blizzard mileage

[Idahotom]

I had another blizzard drive from hell, 730 miles in what started out OK weather then turned bad. Plus, going through a section of Yellowstone Park, watching (out) for buffalo (when I could barely see the road) was another bit of fun.

Coming back I went a different route, and had a stretch of pure ice (not icey, solid wind polished ice full width) for about 45 miles, (no gravel, that's for sissies) with 40 mph + winds from all directions. No houses, coffee shops, motels, bars, keep going or else. At one point the wind was direct cross, seeming to want to push me into the unguard railed Madison River, the Yaris didn't go for it, I never felt it move sideways and find that hard to believe myself! Traffic was very light, but like last time mostly full size 4x4's along with some double trailer hay hauler semis. I gotta think they were surprised to see the little Yaris plugging along ("what a dumb ass" probably!)

Crossing the Continental Divide north of Henrys Lake Idaho, I had a period of total whiteout and had to full stop, not good, but 15 seconds later (a long 15 seconds...) was able to start again and then shortly thereafter it amazingly cleared on the other side of the Divide. So, 730 miles in 14 hours (when not on ice or whited out I hauled ass) 52+ MPH average, all in one day with no breaks other then 1 gas and two to go coffee stops. Got home at 9pm, left at 4am, and felt fine, tired but not because of the car. What a bad ass little car...oh yeah, 41.8 MPG!