Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:12:38 -0400
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Cross country fuel costs / Gotta love IOWA rest stops
In-Reply-To: <a06020400c139d7ee730d@192.168.0.119>
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In December 2005 / January 2006 I dove from London Ontario to Eugene
Oregon to pick up an Adventurewagen top to transplant onto my westy.
We had HORRIBLE milage (9 to 13 MPG) going out there, due likely in no
small part to an exhaust leak, and OK mileage (15 to 18 MPG) coming
back. NOTE: The return trip was with the AdventureWagen top fully
installed.
We took a VERY roundabout route, hitting ski slopes in Jackson Hole
Wyoming, Big Sky Montana, and (almost) Snowmass Colorado. As well
several National Parks: Crater Lake Oregon, Yellowstone, and Arches
Utah. In all we drove through 17 States, that includes two side trips
to Northern California and Washington that were not really "on the
way".
In all we covered 6354 miles and used 408 gallons of fuel costing
$978.64 for roughly 15.6 MPG and fuel cost per mile of $0.154. Average
fuel cost was $2.395. Most expensive Gleenwood Springs Colorado
$2.699, least expensive $2.099 Jackson Hole Wyoming.
Surprisingly Jackson Hole was full of bargains, including $36.24 (tax
included) per night at the Motel 6 over the New Years Eve weekend! And
free Internet at the grocery store (can't remember the name) a block
or so West of the motel. And $10 for the beginer's hill skiing on the
Jackson Hole Mountain. My GF who had never skiied poder before hurt
knee skiing through 18" of new snow the previous day in Big Sky so we
were taking it easy. It also held the scariest drive I have ever done
the snow covered Teton Pass at night while snowing.
A close second was Coloardo's I70 between Vail and Denver in what
could only be described as a Blizzard - but at least it was daytime. I
ALMOST put the chains on my Syncro's all season 215/65-15 Michelin
Agillis 51 tires. In retrospect I probably should have.
I did go off the road backwards on some glare ice in Idaho but was
pulled out of the ditch by a kindly farmer in a MASSIVE tractor (he
probably just wanted me off his land). After two failed attempts, one
by a 4WD subaru wagon, and the next by a Toyota pickup that broke my
tow strap trying.
Man that was a great trip...
Chris
On 9/22/06, Paul Guzyk <paullist@guzyk.com> wrote:
> After a relaxing trip through Labrador and Newfoundland I just did a
> power drive from NJ to Seattle in our packed 86 Syncro with stock 2.1
> engine. (2,940 miles in 80 hours, including sleep/eat/etc).
>
> If you have to drive cross country on Interstates, go through Iowa.
> All their rest stops have FREE Wi-fi and no signs that prohibit
> overnight "parking".
>
> --
> I started saving receipts in E. Stroudsburg, PA (after visiting Hans
> at Vanaru.com)
>
> From E. Stroudsburg, PA to Seatac, WA, Sept 18 thru 21, 2006
>
> Total miles 2847
> Total fuel gallons 158.64
>
> average gas price per gallon: $2.452
> cheapest gas: Walcott, IA $2.179
> most expensive gas: Hardin, MT $2.699
>
> Average MPG 17.95
> Total fuel dollars $387.23
> cost per mile: 13.6 cents/mile
>
> -Paul
> http://www.PaulDotTrip.com
>
