: Kris L. Silver 99 328i Sport 5spd
: SFjim Orient 00 328Ci Sport Step
: Scott W. Topaz 00 328Ci w/ Eibachs & BMW Spoiler 5spd
: Yev Estoril 99 M3 5spd
: Cary Silver 00 328i Sport 5spd

:
: We all gathered in a local department store parking lot where I attempted to install Cary's alarm. His would have been the fourth I installed.. but it wasn't pre-threaded for the siren! The alarm instructions warns that it might not be, but this is the first I've encountered that actually wasn't. I installed the motion & tilt sensors, but it looks like Cary will have to get the siren installed at a dealership. Sorry about that Cary!

: We then went to grab a bite to eat at a local fast food italian place and then headed up Mt Hamilton. My house is 12 miles from the base. From the base, it's 19 miles up to the Lick Observatory then another 50 miles down to Livermore.

: The above web page says it takes about an hour to get up to the observatory. Time it took me: 37 minutes.

: At the base of the mountain it was 104 degrees. eek! At the top, it was 86. Back here at home right now it's about 96.

: Going up the mountain you rarely get out of second gear. Coming down the other side, on the other hand, is awesome. It drops you in the beautiful (but dry) San Antonio Valley where you encounter 50 miles worth of sweeping turns. You can actually get into fifth gear. There is also a lot less traffic coming down. I think I passed 2 cars (and one bull standing on the side of the road) in that 50 mile span.

: SFjim was running on fumes when we got back to Livermore. When we found a gas station, he had gone 14 miles beyond the point where the OBC said "---" for miles left.

: Average MPG on the way up: 14.7.
: Average MPG from the top back to my house: 30.5
: Average speed on the whole trip: 38.4

:
: Like in most pictures, the orient blue looks black.. and the Topaz looks much more dull than it really is.