BC2BC Return Trip

Cypress QC definitely up and running as of Saturday afternoon, 6/23.

Composing this on the Amtrak Coast Starlight on my non-smart phone ... a bit of a pain ...

Reaching Salem pretty much on-schedule now. Expect to leave Portland per schedule in third post of this thread.
GaslessInSeattle & JohnnySebring charging and expecting me.

God speed in NorCal !

It looks like an hour at the Nissan sealer in Salem before going on the Halsey. I did do this leg non-stop, Halsey to Portland, but im crazy.

Woo Hoo! Right on schedule, arriving at Halsey QC at 6:40pm:


41 - 33180 Hwy 228, Halsey, OR 97348 [AV-DC] { Arr 18:45; Dep 19:15 }
22 - 840 Beltline Road, Springfield, OR 97477 [AV-DC] { Arr 19:45; Dep 20:00 }
22 - 1590 Gateway Blvd., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 [AV-DC] { Arr 20:20; Dep 20:40 }
27 - 621 John Long Road, Oakland, OR 97462 [AV-L2 overnight] { Arr 21:10 }

----- Motel 6, 621 John Long Road, Oakland, OR 97462 [*Reserved]

Total : 163 miles

Got to Motel 6 in Oakland right on schedule at 21:10.

However, having internet access issues here. So I need to keep it short.

GaslessInSeattle started with 5 temp bars, 6 at his first QC, then 7 when completing QC in Ridgefield. I never saw higher than 7 (6 after 1hour L2 completed in Salem). Drove the speed limit (except last 10 miles at 55mph to reach my first QC in Hlasey), and kept the power bubbles low after leaving each QC to around 60% SOC.

For tonight I am using L2 to 80% with End Time only (7am departure), so that I have a cool battery by morning (still at 7 1 hour after arrival), and can use heat (not pre-heat) to get SOC down for my first (Roseburg) QC tomorrow.

Time for bed ... as you can tell Tony's plans and mine are different ;-)

LEAFer said:

Got to Motel 6 in Oakland right on schedule at 21:10....

Time for bed ... as you can tell Tony's plans and mine are different ;-)

Click to expand...

You guys are making it look easy !!!

I can't wait to see how the NorCal leg goes!

"LEAFer"]47 - 3400 Shasta Gateway Drive Shasta Lake, CA 96019 (EV4UNOW.com) [6-50 208V] { Arr 21:00 (20:00?) }
[ Late alternate: 69 - CROWN Nissan; 300 E Cypress Ave, Redding, CA 96002 [AV-L2] ]

Overnight: [Motel 6 nearby]

Click to expand...

Have you arranged to use the J1772 at EV4UNOW.com?, which is usually available during business hours?

Sounds like your Redding plans are to be there as briefly as possible, and to spend that time in an unconscious state.

Good plan!

But if you wind up with any free time during the day, while waiting on L2 in the greater Redding area, I'll try to make it to your site.

It's remarkable that continuous moderate driving and QCing doesn't seem to heat the battery up much at least at 50-70 degree ambient. We did get to Portland ahead of schedule as nothing I planned for went wrong and had about an hour or so of cooling after the QC top off at electric ave. The trip back to Portland via Johny Sebrings Leaf went smoothly. Having 3 adults in the car didn't seem to affect MPkW's much. We had a scare in centralia when we pulled up and the screen read fault/out of order. seemed like it was in some kind of a resting mode between charges, there was an electrical smell in the air which cleared relatively quickly and the normal screen came on.

LEAFer said:

Got to Motel 6 in Oakland right on schedule at 21:10.

However, having internet access issues here. So I need to keep it short.

GaslessInSeattle started with 5 temp bars, 6 at his first QC, then 7 when completing QC in Ridgefield. I never saw higher than 7 (6 after 1hour L2 completed in Salem). Drove the speed limit (except last 10 miles at 55mph to reach my first QC in Hlasey), and kept the power bubbles low after leaving each QC to around 60% SOC.

For tonight I am using L2 to 80% with End Time only (7am departure), so that I have a cool battery by morning (still at 7 1 hour after arrival), and can use heat (not pre-heat) to get SOC down for my first (Roseburg) QC tomorrow.

Time for bed ... as you can tell Tony's plans and mine are different ;-)

Click to expand...

FINALLY :!: Eureka :!: (Yreka! ... laugh ... that was a joke :roll: ) some SLOOOOW (L2) charging so I can spend some time on (working) internet ... Arrived here in Yreka slightly ahead of schedule. Now plugged into the Tesla EVSE at Comfort Inn and using wifi at McDonalds next door.

Have seen 9 temp bars today. All details to be published by Thursday's EAA meeting in Davis. I need some time at home Wednesday to consolidate and make it presentable for forum & EAA use.

The Ashland - Yreka stretch was not as bad as anticipated, except for the construction area single lane section with 3 trucks in front of me going 31mph ( not my fault ).

I thought at first it was pilot error when I checked on the LEAF 25 minutes prior to departure in Oakland this morning ... it had not charged on the 80% timer last night :!: So I implemented plan B ... moved the car over to the QC and did it there, still able to depart as scheduled.

The LEAF specialist yesterday in Salem (Bob Lacy) earned a T-shirt ! Had a great conversation and he showed much enthusiasm. He will pass it all on to customers and potential customers. And the L2 (just to get a little extra on the long thirsty non-QC section from Portland to Halsey) slow charge allowed me to get my planned dinner in. ( Dairy Queen; that NoSalesTax thing in Oregon did take some getting used to )

Rhonda (owner [correction: manager]) at the Motel 6 also earned a T-shirt, as did a couple that met me at my first-ever QC in Halsey. He had not followed the forums for several months, but decided to do so a few days ago. Saw our "news" about the ReturnTrip ... and decided to meet me (with his wife of 26 years) in an 8,000 mile red LEAF.

@GaslessInSeattle: Tony had done a good job of hiding the AV-FOB (sunglas compartment). Yours was mailed from the quaint town of Wolf Creek at their small Post Office ... Debbie and another (did not catch her name) Postal Worker had heard of the trek going north on the news. Unfortunately the AV-DC is a bit of a walk and they can't leave their post for photos ... oh well. (Please acknowledge receipt when it arrives in the mail.)

edatoakrun said:

"LEAFer"]
Overnight: [Motel 6 nearby]

Click to expand...

Have you arranged to use the J1772 at EV4UNOW.com?, which is usually available during business hours?

Sounds like your Redding plans are to be there as briefly as possible, and to spend that time in an unconscious state.

Good plan!

But if you wind up with any free time during the day, while waiting on L2 in the greater Redding area, I'll try to make it to your site.

Click to expand...

Yes ... at EV4UNOW this evening/overnight ( GE Wattstation ... let's see what happens :shock: ). I still hope to arrive around 8pm, 9pm at worst. Sleep in a little at Motel 6 (Twin View Blvd). Could not work much on the California part of the plan last night, so I don't have the detailed Arr/Dep times yet. Breakfast tomorrow at or near Motel 6 ? Check tracker for my arrival this evening, Richard will taxi me to/from Motel 6. Dinner ? if it doesn't get too late ?


Edit: I just checked the LiveSpot and the tracker did not record Yreka, although I left it on for a while before leaving the car. I'll go check on charge status and turn it back on.

LEAFer said:

Edit: I just checked the LiveSpot and the tracker did not record Yreka, although I left it on for a while before leaving the car. I'll go check on charge status and turn it back on.

Click to expand...

You have to let it sit at least 10 minutes after stopping to be sure it reports your present position. It's not delayed, just only reports at 10 minute intervals. If you turn it off at 9 minutes from the previous report, that's the last report.

Anyone know status of Blink QC at VW ERL in Belmont or 350Green unit in Stanford shopping center? Bay Area QC thread does not sound promising.

TonyWilliams said:

LEAFer said:

Edit: I just checked the LiveSpot and the tracker did not record Yreka, although I left it on for a while before leaving the car. I'll go check on charge status and turn it back on.

Click to expand...

You have to let it sit at least 10 minutes after stopping to be sure it reports your present position. It's not delayed, just only reports at 10 minute intervals. If you turn it off at 9 minutes from the previous report, that's the last report.

Click to expand...

Yeah ... I know. But it happened again, too. Arrived at Shasta Lake at 18:58 with 30 gids, 12.4 miles after the last report at 18:40. It should have picked me up at 18:50 ... when it should have had a clear signal ... I was going slow after the exit from I-5.

Anyway ... car is feeding from a GE Wattstation and I am at Motel 6 ... planning for tomorrow.

At RailRoad RV Park (pos'n 37) I had to ask for directions, then find a 50amp service, since the guy they directed me to was nowhere to be found. After a few tries (30 amp - 120V only, #38), I found the proper outlet. Later I found the guy ... he had never heard of a special rate ... but I convinced him $5 would cover it

At the Yreka Comfort Inn ... which provides the Tesla EVSE with electricity I talked to the family owners (son & dad). Turns out they also run (?own) the Oakland Motel 6 I stayed at prior night So ... Rhonda there is a manager ... I think I referred to her as owner earlier. The Patel's and I discussed QC & demand charges and those Oregon QCs ... and they each earned a T-Shirt

I am vicariously enjoying your trip. How does Mt. Shasta look at this time of year?

javan said:

I am vicariously enjoying your trip. How does Mt. Shasta look at this time of year?

Click to expand...

Could not see the top of it today ... shrouded in clouds and had quite a bit of rain after Yreka (is it really June ?). ( My first time north of Redding ... I had hoped for a clear view from all angles ... oh well )

I used the Belmont charger Sunday Eve and right side was working fine.

I am going to do the "boring" route tomorrow. I have 200 miles to go and won't chance it on I-5. Probably back-roads at 45mph. Hope to take off by 07:00, but I am depending on others ... so I am not putting up a time-plan like yesterday and today.

Shasta Lake
Orland
Woodland
Home

I added Dep/Arr times to the above post in the third post (page 1). However, they are approximate ... this isn't Oregin, ya' know :lol:

Follow me on the tracker (see OP) to guesstimate loc'n/times if you'd like to meet me along the way.

LEAFer said:

I added Dep/Arr times to the above post in the third post (page 1). However, they are approximate ... this isn't Oregin, ya' know :lol:

Follow me on the tracker (see OP) to guesstimate loc'n/times if you'd like to meet me along the way.

Click to expand...

How's the food at the "Berry Patch" in Orland?

Please leave a big tip (I believe the restaurant pays for your charge) and mention that there are tens of thousands thousands of BEV/PHEV drivers in CA, that would PAY to charge there, if they had (several, please) J1772s, rather than the "free" Tesla-only charger.

And, with no demand charges with PG&E, it's an even better location for A DC site.

edatoakrun said:

And, with no demand charges with PG&E, an even better location for A DC site.

Click to expand...

What do you base this statement on? Is there a specific rate plan that you are referring to?

Of course, it's no surprise that I am looking to find those logical places to put DC chargers with my company, Quick Charge Power. It's one of the many missions for this expedition.

Naturally, they must either make financial sense (few sites will, to be honest) or be subsidized in some way. No demand charges would go a long way to subsidize the cost, but I can't imagine the PG&E does not have them. I'm actually quite sure they do.