KurtG ☮️

I just finished riding in my 2026 Tesla Model Y around North America over about 44 days while on Full Self Driving (FSD versions 14.3.9 to 14.3.12) from September 6, 2026 to October 19. From San Antonio, TX to Santa Barbara, CA to Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC to Toronto, ON and back to San Antonio. Then, a follow on trip back to Portland to retrieve our dog who we left with family for the international portion of our trip. My wife and I alternately stayed in motels and camped in National and State/provincial parks along the way. On our campouts, we slept in our tent but about half the time, we both slept in the Tesla in Camp mode on the colder nights in the mountains. At times while we hiked, our dog safely stayed in the car in Pet mode. We drove 11740 miles (For context, Earth circumference is 25,000), most of which was on FSD, except a four day spell during which a slight wheel misalignment precluded FSD use until I arrived at the Tesla Service Center in Buffalo for repairs. Those 4 days of hand driving were more fatiguing than all of the other “driving” which only required me to be attentive in the driver seat! OPINION: The Tesla Model Y, the Tesla supercharger network and the Tesla Service Center experience are all SUPERIOR PRODUCTS and SERVICES! The cost to supercharge was 75% of the cost of gas, higher than in previous years of Tesla ownership but still saved me about $500. OPINION: FSD is the future! FSD is extremely safe and significantly reduces driver fatigue. I really enjoyed driving near people gripping steering wheels while I was able to take in the view without worry and imagine the near future with self-driving cars and trucks. IMPORTANTLY, FSD saved me from a potential fender bender in Erie, PA as a car missed their turn and blindly swerved into my lane. My Tesla preternaturally and simultaneously swerved into the adjacent lane away from the offending car and avoided contact without causing other traffic problems due to 8 external cameras used by FSD. @tesla @aelluswamy @elonmusk OPINION: I used my Starlink Mini for internet service during the trip. With a cheap power adapter to plug into the low voltage car outlet, I used the Mini while traveling at highway speeds with the antenna sitting on a suitcase under the rear hatchback. At campsites, I laid the mini on the picnic table, powered by the car outlet. I watched Ohtani hit a three run homer in game 4 against the Brewers while in a primitive campsite along the Colorado River near Arches National Park under the Milky Way. In Yoho National Park in Canada, after a stroll by the river and taking in the view, my wife and I laid in the car in Camp mode and watched a movie before sleeping in consistent warmth (but an extra 10% of battery use overnight). At another remote site, I used the mini to download the latest FSD software which later installed overnight. STARLINK INTERNET IS AMAZING, NECESSARY REALLY! (Separately, I had used the Mini on a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez earlier in 2026 without issue.) I cannot praise Starlink enough! EVERYONE GET STARLINK NOW! @Starlink @SpaceX Thank you Elon and the Tesla and SpaceX teams!! You are all doing amazing work!! This is my opinion and I was not paid or influenced to post this. I’m just excited about my experience and wanted to share!

Nipigon, Ontario, about 10:45 p.m. EDT, 4 Oct 2026. Aurora arc and a field-aligned ray. NOAA had Kp 6 (G2) earlier in the evening, then G1. brightened again around 10:30. Taken with iPhone!