As reported previously, I was able to achieve my goal of 81 mpg (3.5 L/100km) on leg 1 from Victoria BC to St Johns NL.

Leg 2 from St Johns, NL back to BC has proved to be a challenge. As close as I can tell you for now - I was only able to pull off 75 mpg (3.75 L/100km). This despite achieving 101 mpg today between Penticton and Hope, and 111 mpg three days ago between Brandon and Moosomin.

Although I drove very carefully from Ottawa to BC, particularly hurtful to the fuel economy on the return leg were tanks between St Johns and Gander (56 mpg) and several tanks in Quebec, including a dismal 52 mpg between Montreal and Ottawa - my worst tank ever.

Thus, my overall economy lies at just 78 mpg (3.62 L/100km) - which is 3.7% under target. (Enough to be annoying to me.)

As for making it on $500.00 - that was based on $0.899 per litre. The average price of the 583 litres I have consumed thus far is $1.053 - a glaring 17% increase.

I was paying in excess of $1.20 per litre out in Newfoundland and Labrador. The cheapest prices were had in Alberta - $0.859 eastbound and $0.949 westbound. No surprise there I guess. (That may also explain why every other person drives a V8 Dodge Ram or similar in that province. :-0 )

So as you can tell, I’m about 20% over budget on the fuel ‘cost’. Final tally should be roughly $620.00.

Save for the increase in fuel prices as of recent, I would have completed the entire 16,300 kms on $530 worth of fuel.

One other interesting point:

My ‘Western Canadian’ mileage was 83 mpg overall (3.4 L/100km), which includes everything eastbound up to Mississauga, and everything westbound beyond Ottawa.

A full report with a spreadsheet back-up will be available after October 1st.