We just returned from a trip to Sonoma, California for the SaveMart 350 Nascar Race. We went south on Highway #97 through Washington, Oregon and onto I-5 north of Red Bluff, California and then onto Petaluma, the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, then homeward bound north on Highway 101 through the Redwoods and up the Oregon Coast, then North east through McMinville to Portland then through the Olympic Penisulia, Whitby Island, Langley, BC and back home to the Okanagan
Total number of Days - 27
Total Kilometres - 5,365
Kms with 5er - 3,893
Kms Truck alone - 1,472
Fuel Used - 980.50 litres
This is - 18.27 litres/100 kms or 14.975 miles/gallon
Highest price of diesel fuel - $4.29/gallon Omak, Washington
Lowest Price for diesel fuel - $3.57/gallon Safeway Portland Oregon
Highest Price for Campground - Petaluma San Francisco North KOA - 6 nights #370.00 Full Hookup
Lowest Price for Campground - Collier Memorial State Park, Fort Klamath Oregon - $27.50/night water, sewer, power
Nicest Campgrounds - Lincoln Rock State Park, East Wenatchee Washington, Collier Memorial,Jedediah Smith State Park Crescnt City, California, Beachside State Park, Oregon Coast and Fairview RV Park, Portland, Oregon.
Sounds great. In june we did Kelowna to Seattle and down I5 to Medford oregon, Coalinga california then Sandiego. Then worked back to Anaheim, Sanfrancisco , back to Medford , Seattle and home. Our favortite areas were Sandiego on the bay and the hills of wine country. Also loved southern oregon and the Cali Mount Shasta area. How was the Nascar race? Beautiful area to see a race. I found parts of I5 in Cali terribly rough road but they are working on much of it. We had a great time.
Paul Clancy wrote: Sounds great. In june we did Kelowna to Seattle and down I5 to Medford oregon, Coalinga california then Sandiego. Then worked back to Anaheim, Sanfrancisco , back to Medford , Seattle and home. Our favortite areas were Sandiego on the bay and the hills of wine country. Also loved southern oregon and the Cali Mount Shasta area. How was the Nascar race? Beautiful area to see a race. I found parts of I5 in Cali terribly rough road but they are working on much of it. We had a great time.
The race was great. First win for Clint Bowyer since going to Michael Waltrip Racing and as much as Kurt Bush can be a "Royal Pain in the A-- the better part of the time" he ran a great race but just didn't have enough for Bowyer at the end.
And what about "Smoke" from a 14th place start to second at the end.
One of the exceptional things about Sonoma is the 1/2 hour air show before the race with six "Patriot" fighter jets putting on a tremendous air show. AMAZING to say the least and one thing that struck close to home was the fact that one of the pilots was a former "Snowbird" that made it that much more special.
If you have never been to a Nascar road course race, I would not hesitate to suggest that Sonoma is the place.
We were only on the I-5 from just north of Red Bluff to the west of Sacramento and it generally was much better than most people had suggested it would be. I have heard that the I-5 south of The Bay area is much rougher where you were traveling.
Paul Clancy wrote: Sounds great. In june we did Kelowna to Seattle and down I5 to Medford oregon, Coalinga california then Sandiego. Then worked back to Anaheim, Sanfrancisco , back to Medford , Seattle and home. Our favortite areas were Sandiego on the bay and the hills of wine country. Also loved southern oregon and the Cali Mount Shasta area. How was the Nascar race? Beautiful area to see a race. I found parts of I5 in Cali terribly rough road but they are working on much of it. We had a great time.
The race was great. First win for Clint Bowyer since going to Michael Waltrip Racing and as much as Kurt Bush can be a "Royal Pain in the A-- the better part of the time" he ran a great race but just didn't have enough for Bowyer at the end.
And what about "Smoke" from a 14th place start to second at the end.
One of the exceptional things about Sonoma is the 1/2 hour air show before the race with six "Patriot" fighter jets putting on a tremendous air show. AMAZING to say the least and one thing that struck close to home was the fact that one of the pilots was a former "Snowbird" that made it that much more special.
If you have never been to a Nascar road course race, I would not hesitate to suggest that Sonoma is the place.
We were only on the I-5 from just north of Red Bluff to the west of Sacramento and it generally was much better than most people had suggested it would be. I have heard that the I-5 south of The Bay area is much rougher where you were traveling.
Hey, I was at the race and couldn't find your rig We hotel camp when we go to Sonoma each year. Boyer did a great job holding off Busch and Smoke. We sit in turn 7 every year and it was a blast watching Smoke pass Busch going into turn 4 on the last lap for second place. One more lap and Smoke would have had it - great run! BTW, can you guess who's my fav??
Taking our new 5r on its first long distance haul to the Oregon coast next month - Florence, then Bandon. Can't wait - one of our favorite locations.
Sounds like your mileage was pretty good. What speed do you try to travel at?
Elkhorn98
2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 Duramax/Allison w/45 gal Transfer Flow Tank
RBW X16 Slider, Yamaha EF 2400iS
2007 Springdale 245 5th Wheel - E-Z Flex HD Suspension & Mobile Outfitters Shock Kit Upgrades
with Firestone Transforce Ht Lt 2357515 C tires
elkhorn98 wrote: Sounds like your mileage was pretty good. What speed do you try to travel at?
We try to keep it at 55 in the 55 mile zones and at 60 on the freeways that are rated for 65 and 70mph.
Except for passing probably never more than 60.
That's a damn good mpg. When the family and I towed the 'Beast' down to Florida and back, I averaged 11 mpg while towing. I found that 60-65 mph was my 'sweet spot' for the rig. If I throttled down to 55 I coulda done better, but for a guy that drives a 'vette 65 was a turtle's pace...*s
Mike
2010 Cedar Creek 34SATS (The Beast) & 20k Curt Q20 roller slider hitch
2006 Ford F350 SRW,SC Powerstroke diesel Lariat 2003 Harley Heritage Softail (Hogzilla) and a wifey with tons of patience....
rattleNsmoke wrote: That's a damn good mpg. When the family and I towed the 'Beast' down to Florida and back, I averaged 11 mpg while towing. I found that 60-65 mph was my 'sweet spot' for the rig. If I throttled down to 55 I coulda done better, but for a guy that drives a 'vette 65 was a turtle's pace...*s
Mike
I hear you,(quite a difference between a 65 'vette and a Honda Civic) but also take into account that both Elkhorn 98 and yourself are both pulling a lot more trailer than we are. We weigh in at just under 10,000 lbs fully loaded and whether it makes any difference or not we very seldom use the Air conditioning in the truck.
To be honest I was pleasantly surprised that we are getting this kind of mileage I was expecting a lot less but we have checked the miles/gallon very carefully on our last three major trips one of over 12,000 kms to Alaska(13.2 miles/gal) and back. 3000 kms to Vancouver Island and around there(14.9 miles/gal) and the last trip to Sonama and the performance has been fairly consistent.
To date I can't complain. To coin an old phrase "I'm a very Happy Camper.
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We hotel camp when we go to Sonoma each year. Boyer did a great job holding off Busch and Smoke. We sit in turn 7 every year and it was a blast watching Smoke pass Busch going into turn 4 on the last lap for second place. One more lap and Smoke would have had it - great run! BTW, can you guess who's my fav??
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