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Directions to SVLUG Installfests at Google

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SVLUG's Installfests and Workshops are generally 3rd Saturdays, 11 am - 4 pm. For normal procedures (things to do and avoid), see our main installfest page.

Our host:

Google, Inc.
1565 Charleston, Building 46
Room 135 ("Avarua" room)
Mountain View, CA 94043

Upon arrival:

• If doors are locked, look for instructions at the north entrance (emergency exit door). Our room's near that door; attract people's attention via a window or telephone Security for access, e.g., after leaving to use the restroom: A telephone's at the main entrance.
• We may have use of the room's two Mitsubishi projectors.
• Set up computers on window tables, for access to power and ethernet drops.
• We have ethernet w/DHCP, but don't count on wireless unless someone brings a WAP.
• Please don't wander around Google's buildings. A security guard would have to escort you back to building 46, among other things. (Note: You won't be on Google's main campus.)
• Our host graciously donates cool refreshments, e.g., sodas.
• Room capacity is said to be "24+".

By car:

• From US-101 southbound:
  • Use N. Rengstorff Ave. exit; turn right (logical east). Proceed over the freeway, continuing 0.3 miles to Charleston Road.
  • Turn right (logical south) at the first traffic light after the freeway crossing, onto Charleston Road, which curves left (eastwards). Proceed three blocks (0.5 miles) to Huff Ave.
  • Turn right (south) onto Huff Ave., then immediate left into the first driveway.
  • It's the 2nd building on the left. Look for building 46.
  • Park near any building bearing the "Google" name.
• From US-101 northbound:
  • Use Amphitheatre Parkway exit, curving right (eastwards) and proceeding a short distance (0.2 miles), to Charleston Road.
  • Turn right (logical south) at the first traffic light, onto Charleston Road, which curves left (eastwards). Proceed three blocks (0.5 miles) to Huff Ave.
  • Turn right (south) onto Huff Ave., then immediate left into the first driveway.
  • It's the 2nd building on the left. Look for building 46.
  • Park near any building bearing the "Google" name.

By VTA Light Rail:

• Take light rail to the Mountain View terminus, aka "Downtown Mountain View Transit Center", where Castro Street / Moffett Blvd. intersects Central Expressway. You now face a 1.3 mile journey north (Bay-wards).
• Via walking/bicycling:
  • First, cross Central Expressway to where Moffett Blvd. radiates away northeast.
  • Instead of using Moffett Blvd., look left, to find the nearby start of Stierlin Road, 30 degrees from Moffett Blvd. Walk north along Stierlin seven short blocks (0.5 mile) to where Stierlin merges with N. Shoreline Blvd.
  • Continue 9 blocks (0.6 mile) north along N. Shoreline Blvd., crossing US-101, to Charleston Road.
  • Turn left (west) onto Charleston Road. Go two short blocks (0.2 miles) to Huff Ave.
  • Turn left (south) onto Huff Ave. Building 46 is second on your left.
• Via VTA bus:
  • Take the Route 35 "Downtown Mountain View to Stanford Shopping Center" bus to the California & Rengstorff stop.
  • Cross N. Rengstorff Ave.; walk about 100 yards to Route 40's bus stop.
  • Switch to the Route 40 "San Antonio Shopping Center to L'Avenida" bus, disembarking at the Charleston / Shoreline stop.
  • Walk back (west) two short blocks along Charleston Road to Huff Ave.
  • Turn left (south) onto Huff Ave. Building 46 is second on your left.

• Depending on travel direction and inclination, use either Mountain View's San Antonio CalTrain stop (further north, 2 miles further to go) or Mountain View stop (further south, 1.3 miles further to go).

  • From Mountain View station, follow directions for "VTA Light Rail", above.

  • From San Antonio station: You now must navigate the final ~2 miles of your journey, Bay-wards, via either of two methods:

    Via walking/bicycling: Directions are listed under the top-level "By walking/bicycling" section, near the end of this page.

    Via VTA bus:

    To reach a bus to Google, first either:

    • Walk two blocks:
      • Notice Showers Drive, the street paralleling CalTrain's tracks. Find Paccheti Way, a small street branching off south-westwards; walk two short blocks along it, to its end at California St. There will be a bus stop, across California St.

      Or:

    • Take a bus to a transfer point:
      • Walk to the the Route 35 "Stanford Shopping Center to Downtown Mountain View" bus stop, across Showers Drive from the station. Ride to the San Antonio Shopping Center stop, corner of Showers Drive and Latham Drive.

      In either case:

    • Take the Route 40 "San Antonio Shopping Center to L'Avenida" bus, disembarking at the Charleston / Shoreline stop.
    • Walk back (west) two short blocks along Charleston Road to Huff Ave.
    • Turn left (south) onto Huff Ave. Building 46 is second on your left.
• By walking/bicycling:

  Obviously, many approaches are possible. Here are two:

  Via a paved bicycle trail:

  • Take the Stevens Creek Trail (which parallels CA-85) north towards the Bay. This paved trail runs several miles, intersecting only one road, from near El Camino Real / CA-85 to the Bay at Shoreline Park.
  • After going under US-101, exit the trail leftwards (west) at L'Avenida Street trail access point. Proceed along L'Avenida for two blocks, turning right (north) when L'Avenida ends at N. Shoreline Blvd.
  • Proceed five intersections along N. Shoreline Blvd., to Charleston Road. Turn left (west) onto Charleston.
  • Walk two short blocks along Charleston Road to Huff Ave.
  • Turn left (south) onto Huff Ave. Building 46 is second on your left.
• Via arterial streets (example starting point being San Antonio CalTrain)
  • Go logical east (geographic north) 1.0 miles along San Antonio Road to E. Charleston Road.
  • Turn right (logical south; geographic east) onto E. Charleston Road, proceeding 0.5 miles to its end at N. Rengstorff Ave. (The road curves right, skirting a freeway entrance and an In and Out Burger.)
  • Turn left (logical east; geographic north) onto N. Rengstorff Ave., crossing the freeway, and proceeding 0.3 miles to Charleston Road.
  • Turn right (logical south; geographic southeast) onto Charleston Road, proceeding 0.5 miles as Charleston Road curves left (eastwards) to Huff Ave.
  • Turn right (south) onto Huff Ave. Building 46 is second on your left.
  • (The street approach starting from Downtown Mountain View Transit Center covered under "VTA Light Rail" and "CalTrain" may also appeal, being 0.7 miles shorter.)