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A Long Drive to San Jose
Sep. 22nd, 2023 10:44 pmI was fortunate that my manager allowed me to log out at 10 AM this morning on the condition that I take my work computers with me and log back in when I got to the hotel in case anything came up that needed my attention. I needed the extra time today for the drive to San Jose, where I will be until Sunday.
Here's the Google Maps plan for potential driving routes. I did not take the route that I see highlighted in the map, instead turning south on I-5 at Sacramento to Stockton and Tracy, then west on I-205 and I-580, then south on I-680 to San Jose. The third route is one I'm really surprised it suggested, which is to go to Carson City, then south into California on route 88. That's a lovely scenic drive, but it's slow due to winding mountain roads.
( Recycling )
Unfortunately, it turns out that the recycling center was closed today even though it's normally open seven days per week. Apparently it won't be open again until Sunday; however, because their hours are 7 AM - 3 PM, it's very unlikely that I'll be able to get there on the way home on Sunday, and thus all of this stuff gets a round trip between my home and the Bay Area. I shrugged and continued west into the jaws of emergency road repairs.
CalTrans discovered that large portions of Interstate 80, which had a major rebuild a few years ago, are failing badly. They have had to initiate emergency road repairs, because they have to be done before winter weather sets in. It's hard to figure out just what sections of the highway are under repair.
( Traffic at Truckee )
I did see another section of the eastbound highway under reconstruction later. I'll probably be hung up in it on the way home. There are not a large number of alternative routes that don't end up taking even longer.
Thanks to the traffic delays and my need to stop to use the restroom a lot these days, plus getting into Sacramento's Friday afternoon drive-time traffic and thus spending more time in slow traffic between Sacramento, Stockton, and Tracy, I ended up needing nearly ten hours to drive the just over 300 miles between home and San Jose.
Fortunately, I was able to pick up some groceries from which I made my dinner once I made it to the Holiday Inn Express (the same one where I stayed a few weeks ago), which made things easier.
Being able to open both windows helped a whole lot, as the outside temperatures were tolerable, so I wasn't sweltering in the car without air conditioning.
Something that also helped was that at times, the clattering noise that we think is the EGR valve subsided, and at times the Service Engine light actually went back out. That meant the van started running more or less normally, without the constant rattling.
Aside from having to be up for the hotel breakfast, I have no commitments until 10 AM Saturday, so I should be able to get a fair amount of sleep tonight. That's good, because I'm very tired.
Why am I in San Jose again? That's a story for tomorrow night.
Here's the Google Maps plan for potential driving routes. I did not take the route that I see highlighted in the map, instead turning south on I-5 at Sacramento to Stockton and Tracy, then west on I-205 and I-580, then south on I-680 to San Jose. The third route is one I'm really surprised it suggested, which is to go to Carson City, then south into California on route 88. That's a lovely scenic drive, but it's slow due to winding mountain roads.
( Recycling )
Unfortunately, it turns out that the recycling center was closed today even though it's normally open seven days per week. Apparently it won't be open again until Sunday; however, because their hours are 7 AM - 3 PM, it's very unlikely that I'll be able to get there on the way home on Sunday, and thus all of this stuff gets a round trip between my home and the Bay Area. I shrugged and continued west into the jaws of emergency road repairs.
CalTrans discovered that large portions of Interstate 80, which had a major rebuild a few years ago, are failing badly. They have had to initiate emergency road repairs, because they have to be done before winter weather sets in. It's hard to figure out just what sections of the highway are under repair.
( Traffic at Truckee )
I did see another section of the eastbound highway under reconstruction later. I'll probably be hung up in it on the way home. There are not a large number of alternative routes that don't end up taking even longer.
Thanks to the traffic delays and my need to stop to use the restroom a lot these days, plus getting into Sacramento's Friday afternoon drive-time traffic and thus spending more time in slow traffic between Sacramento, Stockton, and Tracy, I ended up needing nearly ten hours to drive the just over 300 miles between home and San Jose.
Fortunately, I was able to pick up some groceries from which I made my dinner once I made it to the Holiday Inn Express (the same one where I stayed a few weeks ago), which made things easier.
Being able to open both windows helped a whole lot, as the outside temperatures were tolerable, so I wasn't sweltering in the car without air conditioning.
Something that also helped was that at times, the clattering noise that we think is the EGR valve subsided, and at times the Service Engine light actually went back out. That meant the van started running more or less normally, without the constant rattling.
Aside from having to be up for the hotel breakfast, I have no commitments until 10 AM Saturday, so I should be able to get a fair amount of sleep tonight. That's good, because I'm very tired.
Why am I in San Jose again? That's a story for tomorrow night.
