Mt. Hamilton pre-drive info, pics, and vids (to come shortly) Drove it last night.
04-01-2005, 12:21 PM
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Mt. Hamilton pre-drive info, pics, and vids (to come shortly) Drove it last night.
Thanks to Ben for coming along, taking pics, vids, and notes.
Here's the image for the gas station you will HAVE to stop at to fill up your tank prior to the drive. The drive will use about half a tank at 11.5 mpg. This Chevron is right off the 580, once you're on Livermore and heading towards our initial meeting point.
<img src="http://www.tripleplate.com/s4/AudiMeet-04-03-2005/gas.jpg">
Heres the pic of the auxilary parking lot. Sorry for the dark shot, took us awhile to get there through 580s traffic. Its at the corner of Cocannon and Livermore (entrance is just before). If you use the 3200 Roberston Park Rd, Livermore, CA address in your Navigation or mapquest, itll have you placed around the block. So just come down Livermore and you wont miss us. If you hit Cocannon, you have.
<img src="http://www.tripleplate.com/s4/AudiMeet-04-03-2005/initialmeet.jpg">
About the drive itself:
Once there, we will set our FRS radios to channel 4, subchannel 4, setup driving groups based on number of drivers, driving style, etc. We leave the intial meeting point at 8:30 AM with or without you, so be there promptly at 8AM, with a full tank of gas.
We will continue on Livermore which becomes Tesla Road after Cocannon for 1 mile where we will turn right onto Mines Road. Mines road will continue towards Mt. Hamilton for 50 miles. This is the drive up to the Lick Observatory, where we will stop and eat a snack, drink, rest, etc.
<img src="http://www.crapple0.com/fun/aw/mthamilton.jpg">
It took me 1 hour and 8 mins driving fairly aggressively through the canyon roads with no traffic whatsoever at 8:30pm, to get to the observatory. (you will have vids of this shortly) With more traffic and more drivers, I estimate 1:30 for the fast group. We should be up at the observatory by 10AM. We will remain there for a maximum of 1 hour.
The drive down from the observatory to San Jose is 18 miles, it took me about 25 mins for I took it fairly easy after the 5 minute video session with Sarah McLachlan's "Silence" playing in the background. (I listen to trance, etc while driving, keeps me focused ;P. My driving and exhaust note, which you will definitely hear, should make you overcome any "sia's gay" sentiments. However, feel free to provide clowning commentary if you wish.)
We should be in San Jose by 11:45-12 the latest. While at the observatory, I'll confirm where we'll be eating once down in San Jose with all of you guys. I don't know the area, but I am looking for an "Olive Garden" type of restaurant that's has decent variety. Ben and I saw a lot of Pizza and Chinese Food places. Let me know here or on Sunday where you would prefer to eat.
Notes about the road itself:
The roads are fairly good. The drive up had very few collections of gravel, etc. I was pleased with the pavement as well. On the way down, it's a bit harder on your suspension. A lot more bumps and hazards to watch out for.
Specifics to beware:
Cattle Guards (metal railings on road)
Bumps and dips that surprise you after a blind corner
Wet spots. One was fairly deep, so we need to slow waaay down for this one.
Please watch the braking habits of the driver ahead. Be prepared to slam on your brakes if needed. For those tailing me, I'll be slowing down for these, and reporting back, so don't chew up my bumper! Our lead group will have the drivers I've driven with and trust, so any of these guys are more than welcome to follow, and potentially take the lead up to the observatory need be: Jeff (2FST4CHP), Olive Oil (Cpn Shtmtl), Ben (Benjjman07), Brooks (bdaddy, if you come), BLN (Brent), etc.
Ok, I think that's all for now. See you at 8AM this Sunday with a full tank of gas and a clear mind. Also, I actually don't suggest having a passenger on this drive. There are 1000s turns up to the observatory supposedly, and Ben (who drives fairly savagely as you've seen) starting feeling sick as a passenger.
See you.
(Ben, forward me the videos, or burn them for me to host later on tonight please. Thanks!)
Here's the image for the gas station you will HAVE to stop at to fill up your tank prior to the drive. The drive will use about half a tank at 11.5 mpg. This Chevron is right off the 580, once you're on Livermore and heading towards our initial meeting point.
<img src="http://www.tripleplate.com/s4/AudiMeet-04-03-2005/gas.jpg">
Heres the pic of the auxilary parking lot. Sorry for the dark shot, took us awhile to get there through 580s traffic. Its at the corner of Cocannon and Livermore (entrance is just before). If you use the 3200 Roberston Park Rd, Livermore, CA address in your Navigation or mapquest, itll have you placed around the block. So just come down Livermore and you wont miss us. If you hit Cocannon, you have.
<img src="http://www.tripleplate.com/s4/AudiMeet-04-03-2005/initialmeet.jpg">
About the drive itself:
Once there, we will set our FRS radios to channel 4, subchannel 4, setup driving groups based on number of drivers, driving style, etc. We leave the intial meeting point at 8:30 AM with or without you, so be there promptly at 8AM, with a full tank of gas.
We will continue on Livermore which becomes Tesla Road after Cocannon for 1 mile where we will turn right onto Mines Road. Mines road will continue towards Mt. Hamilton for 50 miles. This is the drive up to the Lick Observatory, where we will stop and eat a snack, drink, rest, etc.
<img src="http://www.crapple0.com/fun/aw/mthamilton.jpg">
It took me 1 hour and 8 mins driving fairly aggressively through the canyon roads with no traffic whatsoever at 8:30pm, to get to the observatory. (you will have vids of this shortly) With more traffic and more drivers, I estimate 1:30 for the fast group. We should be up at the observatory by 10AM. We will remain there for a maximum of 1 hour.
The drive down from the observatory to San Jose is 18 miles, it took me about 25 mins for I took it fairly easy after the 5 minute video session with Sarah McLachlan's "Silence" playing in the background. (I listen to trance, etc while driving, keeps me focused ;P. My driving and exhaust note, which you will definitely hear, should make you overcome any "sia's gay" sentiments. However, feel free to provide clowning commentary if you wish.)
We should be in San Jose by 11:45-12 the latest. While at the observatory, I'll confirm where we'll be eating once down in San Jose with all of you guys. I don't know the area, but I am looking for an "Olive Garden" type of restaurant that's has decent variety. Ben and I saw a lot of Pizza and Chinese Food places. Let me know here or on Sunday where you would prefer to eat.
Notes about the road itself:
The roads are fairly good. The drive up had very few collections of gravel, etc. I was pleased with the pavement as well. On the way down, it's a bit harder on your suspension. A lot more bumps and hazards to watch out for.
Specifics to beware:
Cattle Guards (metal railings on road)
Bumps and dips that surprise you after a blind corner
Wet spots. One was fairly deep, so we need to slow waaay down for this one.
Please watch the braking habits of the driver ahead. Be prepared to slam on your brakes if needed. For those tailing me, I'll be slowing down for these, and reporting back, so don't chew up my bumper! Our lead group will have the drivers I've driven with and trust, so any of these guys are more than welcome to follow, and potentially take the lead up to the observatory need be: Jeff (2FST4CHP), Olive Oil (Cpn Shtmtl), Ben (Benjjman07), Brooks (bdaddy, if you come), BLN (Brent), etc.
Ok, I think that's all for now. See you at 8AM this Sunday with a full tank of gas and a clear mind. Also, I actually don't suggest having a passenger on this drive. There are 1000s turns up to the observatory supposedly, and Ben (who drives fairly savagely as you've seen) starting feeling sick as a passenger.
See you.
(Ben, forward me the videos, or burn them for me to host later on tonight please. Thanks!)
04-01-2005, 01:41 PM
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imho, drives like these are stupid and dangerous to the public.
i used to do a couple drives like this, but no matter what you say... some jackass is going to push himself over his experience level and get someone hurt.
be safe and have fun.
be safe and have fun.
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04-01-2005, 03:10 PM
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We're not doing the Calaveras loop. I dont' know it actually. We didn't do it on the last drive
and I think people will be tired by that time. I'm game though if people want to.