FIRST SUNDAY DRIVES
ENTHUSIAST DRIVES FOR MERCEDES-BENZ AUTOMOBILES
First Sunday Drives are casual drives planned on the first Sunday of every month. The drives are open to anyone driving a Mercedes-Benz automobile. Unless otherwise noted on the route instructions we meet at our identified start location between 9 and 9:45AM and depart as close to 10AM as possible. Any last minute details and information is shared at a pre-drive meeting at ~9:45 so be sure to arrive early and grab some coffee and to meet up with old and new friends.
See pictures from our previous drives FSD Gallery!
July 7, 2024
Solano-Berryessa-Vacaville
Our FSD will explore the bucolic splendor of Solano County wine country back roads and Lake Berryessa, and finish in historic downtown Vacaville (who knew there was a downtown Vacaville?!), where lunch will be on your own.
We will start at Starbuck’s in Fairfield, 5121 Business Center Drive; meet & greet & coffees at 9am-9:45, then after preliminary instructions & directions, at 10am we head right (East) on BCD and after a couple of miles turn left on Suisun Valley Road.
As we meander north, we go for about 20 miles on the scenic SVR. Many may not know this Suisun Valley area is also known as an American Viticulture Area (AVA) because of the grape and olive orchards and wineries, now emerging as one of best kept secrets in the world of wine making. From SVR we turn right for a country drive up State Route 121 then take a right on State Route 128. (Note: the road gets a little steep here, so if you're driving your classic Mercedes, just be aware.) This road will lead us on a winding scenic trip, with views of farms, goats, geese, turkeys, and ducks, as we head towards Lake Berryessa, the seventh largest man-made lake in California. Water from the reservoir primarily supplies agriculture in the Sacramento Valley downstream. The Monticello dam is noted for its classic, uncontrolled morning-glory-type spillway. The diameter at the lip is 72 ft (22 m). Locally, the spillway is also known as the "Glory Hole,” which you will get a view of as we will stop here for a stretch and photo opportunity. (Unfortunately the water in the lake is too low for the GH spillway to be spilling).
From the “Glory Hole,” we hop back on Hwy 128 and over Putah Creek to where we turn right at Pleasant Valley Road towards Vacaville. A left at Vaca Valley Road, then a right on Gibson Canyon Road will take us towards Old Town Vacaville. A left on East Main and we'll be in the center of charming Historic Vacaville, a rejuvenated area with a plethora of international cuisine options, including Mexican, Asian, Italian, Mexican Fusion, Delicatessens, Italian Fusion, Cantinas, Pubs and Taverns, American Cafes and Sandwich shops. With these choices you're certain to find exactly what you crave for lunch.
N.B. IT WILL BE HOT (triple digits ) so plan accordingly!