We elected for the self-assist option so that we could be the first off the ship. It meant handling all of our luggage from our stateroom (instead of putting our suitcases out the night before to be delivered to the pier) but we hoped the extra effort would be worth it and it was! The ship cleared customs at about 7:20 a.m. By 7:40 a.m. we had walked off the ship, gone through customs, and found our shuttle. We waited for a couple more people but were back at the hotel, car packed, and driving out by 8:33 a.m. It couldn’t have gone any smoother.
We were also presently surprised to see that gas prices had dropped. I guess our lack of energy two weeks ago to find a gas station in New Jersey before we got to the hotel actually worked in our favor so that we could take advantage of cheaper prices.
The view proved to be even more breathtaking than the way up. Pennsylvania is enjoying an extended fall colors season although the weather could not decide what season it is. In a couple hours time we have seen clear blue skies, overcast skies, and everything in between. It was common to have a change in temperatures by 8-10 degrees within minutes. It rained, snowed, and sleeted; the road was soaked and completely dry and the skies were dark, cloudy and sunny! The weather changed its mind every few miles so you never know what is going to be around the corner.
On another note, neither of us gained any weight!
Now for my husband’s favorite part of trip blogs, the trip stats (he is a CPA):
Vehicle: 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L 5-speed manual
Trip up:
Total Miles Driven Today: 893
Hours Driving (not including breaks or meals): 13 hours 55 minutes
Miles per gallon (per car computer): 34.1 miles per gallon
Average Speed: 64 miles per hour
First fillup was in Youngstown, Ohio - 15.5 gallons around 9:30 a.m. eastern time. Miles driven on that tank was 497.5 for a hand calculated miles per gallon of 32.1.
Weather: Around 50 F and cloudy when we left; Pretty high wind gusts in Indiana and Ohio; Rain in Ohio through Pennsylvania and into New Jersey, the lowest we saw driving was 43 F. It was 47 F when we reached New Jersey. The second half of the trip was through the Appalachian Mountains and thus very hilly.
We didn’t fill up the same day as there were no gas stations convenient to the hotel and we were tired.
Trip home:
Total miles driven: 909
Miles per gallon (per car computer): 35.0
Hours Driving (not including breaks nor meals): 13 hours and 6 minutes
Average Speed: 69 miles per hour
First fillup was near Rockaway, New Jersey of 13.4 gallons at around 9:30 a.m. eastern time. Miles driven on that tank was 443 for a hand calculated miles per gallon of 33.1.
Second fillip was at the Great Lakes Ohio Turnpike Service Plaza of 13.3 gallons around 3:20 p.m. eastern time. Miles driven on that tank was 419 for a hand calculated miles per gallon of 31.5.
Third fillip was at home of 13.1 gallons the next day. Miles driven on that tank was 441 for a hand calculated miles per gallon of 33.7.
Weather: Upper 30s, low 40s with a mix of weather (snow, rain, sleet, sunshine, clouds, etc.). The first half of the trip was through the Appalachian Mountains and thus very hilly. Once we crossed the border into Ohio, the sky cleared up and temperatures were in the upper 40s for the rest of the trip.
Overall Trip:
Total miles driven: 1,801.9
Gallons: 55.3
Miles per gallon (hand calculated): 32.6
Total money spent on gas: Just under $100 (cheapest gas was $2.09 in NJ on the way home)
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