NM Gas Prices Dropping Before Thanksgiving

Above, Gallup gasoline price as of January 25, 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those traveling within New Mexico over the Thanksgiving holiday, there is some good news when it concerns gasoline prices.

They have been trending down.

Last week gasoline in the Gallup area has been around $3.389/gallon. Usually, gasoline has been a few cents cheaper in Gallup than at the local Flying J. They've been about the same price lately.

According to the Rio Rancho Observer:

The statewide gas price average in New Mexico is $3.48 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to the AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch.

That price is six cents less when compared to this day last week and 12 cents more per gallon than on this day last year.

Of the major metropolitan areas surveyed in New Mexico, drivers in Farmington are paying the most on average at $3.87 per gallon while drivers in Albuquerque are paying the least at $3.25 per gallon, AAA said. The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.72, which is eight cents less compared to this day last week and 31 cents more than the price per gallon at this same time last year.

I am not driving anywhere this Thanksgiving. I will be spending it with friends in the community.

To read more, go here.

Today's Gas Prices

Above, today's prices at the local Flying J.

In case one hasn't noticed lately, gasoline prices have started rising again.

A few days ago, the local Flying J had an unleaded regular price of $4.069/gallon. Now it is $4.199/gallon.

Contrast that with the price of unleaded regular one year ago. Today's price is $1.25 more.

Above, the Flying J price one year ago today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I had to take Larry Lucier to his physical therapy appointment in Gallup. As we entered town, we noticed that the average price for unleaded regular was $4.010/gallon, much cheaper than at the Flying J, which is 18 miles east of town. 

After his appointment, we stopped at a Speedway gas station and put in ten gallons before heading back to Jamestown. 

Before I do any traveling with the motorhome, I will definitely go into Gallup and fill up there. Even with my Good Sam discount, Gallup's prices are much lower than at the Flying J.

Still, New Mexico's prices are much better than California's average of $5.829.

Thank a Democrat: National Average for Gallon of Regular Gas Soars

Above, the price three days ago in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If there's any justice in this world, the Democrat Party should be totally destroyed in the November elections.

Thanks to the policies of His Fraudulency Joe Biden and congressional Democrats in straightjacketing the nation's oil industry and, later, the stratospheric rise in gasoline and diesel prices from (allegedly) the Russia-Ukraine war, we're in this fix. The difference between the Democrats and the war is that the price rises are by the Democrats' design with their "Green" B.S.

As Neal Boortz posted on Twitter today:

Bumbling Biden would rather buy oil from Venezuela than produce it at home in America.  Think about that.

To add to this is a posting by The Gateway Pundit on the current national average of a gallon of gasoline.

They wrote:

Elections have consequences.

Stolen elections have catastrophic consequences.

Joe Biden and Democrats bring the pain.

The national average for a gallon of gas broke $4.06 per gallon on Monday — the highest price in over 10 years.

The national average is set to break the all-time high later this week. The all-time record high for gas currently stands at $4.11 per gallon.

To read more (including graphs), go here.

Gallup: Grandpa's Grill and Gasoline

Above, now I call them "Greedway". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a good thing I went into Gallup today to take care of some business with the electric company, the gas price at the Flying J here went up to $3.71/gallon. In Gallup, the price is $3.86/gallon at Speedway (now I call them Greedway). But I was lucky to find an Allsup's gas station who was selling it for $3.56/gallon. 

Before going to the electric company, I stopped at Grandpa's Grill for breakfast.

Above, this morning's breakfast at Grandpa's Grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The matter over my electric bill came out in my favor and I am credited over $400. So, until that is reached, I won't have to pay anything.

While there, I managed to lock my keys inside the car, so I had to call Auto Club to open the car. Since I have now used up my four service calls, I have to figure out another way to get the Jeep to Gallup to get the brakes fixed. Maybe someone with a flatbed trailer here can tow it in or I can get Auto Club to come up with a flat rate on a tow into Gallup on my dime. 

Before heading back to Jamestown, I did some shopping and got stuff I'll be needing for the next few days since it may be snowing starting tonight. The clouds are already coming in.

Life has its challenges.

High Gas Prices and Dewinterizing RVs

Above, The Beast at the Meteor City Trading Post in 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With Gallup, New Mexico area Speedway gas stations charging $3.80/gallon of unleaded as of yesterday*, I may have to forego going to the Spring Clampout of the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus in Chloride, Arizona. Chloride is near Kingman and is 375 miles from home. The clampout is in early April. Anything can happen between now and then.

My RV's gas tank has a capacity of 55 gallons. If the price stays at $3.80/gallon, it would cost me $209 per fill-up (I would need two). Arizona gas prices tend to be higher along Interstate 40. Normally, my gasoline cost for such a trip is about half that. I'll have to think about it.

With all that being said. If one still plans to head out in their RV when Spring arrives and the RV needs to be dewinterized, Do It Yourself RV has an article on dewinterizing RVs on a step-by-step basis.

They begin it with:

With winter fading and spring around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about pulling your RV out of storage. Whether you stored it in a garage, in the yard, or in a temperature-regulated facility, there are a few things you’ll need to do to get it ready for travel again.

If you took the proper steps to safely store your RV for the winter, it will be fairly easy to get it ready for the camping season. Spring is a great time to perform a vehicle check and take note of anything that is empty, old, or in need of replacement.

Dewinterizing an RV takes a bit of time, but it’s worth it to have a clean, safe, and fully-functional vehicle at the end. Below we have a guide that will walk you through each step of the process. Your RV may or may not need to go through every step, depending on how well you prepared it for storage. Either way, it’s good to know how to dewinterize an RV because you’ll need to apply this knowledge every year.

To read more, go here. 

*Price today is $3.86.

Japan's Seven & I Drops Plan To Buy Speedway LLC

Above, a Speedway sign in Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is certainly news to me. I wasn't even aware that a Japanese company was even considering purchasing Speedway LLC, a convenience store and gasoline station chain.

There are many Speedway gas stations in New Mexico and the refinery in Jamestown, New Mexico (just down the hill from me and behind the Flying J) is owned by Speedway's parent company, Marathon Petroleum Corp.

According to the Japan Times:

Seven & I Holdings Co. has dropped its plan to acquire U.S. convenience store chain Speedway LLC, informed sources said. 

The price for the acquisition, said to be around ¥2.5 trillion, was too high, a Seven & I official said Thursday. 

The decision will apparently force Seven & I to review its overseas operations, which have been an engine of growth. 

Speedway, a unit of U.S. refiner Marathon Petroleum Corp., was supposed to play an important role in strengthening Seven & I’s North American business, an analyst said. 

But ¥2.5 trillion price tag is equivalent to nearly half of the chain’s annual sales in Japan.
The deal would “weaken Seven & I’s finances,” another analyst said.

To read more, go here.

Light Bulb Mission To Gallup

Above, the Speedway price is much better than in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last night, I noticed my front outdoor lamp was out. Since I was out of replacement light bulbs, I had to go into Gallup this morning to pick some up.

I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, the Flying J store had some, but they didn't. So I headed into town. Most everyone who attends our morning coffee at Denny's are out of town anyway, so I wasn't missing anything.

I was going to go to Home Depot, but decided instead to just get the bulbs at Albertson's since it is much closer. So I went there and got the bulbs.

On the way to Albertson's, I noticed three Speedway gas stations on Route 66 were selling gas for $2.209/gallon. That's ten cents cheaper than the Flying J (even with my Good Sam discount). I figured I'd fill up the gas tank on the way back.

After getting the bulbs, I was heading back down Route 66 and noticed that in the twenty or so minutes since I passed them earlier, a couple of the Speedway stations lowered their price a penny to $2.199. So I stopped at one and filled up. Not a bad way to start the way.

When I got home, I changed the bulb. I have to wait until tonight if that did the trick since the lamp i darkness-activated. I replaced the bulb with an indoor/outdoor LED bulb. I hope it does the trick since I am going to Martin Link's for our monthly dinner gathering in Gallup and I usually get home after dark and need to see where I'm walking.