MPG Update 2021

Ready to head North

 

Gasoline and MPG statistics for a 1,900 mile trek completed May 25 in our 2013 210P. 

Note: I don't separate gas with ethanol from gas without when I do my MPG statistics.  Ethanol has less energy content than gasoline and it has been reported that MPG numbers decrease when using gasoline containing ethanol.  According to the EPA:

"Ethanol contains about one-third less energy than gasoline. So, vehicles will typically go 3% to 4% fewer miles per gallon on E10 and 4% to 5% fewer on E15 than on 100% gasoline." Here's a link to the EPA site:

https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

Trek Statistics

The overall trek distance was about 2,025 miles, but with a stopover of a few days in Illinois I considered that to be the end.  Several days later we continued to MI, but I have not yet refilled the gas tank, so I don't have a receipt for the final segment, and we'll be doing local driving for a while.   

The MPG statistics were determined using the gasoline receipts. The MPG varied with altitude and speed, which I would expect. Here are the summary statistics: 

Gallons consumed: 118.7

Total cost: $371.02 

Average price per gallon: $3.12 

Lowest price per gallon: $2.589 (NM) 

Octane: 86, 87, 88 (some stations carry 86 and 88, no 87 - see notes) 

MPG overall: 15.313  

Details

MPG for 745 mile segment at 55-60 MPH: 17.06 

MPG for 782 mile segment at 75-80 MPH: 13.24 

We travelled on interstates and highways, as well as local roads. The speeds on local roads were 25-45 MPH stop-and-go, 55-60 mph on highways, and 75-80 MPH on interstates in the west.  

Highest price for gasoline was for 13.255 gallons of gas in Ordway CO at 10855 County Road G.  The price for "plus" gasoline was $3.659 per gallon. I wanted to add a higher octane to offset the previous fill-up of 86 octane; 87 wasn't available.  I do this so as to maintain a blend of 87 octane in the gas tank, which is what GM recommends for this 6.8 liter engine in the Chevy chassis

With the above exception, the highest price for gasoline for this trek was in DuPage County Illinois. The price per gallon for 87 octane was $3.169 per gallon in Warrenville, Illinois.  That's lower in price than Chicago.

Insights - recorded mileage statistics

The MPG varied by segment. MPG was influenced by altitude, topography and speed. 

The best mileage was from Altoona, IA. to Warrenville, IL  This was a level stretch of mostly interstate travel. Altoona is 919 feet above sea level.  The MPG for that 324 mile segment was 21 MPG. That segment was nearer to sea level, and had a speed limit of 55-60 MPH.

The lowest MPG was from York, NE to Altoona, IA.  The MPG for this segment was 12.66 MPG.

How I Drive -This influences MPG statistics

I travel predominantly with prevailing traffic. I prefer to avoid the right lane, so I am usually one lane over. But, I never ride or hog the left lane. I do appreciate that many don't like to drive behind a billboard that fills their view.

So, I balance courtesy with reality.  And if I am one lane to the left of the rightmost, then I put the pedal to the metal and do whatever the traffic is doing in that lane.

If I am unwilling to do that, then I get back in the right lane.

As a consequence, my speed may exceed 80 MPH for very short periods.  My Verizon Hum lets me know each time I exceed that upper boundary.

Notes:

1. Load: Two adults, the outside fresh water tank was full, the inside tank empty. A couple of hundred pounds on a rear carrier.
2. Generator: we didn't use the generator.  According to Onan the generator consumes 0.28 gph at half load and 0.46 gph at full load.  If one uses the generator, it is to be expected that MPG numbers will decrease.
3. Overall about 90% of the miles driven were highway/interstate. In other words, about 200 miles were "local" miles with stop-and-go and speeds of 25-45 MPH. 
4. Some western stations have 86 and 88 octane but no 87. If there is no 87 octane available I'll use 86, then fill it the next time with 88, etc. The fuel in the tank is therefor a blended 87 octane, and the overall cost is an average of these.
5. The cost of "Plus" grade (89) was $3.659 per gallon at a NM stop.

Original Material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

Steph Collin Woodcarving Memorial Day

 

Eagles taking shape

Wings added, detailing

Outstretched and ready to soar

Steph Collin working on the base

Steph Collin continues to work on the new carving at the Beach Bucket.  The base art is beginning to take shape......

Memorial Day 2021

 

Taps at Weko Beach, MI

He's 71 and a true Artist

Let the wood chips fly!

The Artist reveals the soul within

On this Memorial Day weekend I want to take a few moments to remember all of those who served and those who died to provide me with the freedom and protections I enjoy, today.    

God Bless America and God Bless our Military!

Our neighbors, the Beach Bucket are having a new wood carving made. This one will have a patriotic theme and will honor our military.  They commissioned Steph Collin to create this work.

There will be taps at nearby Weko Beach. Click on the following link to open in a new window.......

Sunset and Taps at Weko Beach, MI

Original Material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

Recent Trek - Raton NM - a Pleasant 2,000 miles

 

View from 2nd Street, Raton, NM

Raton KOA Signpost Directions

We completed this trek before the Memorial Day weekend. WaHoo!

This post will look at Raton, NM which was a stop during our most recent 2,000 mile trek. This spring we chose a different route to get from AZ to MI. We began in AZ to NM then on to CO, NE, IA, IL and finally MI. We did want to visit SD, but decided we wanted to get to our final destination before the Memorial Day weekend, so SD will be for a future trek.

We experienced mild weather, and open roads; we avoided busy spots like Denver, Dallas, and so on. Thinking of this, “The Road Less Travelled” which is a favorite book (1974 edition) by M. Scott Peck….

Raton, NM

We walked part of the downtown, visited the museum in Raton, NM, had dinner at K-Bob's Steakhouse and stayed at a nearby KOA.

The museum has original paintings, memorabilia, furniture, mining, ranching and other items of local historical significance.  It is a step back in time in Raton and includes several telephone switchboards, city market items, dentistry and so on. I'm posting a sampling of the items in the museum including several photos of a 1891 safe, I think it is indicative of some of the pieces in the museum. 

The Raton Museum, 108 S. 2nd Street, Raton NM 87740 - G at the entry

The museum has limited hours, so it is important to check the schedule.  There is a tour, which we missed because we arrived too late in the day.  The museum caretaker was kind to gave us a "mini-tour" and I do suggest arriving early for the full tour. 

Photos are permitted, but not of the paintings hung on the walls. As a consequence, there are no photos of wall mounted art in this post.  We liked the art.

I didn't know that Raton did print currency at one time. Here's a photo of $20 bill of "National Currency" issued by the First National Bank of Raton in 1929:

$20 Bank of Raton National Currency

The museum has a beautifully crafted 1891 safe manufactured by Hall's Safe & Lock Company.  The exterior has been restored however, the painting is the original. 

Exterior of Safe

Interior of Door of Safe

Artwork of Safe Door

The Safe within the Safe

Lower front of Safe

Lower Artwork on Safe Door

Mining Cart with coal from York Canyon Mine

Dawson Coal Mine Disaster: "The town of Dawson New Mexico lost 263 brave men
 in the explosion in mine No. 2 on Oct. 22, 1913"

Dawson Mine

Post Office

Fire Department

City Market

City Market Sale

Dr. Troy Smith's Dentistry

Train Diorama

One of several Doll exhibits

Archaeology

Telephone Switchboard - Before Cellphones

Original material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

Wi-Fi Speed versus Internet Speed

 

Initially there was no image.  It was because Google Blogger had some sort of a problem.  What can one expect from Tech Giants?  Not much, I guess....  I tried about 12 hours later and voila'  the uploaded image could be re-applied and is now visible. 

Well, internet while trekking can be interesting. Here is an example. We are at our final destination for this trek. This smaller RV park has 5GHz and 2.4GHz wi-fi, but because everyone uses the same login there is no internet; the pipeline is full. To quote a nearby camper when the campground upgraded the Wi-Fi a couple of years ago: “Great, now I can get Netflix”. LOL. I explained to everyone in writing why that would not work, and it didn’t. But people try, anyway and so there is no bandwidth available.  This is a regular occurrence and my neighbor complained to me that he hasn't been able to get an internet connection for a week.  I guess the campground reboots their router and that kicks everyone off.  As people login the pipeline fills, performance deteriorates, and then the owner repeats the process, and reboots.  

The campground owner has been explicit that the internet connection is designed for things like email, but people apparently can't resist the urge to stream. In fact, the wi-fi is actually very robust. The breakdown is the available internet bandwidth.

Yes, I can get a wi-fi connection but no internet. However, my Verizon jetpack works fine (for now). Which is why I can post this. However, some locations in the US have limited or no cell connections. Because we are adjacent to the most popular state park in MI, this holiday weekend the cellular system will be overloaded. How overloaded? On one recent 4th of July weekend the DNR counted 27,000 automobiles and RVs entering the park.

It will be interesting to see how Starlink changes this.

Original Material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

Tucson via Iowa - Option Four

 

Entering a Dust Storm in New Mexico

After discussion we decided on a slightly less northerly route, than the "option 3".  This decision meant we would have a maximum of 6-1/2 hours driving time each day, and as little as 4-1/2  hours.  Add to this driving time gas stops, meal breaks, sight-seeing and so on.  In retrospect it was a wonderful route.  Driving US 350 - CO 71 (the original Santa Fe trail) was monotonous, but it was pleasant, nonetheless.  I never knew how much farming there was in Eastern Colorado.

This route did not allow us to go into South Dakota, but we'll do that this summer during another trek.  The "option 4" route reduced our trek distance by about 291 miles.  The "option 4" actual distance was 1,877 miles.  The   trip planning projected 1,840 miles, but that ignores side trips to truck stops, museums and other sites, etc.     

Option 4 trek - via Iowa, but short about 110 miles to final MI destination

We closed down the AZ site and got into the Roadtrek 210P:

Leaving the Winter Site to the Summer Caretakers.....

On the Road in New Mexico

Our first night stop, in New Mexico.  We used the propane furnace for our first two nights, because it got cool.  But no freezing conditions. I've set up the Dometic thermostat to run the Cool-Cat heat pump fan when the propane furnace runs. That's an option, and I think it provides better airflow and temperature distribution in the Roadtrek by running both.  That means more comfort at night.

Cacti blooms in Elephant Butte:

Campsite in Elephant Butte

Continuing on, the next day:

Guess Where?

Sunset - 2nd night

We stopped in Raton, NM and visited their museum.  The museum was a gem and I'll post about it later: There is a 1-1/2 hour guided tour, but we arrived too late for that.  We will attempt a future trip to attend that tour.  The museum caretaker was kind and gave us the "mini version". 

Raton, NM Museum 

Interior, Raton Museum, First Floor upon entering

We had dinner at K-Bob's Steakhouse in Raton.  We asked about local places to eat and this was one of several suggested by the museum caretaker. It was delicious.  Easy parking for RVs, too!  I had a chicken fried steak and the wait staff was excellent, as was the food.  I was so hungry that I ate half of it before taking the photo.  Homemade mashed potatoes, and I ordered gravy on the side. 

K-Bob's Steakhouse, Raton

K-Bob Steakhouse Chicken Fried Steak

Raton Campground

On to Limon, CO via the Oregon Trail.  This route took us east of I-25 on CO 71 though farmland for a few hours. We stopped for gas in Ordway at a bustling local store and gas station. In fact, I wasn't aware of how much farmland this part of CO has. We stopped for lunch at the only fast-food restaurant we saw that morning. It was a Wendy's on CO 71 in Limon.  Kudos to the teenager who stepped up to help even though it wasn't his shift. It was a long line and our order for two sandwiches took 20 minutes to fill.  

Rural CO 71 - Not a Snow Bunny in sight!

After Limon, CO we continued to I-76 and Nebraska.  We had dinner in Ogallala and spent the night there. We dined at the Crystal Palace and LOL, they actually had a salad bar!  The first we had seen in a year!

Ogallala has an interesting history, steeped in the cattle drives.  In fact, in one year 100,000 head of cattle were driven through the town, en-route to market!

Crystal Palace Steakhouse and "Saloon" Ogallala NE

Crystal Palace

I ordered the chicken fried steak, which is, I understand, the most popular item on the menu. G ordered a hoagie with shaved rib meat.  It too was delicious.....

Chicken Fried Steak - Crystal Palace

The Crystal Palace has a stage show, but it doesn't begin until Memorial Day and we were a week early.  However, we did visit the museum. I'll put more about it in a future post.

Crystal Palace Stage

Nebraska Sandhills Warrior Rabbit - Crystal Palace Museum

Continuing to Iowa, I was impressed by the miles of terraced fields, which improve soil retention:

Our final night was at the Timberline Resort in Waukee, IA.  They have an extensive agreement for visitors, but it seems to work as we had a pleasant and quiet overnight.  One observation, there were many chipmunks to be seen cavorting on the grounds, probably a bunch of happy rodents. The area looks interesting for future exploration.....

Original material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com (c) Norm Retzke