The other week while doing one of my exciting and electrifying “Dashboard Dining” posts, I asked if anyone knew of any full service gas stations where an attendant actually pumps your gas, wipes your windows and checks your oil, like they did in the olden days, here in Peoria. Well, I heard from not one, not two but three different people telling me that the Shell station on the corner of Knoxville and Lake has a full service island. Let me tip my hat to Mike Wetzel, Stacy Peterson and Phil Luciano for pointing this fact out to me. Now let’s go get gassed!
And we're off on this sunny day that's a little too bright for my tastes.
Just about a block away and I really think I need to invest in some prescription sunglasses.
Here we are at the Shell station and I've luckily avoided three accidents while taking these photos driving here. Oh the risks I take for these photo opportunities behind the wheel!
Full service island, I haven't seen one of these in over two decades.
Here's Pat the gas station attendant.
Pat.
Pat starts the full service procedure by starting to fill the car up with gas. But there's more...much, much more!
As the gas is flowing into my car, Pat grabs the window cleaning thingy and wonders why I'm following him around with a camera.
I explained to Pat that I was taking pictures for this blog post and asked if this was truly the last full service island in Peoria and he confirmed that it was.
He also told me that within a month, this full service island would be gone. The owners are doing away with it, so if you want full service at a gas station, you better get here quickly!
And now the back window gets cleaned, Pat is one thorough attendant.
Time to check the oil. This is a first for this car on its first and probably last voyage to a full service island in P-Town.
Pat props open the hood...
Now where's the dipstick? Pat's having a little trouble finding it...
Not over there...
The dipstick is found!
No oil needed, which bummed me out, because I wanted to write some Beverly Hillbillies reference like: "Black gold, Texas tea."
The dipstick is returned to its portal, oil is well...sorry about that!
The tank is full and Pat removes the gas nozzle from the tank.
He hands me my change and this full service trip is about to end. I won't have an experience like this again in Peoria, kind of a weird feeling.
A full tank of gas...
And a wide open road ahead of us. Oh the places we'll go. Stay tuned and we'll see you tomorrow.
Further Listening: Mustang Sally, Driving Along and Brand New Cadillac.