The trip to Wrocław, with a stop in my home town of Łódź, was definitely less pleasant than I had planned. I picked terrible dates: 31 October and 1 November, the time of heavy traffic around All Saints' Day (when much of Poland travels to visit family graves). Unfortunately, I had no choice – on 2 November I was going to Sopot with J, so any other date was simply out of the question.
Traffic jams, traffic jams and more traffic jams
The drive on 31 October was a real test of patience. Out of 7 hours on the road, I spent about 3.5 hours in traffic jams – mainly in Łódź and Wrocław. In Łódź, on top of that, I decided to visit the cemetery, which only made things worse. I could have avoided it, but I made the decision on the spot and there was no turning back.
Charging with stops
Near Łódź I stopped to charge at a KFC. I decided to use the time waiting for the Tesla to charge to 80% for a meal. To my disappointment, my favourite rice in the large size turned out to be less tasty than the regular portion – a small culinary failure. Fortunately, I managed to finish eating before the car reached 80%. In the end I unplugged the Tesla at 79% and set off again at a relaxed pace.
In Wrocław, after taking care of work matters, I used a charging station with a promotion. Thanks to that, I could calmly get ready for the return trip. On the way back I experimented a bit with the car's settings and behaviour, which translated into higher than usual energy consumption.
The return, with charging breaks
The first stop on the way back was again the KFC near Łódź, by the A1. This time fast charging took just 7 minutes – exactly as long as I needed for a quick toilet break. The next break was by the A2 in Łyszkowice, at a GreenWay fast charging station. After 20 minutes of charging I was ready for the final leg of the journey.
Before getting home, I also stopped at PowerDot to top up the battery enough that I wouldn't have to worry about charging the next day before leaving for Sopot. 15 minutes was enough to be ready for the next day.
Summary
This was my first longer trip in the Tesla without any technical problems. Of course, the traffic jams in Łódź and Wrocław took their toll on me, but you can't have everything. The car performed brilliantly, and I gained more experience in planning longer routes. Next time, though, I'll try to avoid the worst holiday traffic – as long as my calendar allows it. 😊