Driving through the Storm

[Webmaster]

This past Friday I had to drive through to Knysna for a wedding.
We left CT at 3pm and by the time we got to the top of Sir Lowry's Pass it started chucking it down. N2 here we come.
I can safely say that I cannot remember a drive where I've been more focused or alert. It was bad on the road. We were driving straight into the rain and the spray from oncoming cars and trucks was being blown directly into our path. Traffic had slowed to around 70-80kph but we had to keep the pace so where the road allowed we overtook and got back up to the national limit. Anything over 140kph was suicide as I couldn't see standing water and sometimes got 2-3deg yaw which certainly keeps you alert.
We eventually got into Knysna at 20:40.
Total distance covered was 1165Km and 92L of unleaded used. Not bad at all considering lights, wipers and A/C were always on. Sometimes ESP too!
Fuel consumption was about 7.8L/100Km - this really surprised me as I was expecting over 10L from the 320i considering the conditions.

Lastly - a massive thank you to my co-pilot, Mrs 3speedette, who kept me fed and watered and awake. :inlove::ty:

Video: just so you get an idea of the rain, was like this 60% of the time.

She got dir-teeee so a bit of tlc is due on Monday eve.

 

[maximus]

hectic :fencelook:

 

[anton-sa]

reminds me of when i used to compete in soundquality audio compettions (mobile autosound), i went upto jhb for sa finals one year, finished the car off the friday morning around 1:30am with my last chore that hour of the morning being to fill my tank. e30 325i 1989 model at that time.

7:30am i was on the road to jhb, drove straight through. stopeed once at beaufort west for fuel and then once more at bloem.

it was around 8/9pm by the time i got to the kroonstad area, when a storm of note, thick hard rain, lighting ever other second. sleep deprived... i remember that drive VERY WELL. eventually got to the friend i was staying at's place at 9ish pm... glad to have made it.

at one stage could not drive faster than 70km/hr due to poor lack of visibility and those long haul trucks spray water onto your car that for what feels like 2 or 3 seconds you're almost blinded.

its the worst thing ever, you cruising at 160km/hr on the long stretches, at worst 120km.. then for what i think was 100km-150km @ 70km/hr...the latter is terrible.....

 

[Webmaster]

True - Anton-SA.

The spray from oncoming traffic was the worst. White windscreen for a few seconds. Once the wipers were overwhelmed by the spray from an abnormal tractor/trailer. They were stuck for a bit :thumbdo:

 

[DieselFan]

At least you didn't have to worry about speeding tickets :rollsmile:

Glad you guys made it safe and sound. Hope you enjoyed your time in the garden route.

 

[Mrcloc]

Hectic! Last time I drove down to Knysna it was the same rain, but not for as long. That spray from the trucks in front is so scary!