itinerary: add Big Sur airport drive plan

days/2026-10-04.md

@@ -1,14 +1,51 @@
-# Oct 4 (Sun) — San Francisco — MS departs
+# Oct 4 (Sun) — Morro Bay → Big Sur → SFO — MS/LK depart
 
-## Logistics
+*All times are PDT.*
 
-- Leave Morro Bay by **09:00 PDT**; Morro Bay → SFO Rental Car Center is roughly 4½ hours before traffic
-- Return [SIXT rental](../bookings/transport/car-rental.md) at SFO by **16:00–16:30 PDT** (booked through Oct 5, 1 PM — update return time in the SIXT account first)
-- UA8073 / AC573 SFO → YVR **7:30 PM** ([flights](../bookings/transport/flights-ms.md)) · Air Canada check-in · return bag fee at check-in
+## Hard deadlines
+
+- **9:30 AM** Depart Rockview Inn, Morro Bay
+- Target the [SFO SIXT Rental Car Center](../bookings/transport/car-rental.md) by **4:00 PM**; booked/planned early return remains 4:30 PM, but the flight-day route should not rely on that later time
+- UA8073 / AC573 SFO → YVR departs **7:30 PM** ([flights](../bookings/transport/flights-ms.md)) · Air Canada check-in · return bag fee at check-in
+- Checked bags and boarding passes are required by **6:30 PM**; be at the gate by **7:00 PM**
+
+## Road status checked 8:57 AM
+
+- Caltrans reports Highway 1 open for through travel, with **one-way controlled traffic at Rocky Creek Bridge**, 15.7 miles south of Monterey
+- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park remains closed because of fire impacts; other Big Sur parks have service/trail restrictions. Do not plan park entries or hikes today
+- Follow live navigation, Caltrans signs and emergency directions; if through travel closes, switch immediately to the fastest US-101 route
+
+## Recommended route — Big Sur core, then fastest to SFO
+
+The forced coastal route through Monterey is about **227 miles / 5 hours 10 minutes** baseline before live traffic, construction, stops and fuel. Starting at 9:30 AM leaves room only for two brief stops.
+
+- **9:30 AM** Depart with fuel, water and portable food; no sit-down lunch
+- **10:20–10:30 AM** [Elephant Seal Vista Point](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.6633,-121.2577) — free, roadside wildlife viewing
+- **10:45–10:55 AM** [Ragged Point](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.78072,-121.33083) — brief cliff-and-ocean viewpoint/restroom stop
+- **10:55 AM–12:30 PM** Drive the Big Sur coast; the road itself is the main sight
+- **Around 12:30 PM** [Bixby Creek Bridge](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=36.37159,-121.90193) — drive-by only; do not enter the crowded pullouts with all luggage aboard
+- **By 1:00 PM** Reach Monterey and switch to the fastest route via SR-156 / US-101 toward SFO
+- **Around 3:30–3:45 PM** Fuel near SFO
+- **3:50–4:10 PM** Return the vehicle to SIXT, complete the inspection and take AirTrain to the terminal
+
+**Bailout:** if Monterey is reached after **1:00 PM**, stop nowhere else, take the fastest route to SFO and fuel only near the airport. Do not continue on Highway 1 through Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay.
+
+## Skip today
+
+- McWay Falls / Julia Pfeiffer Burns: park restrictions, extra parking/walking and an uncertain seasonal waterfall
+- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: closed
+- Point Lobos: deserves at least 1½–2 hours and parking is capacity-limited
+- Año Nuevo: elephant-seal viewing requires a 3–4 mile hike
+- Full coast via Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay: about **5 hours 35 minutes baseline** before stops and construction; unsafe for the 4:00 PM rental-return target from a 9:30 AM departure
+
+All luggage remains in the vehicle. Carry valuables, conceal bags before departure, do not open the luggage area at stops and keep both stops short; roadside lots are not secure storage.
 
 ## Addresses
 
 | Place | Address | Map |
 |---|---|---|
-| SFO Rental Car Center (SIXT) | 780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128 | [37.62813, -122.40025](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=37.62813,-122.40025) |
 | Rockview Inn and Suites — Morro Bay | 1080 Market Ave, Morro Bay, CA 93442 | [search](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Rockview+Inn+and+Suites+1080+Market+Ave+Morro+Bay+CA+93442) |
+| Elephant Seal Vista Point | Highway 1, San Simeon, CA | [35.6633, -121.2577](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.6633,-121.2577) |
+| Ragged Point | 19019 Highway 1, Ragged Point, CA 93452 | [35.78072, -121.33083](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.78072,-121.33083) |
+| Bixby Creek Bridge | Highway 1, Monterey County, CA | [36.37159, -121.90193](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=36.37159,-121.90193) |
+| SFO Rental Car Center (SIXT) | 780 N McDonnell Rd, San Francisco, CA 94128 | [37.62813, -122.40025](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=37.62813,-122.40025) |

itinerary.md

@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ One file per day in [`days/`](days/): logistics, agreed plan, open notes, addres
 | [Oct 1](days/2026-10-01.md) | Thu | Death Valley viewpoints · Las Vegas evening |
 | [Oct 2](days/2026-10-02.md) | Fri | Las Vegas |
 | [Oct 3](days/2026-10-03.md) | Sat | Las Vegas → Morro Bay · 9:00 AM departure |
-| [Oct 4](days/2026-10-04.md) | Sun | San Francisco |
+| [Oct 4](days/2026-10-04.md) | Sun | Morro Bay → Big Sur → SFO · 7:30 PM flight |
 
 ---
 
-*Last updated: 2026-10-03*
+*Last updated: 2026-10-04*