Just a late entry from me as I have been busy.

In the mid 1960s, I was taking a late evening ride from North East Hampshire on my 1926 Ariel ready for an early morning start on the VMCC Coventry to Brighton Run.
The bike has acetylene gas lights. The lights started dimming about the time I reached Nuneaton and required a new charge of calcium carbide. Well you've guessed it, I remembered the carbide but forgot the water. I had to nip behind a tree in the dark. It was not an easy job as the filler hole was very small and the little water tank had to be filled using "great pressure".
Anyway, nature saved the day (night?) and I was able to continue the journey with lights.