photo credit: verdi

Long distance relationships, while undoubtedly worth the effort, have their share of caveats. High phone bills, long drives, and tired Mondays all contribute to the stress of extended love affairs. Thank goodness however, on the trek from Austin to Houston, there is a welcome reprieve in Giddings, Texas: Buc-ee’s Gas Stations.

For those who have yet to experience this oasis, imagine if you will the following scenario: Having traveled down the highway late at night, filled with sadness at having to part yet again, you glance down at your gas gauge and notice it’s close to empty. You decide to stop, to refuel not only your vehicle, but perhaps yourself as well, but the thought of stopping at the gas stations you commonly pass makes your stomach turn: seedy, dirty stations with cobwebs on the gas pumps, unsanitary restrooms and unkempt personnel are not the respite you’re longing for. Then, you notice a billboard for a Beaver Crossing, and before you can formulate your quandary, you see another and another – catchy slogans, all touting a place named Buc-ee’s. Then, off to the distance, glowing lights reveal this ramblers refuge.

Intrigued, you venture forward…the outside of the station looks distinctly different, clean gas pumps (and plenty of them), manicured lawns, brick buildings, all welcoming you warmly into the Buc-ee’s store itself. Upon entering, you do a double, and then a triple-take…is this really a gas station? Was I really just greeted by an attendant who was pleasant, well groomed and polite?

The Buc-ee’s experience is a phenomenal one. Where else except the great state of Texas can you find a gas station that offers fresh sandwiches, homemade jerky, jams, jellies and gourmet snacks, meat smokers, souvenirs and hotel quality restrooms, besides proffering the traditional gas station fare. With 24 locations around the state, it’s possible (and highly encouraged) to plan your next adventure with strategic stops at the closest Buc-ee’s to your route.

[ed. This article was submitted months ago, but -- having never experienced a Buc-ee's -- I thought it sounded too much like an advertisement. I recently stopped by the new Buc-ee's in Madisonville, and now understand what all the hubbub is about. My apologies to sojourner.]

(Photo: Valentinian)

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It appears that gas prices around the state have fallen since President Bush lifted the Presidential ban on offshore drilling last week. The President’s action was purely symbolic because a Congressional ban is still in place. Nevertheless, the price of oil fell significantly on the news. According to the AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, prices for regular unleaded gasoline peaked around July 14 thru 17, and have fallen since.  This table summarizes the fall:

So the average price fell 4.4 cents per gallon from $3.974 to $3.93. Let’s hope this trend continues.

Last week Beaumont had the worst prices in the state, but this week that distinction goes to Austin/San Marcos. The best price is in Amarillo.

In DWT’s inaugural post, Graham talks about his introduction to Texan culture, especially on the roadways, and how it spawned DWT. Coming from California, he was amazed at the disparity with California’s “oppressive traffic enforcement”. Well, I’m a born and raised Texan, so it comes as no surprise to me that people were defiant towards a decrease in the speed limit. Heck, people ignore the speed limit when its 65/70 (in one week all the men in my family got speeding tickets; coincidentally, none of them were our fault). All too often I’ve been driving down the highway going the “speed limit” only to be passed like I’m standing still. And not by a Ferrari but by a soccer mom in an Escalade.

But what happens when you pit a Texan’s love for driving whatever speed we want, against our pocketbook?

Recently, Senator John Warner suggested studying the feasibility of a return to a federally mandated speed limit to allow for a decrease in nationwide fuel consumption. I thought of the repercussions here in Texas. Let’s assume that we returned to the a federally mandated speed limit of 55 mph, as it was in 1974, would Texans respond given the high gas prices?

The Houston Chronicle conducted a recent survey (not entirely robust, but it works) by driving 60 mph on the major freeways in Houston to determine the average rate of travel of fellow drivers. The ratio on one day of being passed to passing others was 478:0.

Texans won’t slow down, even in the current climate of exorbitant gas prices. So it would seem, Lyle Lovett could easily have written “Don’t Touch My Speed Limit” instead of “Don’t Touch My Hat.”

Now let’s get to some sciencing. Most fuel efficiency sites I read online cite this number, and there is even a graph on a Department of Energy website () which shows that indeed fuel efficiency is maximum at 55 mph. I found this exact same graph in their annual Fuel Economy report since 2003. Is it me, or should this graph deviate slightly from year-to-year?

The scientist in me wants to know: when the study was commissioned, how many vehicles were studied, and the types of vehicles. None of which were given. As you would imagine, fuel efficiency, and the relationship with efficiency in speed is highly dependent upon the car. You have drag, weight and engine issues to consider.

I can’t help but think that automobile engineers have the specs dialed in for each car to achieve the highest efficiency at common highway speeds (i.e. ~70 mph). This is indicated by any ECU changes that can easily be made to most cars to increase horsepower and torque, but only at the detriment of gas mileage. My Volvo s60R has a slightly higher tuned engine than the average car and I achieve the same MPGs at 85 that I do at 70, 65, and 60. This makes me think that instituting a (lower) federal speed limit would only serve to increase the amount of money local governments get due to speeding tickets.

I think an emerging trend I would like to see would be to have MPG vs. Speed curve for every car, much like most performance automobiles have horsepower and torque curves. That way you let the individual decide which is the optimum speed to drive for their car. Everybody wants better gas mileage, so put that decision in their hands.