don't be a dick all your life, have a day off"? As I said, you're a knob, so do us both a favour and go bother someone else.
Ok you win. I'm a knob. Just press the button that puts me on ignore then. I won't tell you what I think you are.
We were in the same situation in 2000 during the fuel blockades. By luck I managed to fill the car a few days before the off and worked out we could just make it there and back on a single tank, so we set out for Bishops Castle after all, passing lots of closed or ram full petrol stations. When we got to there the locals said "what fuel shortage?" We had a lovely well needed break and I got back with half a tank. I'd say go for it.
If you're concerned about running dry, get one or two of these for spare fuel. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28400686...085271&hash=item422020c8e2:g:7bkAAOSwavpfWfCT They don't take up much space and will give you some useful extra range. I carry one when I go out green laning after once running out on open moorland. What a friggin nightmare that was.
