After having left Sunday River at 9:30 p.m. last night, I got back home safe and sound ... this morning at 9:00 a.m. - 11.5 hours for what should have been a 2.5 hour drive. I put off filling up thinking I'd do so on the way home, not thinking that stations will close early or not open at all on Labor Day evening in the rural northeast. The reserve warning came on shortly after starting off; I could have made it to the border on the reserve, but it would have done me no good. Instead of risking running out of fuel, I pulled over in the parking lot of an information center near Colbrook, NH. Filled up in town this morning and continued home.
Lessons?
1) This is not Europe, or even urban North America - Diesel is not available everywhere and not all stations are open 24/7/365; fill-up when having the chance and don't try range heroics (>800 miles) in unfamiliar territory.
2) The driver's seat of my car is EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE to sleep on for more than 8 hours.
I should have slept in the car at Parking Lot 8 than camping - would have been a lot drier.
P.S.: VERY close call with a deer, but thankfully missed hitting it. 2 so far is more than enough for my driving career.
