Just got back from our long haul trip. Uwharrie for 4 days, home for 12 hours, then headed out for KC,MO. After that we drove to Dayton, OH, and then back here.
The truck (06 F250 diesel) averaged out at 27.1 mpg!!!! Overall average speed was 61mph (total, that includes stops, running around town and whatnot)
I did notice some huge fluctuations in mileage. The only reason I can deduce is pavement material. I was getting close to 700 miles on a tank. Same fuel, same terrain, same temp, huge mileage changes. I got 29mpg in the south, 24mpg in the midwest. I think the changes in paving materials are the cause. Only thing I can think of. The south doesn't worry about freezing and whatnot, so may use a harder material, => better mpg. Midwest has to take into account freezing, so pavement needs to flex with temp changes, => softer surface, => lower mpg. This is the only thing I can think of, and it happened both ways.
Either way it was a good shakedown on the truck, I have one more uwharrie trip in Dec, then its Moab next spring, and after that Washington State.
While in Mo, I did a lot of shooting. Played with my FIL's SKS, .357 revolver, and several other rifles. I had never fired a .357, turns out, at 30 yards, I can hit the staple on a target with that gun. I do have an Expert Rifle Medal via the Navy, but nothing with hand guns. The SKS-45 was awesome. It is an original from Russia, never been fired, had all the extras that would be issued to infantry. It fires the standard NATO 7.62x39 round. Sweet gun. PITA to load though. Uses a spring clip style loader.
Took the 5 year old out shooting too, he had no hesitation, not even a flinch when firing the .22. Good times for all!
I am happy to be home again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two VXs have been spotted in my area, an Ebony (I suspect it was my student's, it was for sale a few days ago), and a factory Proton. My friend saw it on my street and snapped a pic. Definitely not mine, and definitely stock. Time to start stalking them.