Let's hear your awesome ideas for my d-day!

[e-FTW]

Delivery day that is.
I have a few known variables:

1 - Probably picking up in Fremont mid-afternoon next Sunday, 9/27
2 - Totally doing the tour!
3 - Live in San Francisco, with no car at the moment. Plan is to do BART to Fremont, then Lyft or a cab.
4 - Need to hit Petaluma to pick up some passive garage height adjustment devices (rubber mats).
5 - I leave the next day for 8 days, during which the car will sit in a garage without home charging.
6 - Looks like about 120 miles distance.

With that in mind, sounds like we are going to have our first visit to a supercharger, in Petaluma. Being a Sunday afternoon, am expecting it to be rather busy. Even if I leave Fremont with a full charge, I probably need to charge at the SC. Especially since the car will sit for 8-9 days, unplugged afterwards.
Debating on route: 880 traffic, or 680 (unknown to me).

So, what can we do with this circuit in mind (SF-Fremont-Petaluma-SF)?
Any good driving spots we should swing by? Sights we may not have seen yet (we moved here in Jan.)
Thanks!

 

[tstafford]

Have fun at the tour. I did it last week while in San Jose on business. It's fun. Seeing some X's in production was the highlight probably.

 

[e-FTW]

Have fun at the tour. I did it last week while in San Jose on business. It's fun. Seeing some X's in production was the highlight probably.

No doubt! Am hoping to see some delivered!

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No doubt! Am hoping to see some delivered!

Never mind, looks like some Founder's are delivered on the 29th, not before.

 

[Pete90D]

Delivery day that is.
I have a few known variables:

1 - Probably picking up in Fremont mid-afternoon next Sunday, 9/27
2 - Totally doing the tour!
3 - Live in San Francisco, with no car at the moment. Plan is to do BART to Fremont, then Lyft or a cab.
4 - Need to hit Petaluma to pick up some passive garage height adjustment devices (rubber mats).
5 - I leave the next day for 8 days, during which the car will sit in a garage without home charging.
6 - Looks like about 120 miles distance.

With that in mind, sounds like we are going to have our first visit to a supercharger, in Petaluma. Being a Sunday afternoon, am expecting it to be rather busy. Even if I leave Fremont with a full charge, I probably need to charge at the SC. Especially since the car will sit for 8-9 days, unplugged afterwards.
Debating on route: 880 traffic, or 680 (unknown to me).

So, what can we do with this circuit in mind (SF-Fremont-Petaluma-SF)?
Any good driving spots we should swing by? Sights we may not have seen yet (we moved here in Jan.)
Thanks!

You could go from Fremont, a little south to 237, drive from 237 over to Mountain View. Stop off at that supercharger, then drive over to 280, which I prefer over 880, and will take you up to SF then up to Petaluma. Going over by 280 you can go find some nice back roads, but Sunday... cyclists...

You could also maybe drive further west to Rt 1 and get the scenic ocean drive home. Leaving from Mountain View SC going 280->92->Rt1->Petaluma would be ~90 miles then you can charge in Petaluma to 100%, drive to SF to burn off the 10% and then not have to worry about it sitting.

 

[e-FTW]

You could go from Fremont, a little south to 237, drive from 237 over to Mountain View. Stop off at that supercharger, then drive over to 280, which I prefer over 880, and will take you up to SF then up to Petaluma. Going over by 280 you can go find some nice back roads, but Sunday... cyclists...

You could also maybe drive further west to Rt 1 and get the scenic ocean drive home. Leaving from Mountain View SC going 280->92->Rt1->Petaluma would be ~90 miles then you can charge in Petaluma to 100%, drive to SF to burn off the 10% and then not have to worry about it sitting.

Interesting idea, especially if going over the hills to the 1. But I know for a fact that driving through SF, to Petaluma, and back to SF, my wife would find a bit of a waste of time. Sad she does not have her CA license yet!

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You could go from Fremont, a little south to 237, drive from 237 over to Mountain View. Stop off at that supercharger, then drive over to 280, which I prefer over 880, and will take you up to SF then up to Petaluma. Going over by 280 you can go find some nice back roads, but Sunday... cyclists...

You could also maybe drive further west to Rt 1 and get the scenic ocean drive home. Leaving from Mountain View SC going 280->92->Rt1->Petaluma would be ~90 miles then you can charge in Petaluma to 100%, drive to SF to burn off the 10% and then not have to worry about it sitting.

Also, the peninsula is a known entity for me. I drive (until today when my company car went away) the 280 to Silicon Valley and back 2-3 times a week.

 

[Pete90D]

Interesting idea, especially if going over the hills to the 1. But I know for a fact that driving through SF, to Petaluma, and back to SF, my wife would find a bit of a waste of time. Sad she does not have her CA license yet!

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Also, the peninsula is a known entity for me. I drive (until today when my company car went away) the 280 to Silicon Valley and back 2-3 times a week.

Ah ok. Sorry, a lot of people I know from SF just take the bus down and leave it at that.

 

[e-FTW]

Ah ok. Sorry, a lot of people I know from SF just take the bus down and leave it at that.

Yeah, thanks Pete. My job requires me to be quite mobile when down there, so I need a car. And well, why not have a good one right? But your words are enough to make me take the longer way home some days!

Oooh, this seems promising: East Bay | Bay Area Driving Roads

For example, Bear Creek Road sound good by the looks of the description: Bear Creak Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads

Description:Bear Creek Rd. is a wonderful ribbon of asphalt that winds it’s ways around the Briones Reservoir. It starts off in the valley, but quickly starts to climb up to the ridge. At this point the road really opens-up with wide sweeping turns.
Speed:
The corners, gentle and sweeping, with lots of ‘run-off’ are very inviting. The posted speed limit is quite reasonable, but the road just begs to be driven faster. There are a few park entrances on both sides of the road to keep an eye out for.
Road Condition:

Bear Creak Rd. is two lanes the entire length and has very wide paved shoulders. The pavement is very well maintained around the reservoir and is one of the smoothest roads I’ve ever driven on!

Sounds like the perfect spot to get used to the biggest car I have ever owned. And the magic, force-field driven, thrust.
And it looks like you can pair it with Wildcat Canyon Road: Wildcat Canyon Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads

Thus achieving what Pete was suggesting, in the East Bay!

 

[Pete90D]

Yeah, thanks Pete. My job requires me to be quite mobile when down there, so I need a car. And well, why not have a good one right? But your words are enough to make me take the longer way home some days!

Oooh, this seems promising: East Bay | Bay Area Driving Roads

For example, Bear Creek Road sound good by the looks of the description: Bear Creak Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads



Sounds like the perfect spot to get used to the biggest car I have ever owned. And the magic, force-field driven, thrust.
And it looks like you can pair it with Wildcat Canyon Road: Wildcat Canyon Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads

Thus achieving what Pete was suggesting, in the East Bay!

Oh fantastic. I'm definitely checking those out. Thanks and I look forward to your delivery post

As for the size of the car, it isn't horribly difficult to get use to. My E350 is roughly the same size, but I feel at times like the Model S is larger. Transitioning from smaller cars to either wasn't bad, but I completely understand. Biggest things are probably going to be your garage, parallel parking, and turning into parking lots. Tilting mirrors will help protect the rims when backing up and the camera really helps backing up. Also, parking by backing in as often as possible helps reduce the risk of getting hit by not seeing someone.

 

[e-FTW]

Oh fantastic. I'm definitely checking those out. Thanks and I look forward to your delivery post

As for the size of the car, it isn't horribly difficult to get use to. My E350 is roughly the same size, but I feel at times like the Model S is larger. Transitioning from smaller cars to either wasn't bad, but I completely understand. Biggest things are probably going to be your garage, parallel parking, and turning into parking lots. Tilting mirrors will help protect the rims when backing up and the camera really helps backing up. Also, parking by backing in as often as possible helps reduce the risk of getting hit by not seeing someone.

All most excellent tips!
Yes, my garage will be challenging to say the least. My company car was a Jeep Patriot, and I would come in with an inch or less to spare on the right side, to make sure I had plenty of room to exit on my side. The Model S' foldable mirrors will be handy.

As for real driving, in Canada, my cars were usually compacts (last two were Subaru WRX).

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Also looking forward to your review of those roads! IIRC, you are on that side of the Bay.

 

[Pete90D]

All most excellent tips!
Yes, my garage will be challenging to say the least. My company car was a Jeep Patriot, and I would come in with an inch or less to spare on the right side, to make sure I had plenty of room to exit on my side. The Model S' foldable mirrors will be handy.

As for real driving, in Canada, my cars were usually compacts (last two were Subaru WRX).

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Also looking forward to you review of those roads! IIRC, you are on that side of the Bay.

That's very much like my garage. I have about 1.5in on each mirror when going through the door and I have to go right so I have room to get out. I tapped my mirror pulling out the other day and it scared the crap out of me.

I'm in the Mountain View area so both are a bit out of the way, but as long as I can grab a full charge in Fremont I think it will be fine.

 

[bmah]

Yeah, thanks Pete. My job requires me to be quite mobile when down there, so I need a car. And well, why not have a good one right? But your words are enough to make me take the longer way home some days!

Oooh, this seems promising: East Bay | Bay Area Driving Roads

For example, Bear Creek Road sound good by the looks of the description: Bear Creak Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads



Sounds like the perfect spot to get used to the biggest car I have ever owned. And the magic, force-field driven, thrust.
And it looks like you can pair it with Wildcat Canyon Road: Wildcat Canyon Rd. | Bay Area Driving Roads

Thus achieving what Pete was suggesting, in the East Bay!

Well, if you're thinking of being in that area...I drive Grizzly Peak Blvd. between Fish Ranch Rd. (near Hwy. 24) and Centennial Drive almost daily (in my 85D). The road is in pretty good condition (IMHO), most of it was repaved within the last two years. It's not particularly wide, so please be careful for cyclists and the occasional skateboarder. But if the weather's clear, you can't beat the views of the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and downtown SF. There are a few (unpaved) viewing areas to pull off and enjoy the scenery.

 

[e-FTW]

Well, if you're thinking of being in that area...I drive Grizzly Peak Blvd. between Fish Ranch Rd. (near Hwy. 24) and Centennial Drive almost daily (in my 85D). The road is in pretty good condition (IMHO), most of it was repaved within the last two years. It's not particularly wide, so please be careful for cyclists and the occasional skateboarder. But if the weather's clear, you can't beat the views of the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and downtown SF. There are a few (unpaved) viewing areas to pull off and enjoy the scenery.

Nice, good tip!

 

[e-FTW]

Tomorrow's the day! There will be pics...

 

[e-FTW]

Well, the day came, and I got about half of what I wanted done. None of the awesome roads were used, because of time constraints for my wife's work.
Will post pics later. I did road trip, but not to any sexy location. In this car, that does not matter very much...

 

[e-FTW]

Tomorrow is my birthday, so miles will be driven. Pictures taken. A car wash visited. And my d-day story published, as promised.
I plan on driving all three roads in the hills over Berkeley we talked about.

Should be be a decent day.

 

[e-FTW]

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