Today we got on the internet early in the day to find a supplier to fill one of our trailer’s propane tanks. It seems that while propane is widely available, it is not so ubiquitous on weekends. We did finally find a place to get propane and it turned out to be a Chevron station about 5 miles north of us. The station is on the Swinomish Reservation.

Peggy and I tag-teamed the 30 pound cylinder out of its cubbyhole in the front of our Barbarian Invader, threw it into the back of Charlotte and headed for the propane sales. When we arrived, we found we were in a man’s heaven. The Chevron gas/diesel/propane station in the complex is flanked by a reservation tobacco outlet, a marijuana dispensary, a beer and liquor store in addition to a big casino, a hotel and an RV park where chronic gamblers can camp and lose money simultaneously. There is a steak house in the casino.

We left with only diesel and propane, both purchased for much cheaper than at off-reservation outlets due to the reservation being sovereign lands without pesky and irritating federal and state taxes. On the way home, we stopped at nearby Black Rock Seafoods where we left not a lot poorer with both breaded and fresh scallops, frozen and breaded clams and some very tasty cod. The fresh scallops didn’t exist for long since they went right into the pan and then our gullets not 30 minutes after getting back to the Invader and carefully inserting the full propane cylinder back into its finger-smashing cabinet. We were lucky – no smashed digits or blood even after the heavy tank was back in place. It’s almost a miracle.