Travel Thursday

It is just 7 at night here in Weed, California, named for Mr. Weed, who built a sawmill there. The area is windy, and he believed it would be perfect for drying wood. I decided to stay near the hotel and just walked with my hat pushed down on my head to McDonald’s for something basic and cheap. I loaded the McDonald’s app (I had let it get out of date on my new iPhone), which gave me a code to scan into the touch screen. The screen froze. I touched it, and it was warm. Touch screens primarily work by detecting heat. When the screens are warm, they cannot detect touches. I moved to a screen that was cold and was able to order.

I then went to find a table. All the tables I wanted were used and uncleaned, but someone had left the cleaning rag, still wet with cleaner. I cleaned all the tables that were not in use and those near the windows. Deborah thought it was nice, but I said that was a passive-aggressive Portland reaction. Imagine the online review I could give them! But I did not do those things; I did it because it needed to be done. Not really passive-aggressive. A very friendly gal brought me my dinner, and I smiled and thanked her.

I spoke to Deborah now that I was checked into my hotel and Air VW the Gray was charging (for $37+ for 100% and fast via ChargePoint at the hotel). When the charging was completed, I finished my meal, rang off, and walked back in the heavy wind. I unplugged and moved the EV to a regular parking spot. If you don’t unplug quickly, you are charged for non-charging use. No, just leave it plugged in all night. I also checked, and it won’t freeze tonight, meaning I can leave the olive items in the cargo hold.

I arrived at about 5 in Weed with an 11% charge left, and the VW told me to find a charge soon. I charged the EV three times on the trip. There are fewer chargers on the trip from Fresno to Weed, and many are not fast. I had sat in a hotel parking lot about two hours away from Weed for twenty minutes to ‘top-off’ the charge to ensure I would reach Weed without more charges. I traveled up the mountains into the 4,000+ passes on one charge.

Before this, I had charged at a few free places as I traveled. I was connecting the fast chargers and only slipped to 25% on the trip before charging. I would have preferred only two charging sessions, but again, to get the last cheap ones, I had to take a few ‘top-offs.’

The fast charging stations are often at Walmart or hotels. There is usually no food or restrooms nearby, so I had to stop at rest stops between charges. Not very efficient! ChargePoint, CalTran, and Electrify America do not seem to share my to-go good food restaurants and fast-charging idea.

I am retravelling the same path, and seeing everything in reverse from my initial trip is strange. I started on a hot morning in Fresno, sneezing from the dust to cloudy skies as I reached passes to the north. In the passes, the rain began to pour, and I switched the mode to Traction on Air VW the Gray and slowed down as it was hard to see. The temperature fell, and the wind pushed the EV sideways if I was not careful. My hands grew tired as I had to control the EV closely, as it has tight steering. The traffic was never light, and the truck filled the right lane. I tried to stay no more than 10-over and was often passed, even when ten over was 80!

I stopped in Corning, with the Olive Pit store as my target (and was disappointed that their EV charger was malfunctioning). I considered getting an early dinner there but passed on dinner since I could not charge while eating. I wanted to get to my hotel and rest.

They had reasonably priced olive products and oil. They had racks and racks of olives with various flavors and stuffings. They had a little tasting bar where you could try the olives. They also specialized in other oils and vinegars. I filled a box with my purchases. I was happy I fit it in. Recommended: Olive Pit, off 5, Corning, California.

I rose in Fresno and missed my alarm. I hit the road at around 7:40 without shaving (as I was running late) and stopped at McDonald’s looking for a charge location (it was not open to the public). I had the leftover cheese and meat from the day before I had kept in the room’s frig for a snack instead of lunch.

I talked to Deborah often today. We are again getting used to being apart after so many perfect days together. Deborah heard this song at Parker’s Lighthouse and sent it to me. It seems to fit us: here.

And Dear Reader, I think that is the full day. There was just lots of driving and occasionally holding on for dear life in flooding rains in the passes, dodging surprising lane changes, and avoiding trucks both fast and slow. Traffic was always busy, and I look forward to putting Air VW the Gray in the garage at home on Friday.