Running out of Gas and Correspondence

So I ran out of gas about two weeks ago on a trip back from Columbia. I took my motorcycle to interview a candidate for state rep for my video blog. I was so embarrassed about running out of gas that I didn't tell anyone for a while. But I lucked out. And my luck has been documented!

I mounted a camera to the back of my motorcycle(thanks Dilip), and the following is video of me running out of gas on Hwy 70 between Columbia and the STL. The video shows me departing Columbia and then cuts to about 5o miles east of Columbia where I run out of fuel.

Second is a copy of my post the The Royale website thanking the man Patrick who helped me out.

The third is a response from Patrick mailed to me by US Mail on Saturday.

#1 Video of me running out of gas:

Click To Play

#2 Link and my post to the Royale site:

Thank you to Patrick

Filed under: News, Events, Blog, Managers Blog — July 29, 2008 @ 8:33 pm

Hello Patrick,

I would like to thank you. I met you last week on a stretch of Hwy 70 somewhere between here and Columbia. I was riding my motorcycle I just picked up. I was pushing it and trying not to stop. I was almost out of gas, but I was unsure of exactly when I was going to run out of gas. You see, on a new motorcycle some reserve tanks have more gas than others. And I was only at 116 miles on my tank.

But alas, I bought a gas pig of a motorbike. A Yamaha VMax. It is a fun bike, but oink oink!!

So Patrick, thank you for helping me out last Wednesday. I coasted into the rest stop, for I was out of fuel. I coasted next to an old mobile home with a trailer. I noticed a small sign on the trailer that read “Laverda Mid-Ohio.”

I felt a sense of relief. Laverda is a scooter and motorcycle brand from Italy. Patrick, thank you. I saw you at the rest stop having lunch with your daughter.

Thank you for taking your time to help me out. And I hope you had fun out in Ohio with your different hot rods at the rally. That hopped up Laverda street buggy looks crazy fun.

I heard you were in tonight for dinner. I was upstairs finishing up a few things, so dang I missed ya! Thanks for stopping down.

Thank you Patrick, I owe you one!

I love America!

Steven Fitzpatrick Smith

#3 The letter then sent to me by my fellow traveler and good Samaritan: