Horrible Gas Mileage in the Focus: Thunder Bay to Austin

My Canadian Pepperette Quest was coming to an end. It was time to drive half the continent so I could get back to Austin. I made my final stop at Metro in Thunder Bay. I was going to see what local products they had and spend my Canadian cash. You could see my car had been up north by all the salt that was on it.

Silver Ford Focus sedan parked in a commercial parking lot with Metro store visible in background under clear blue sky Metro grocery store storefront with red signage and beige facade in busy parking lot with multiple vehicles

After grocery shopping, I set my GPS and hit the road.

GPS navigation device mounted on car dashboard displaying route with 1476 distance marker on urban street

Soon I was in Minnesota and making a quick pitstop at Ryden's Border Store.

Two-lane highway stretching into distance through forested area with birch and evergreen trees under clear blue sky Ryden's store sign in yellow letters on gray metal building facade, established 1951 noted in corner

After Ryden's, my goal was to try to make as good of time as I could. It seemed the farther south I drove, the windier it got. I fought the wind and made it to the Missouri Welcome Center, where I spent the night.

Rural highway lined with mixed forest of white birch and evergreen trees under clear blue sky Highway cutting through rocky terrain with exposed cliff face on right side and forested hills in background Urban intersection with traffic signals and vehicles waiting at stoplight, mountain visible in distance Multi-lane urban freeway with concrete barriers, speed limit 55 sign visible, tall buildings in background Three flagpoles with American flag, Minnesota state flag, and POW/MIA flag flying outside stone building Interstate highway with overhead bridge crossing, Minnesota River sign visible on right side American flag waving on tall flagpole against clear blue sky with single cloud Sunset view from parking lot with orange and yellow sky breaking through clouds, street lights and vehicles visible Suburban sunset with sun low on horizon casting orange glow across sky, parking lot and bare trees in foreground Highway sunset view through windshield with sun setting orange on horizon, vehicles ahead on multi-lane road Interstate highway at dusk with dramatic cloud formations overhead and sunset colors on horizon Missouri Welcomes You sign illuminated at night with full moon overhead at rest area

When I woke up in the morning, it was even windier. By the time I hit Kansas there were high wind warnings out!

Missouri rest area at dusk with American and state flags, pavilion structure, and dramatic cloudy sky Missouri Welcomes You sign at rest area with dramatic sunrise sky breaking through clouds Kansas State Line sign on highway bridge with vehicles ahead, trees visible on both sides of road Straight rural highway stretching to horizon through flat farmland with tree lines on both sides under blue sky with wispy clouds Kansas highway with truck ahead and digital highway sign visible in distance, rolling prairie grassland on right side

I stopped at a travel plaza and the car just rocked from the wind. When I hit the road, my gas mileage was doing horrible. I got under 30mpg! Now, most people still think 30mpg is good, but I've got over 50mpg with my car before.

Car dashboard instrument cluster showing 75°F temperature, 75 MPH speed, 28170 miles on odometer, and fuel economy information

I wish my car was powered by the wind turbines because on that day I'd be doing well!

Rural highway with multiple wind turbines visible on both sides across agricultural fields under partly cloudy sky

By the time I was ready to fill up, my average was a little higher than 25mpg. It was 29.2mpg. That's the worst I've ever seen it in my 2017 Focus. I guess that little 1.0 EcoBoost was really working hard!

Car dashboard displaying 81°F temperature, 28386 miles on odometer, zero MPG current fuel economy, and 360 miles range remaining

Soon I was in Texas and it got a little less windy.

Multi-lane interstate highway with semi truck ahead, green exit sign visible, trees lining both sides under cloudy sky

As with any driving in Texas, there has to be a traffic jam. I hit Fort Worth right at rush hour, so that slowed me down a bit.

Highway approach to urban area with vehicles ahead, dramatic storm clouds overhead, commercial buildings visible in distance

After Fort Worth, things opened up. The sky got a bit darker too!

Interstate highway under dark stormy sky approaching city with billboards and commercial development visible on right

Luckily, it only sprinkled a little bit and I was finally home. Victoria got me a big bag of Laffy Taffy!

Bag of Laffy Taffy assorted fruit flavored candy with 185 pieces, showing strawberry, banana, and green apple flavors on gray textured surface

I was happy to be home with Victoria again. I can definitely see I pushed my Focus a little bit on this last trip. For me, 29mpg was disappointing gas mileage. I wonder if any other driving conditions will do this again. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

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