Adventures in Moving

As you probably know, yesterday we moved our daughter into UC Berkeley. It was an adventure, and I thought I would share some of the experience with you:

• The drive to Berkeley was complicated by some significant delays due to Caltrans. Although we knew they might occur thanks to the Cal Parents FB group, and had read the Caltrans advisory and had checked Quickmap, it was much worse than we expected (over an hour). Those Cal-bound parents might consider staying on Route 24 and instead using College or Telegraph NB instead.
• Once at Cal, the Move-In was chaos, especially in regard to parking. Most spaces near the halls were 15 or 20 minute move-in parking, which wasn’t sufficient given the number of loads to be moved, the elevator delays, and such. Berkeley really needs to make move-in spaces be longer parking (I suggest 1 hr or 90 minutes, and then enforce it) to provide sufficient time to confused and flustered parents.
• We had been debating whether it was better to arrive at 10am (the scheduled start of move-in) or later. I was in the “earlier” camp, but after going through move-in, I think the answer is “later”. Later doesn’t help with the parking time situation (due to the 15- or 20- minute spaces), but it does help with finding them. More importantly, it makes it easier to get the big orange bucket bins, which (had we known) were essential for getting moved in one or two trips. We had brought our own carts, and using it and two people, it still took us 4 trips.
• For those moving into Slottman (Unit 1), it is much easier to enter on the lower level where there is a ramp and unlocked door. You need your key to call the elevator.

We also had a problem with Windows Update — her computer decided to install patches just as we were shutting it down to go move in, and then hung on the “updating” screen for 2+ hours. After she was all moved in, we ended up forcibly rebooting, and everything seemed to be fine.

Lunch was at Crossroads, and as usual, UC Berkeley food service was excellent. That’s one thing I no longer like about UCLA — the excellent local ASUCLA food service (such as the Cooperage, back in my day) has been replaced with chain food. Berkeley has no such chain food, and the quality and variety was great. Bed Bath and Beyond also had a pop-up sale at Crossroads, enabling us to get an extra power strip.

She is now all moved in. Her room has a wonderful view of The City and the bay, and she’s all unpacked. I’m still waiting for her to get connected and start posting, but a text we received indicated she was fine. Us? I’m going through withdrawal from being able to talk to her and find out what is happening.

A last PS to those driving along I-5 to/from LA. There is major construction in Buttonwillow. We tried to avoid it by using Route 43 to Route 58, but discovered the Route 58 ramp to I-5 was closed, and the detour takes one SB into the worst of the construction. Instead, drivers should stay on Route 43 to 7th Standard Road, take that under I-5 to Buttonwillow Rd, and go N on Buttonwillow Road to get to the NB ramp. SB drivers could avoid the construction by exiting at Buttonwillow/McKittrick (Exit 263), going S on Buttonwillow to 7th Std Road, going E to Route 43, and S on Route 43 to I-5. Mr. Roadshow is also warning about major delays on I-5 in Fresno County near Mendota. By the map, you could probably use Route 33 as a detour, but the combination of this and the Buttonwillow delays might make Route 101 or Route 99 a better option.