Post-Event Recap: Bear Mtn. Meet & Drive

The Bear Mtn. Meet & Drive was a significant event as it formally kicked off TOCNYS activity in the Hudson Valley. Thanks to member Kamal S, who conceived and planned out the event, laying the groundwork so that it could be as successful as it was!

First proposed as a small meetup way back in January, the event was somewhat a victim of its early planning as it had several months to gather

momentum. Drawing nearer to the event date, we were starting to worry that our mountain-top destination would be too small to accommodate all the cars. Back-up plans were loosely drawn up and we even stopped actively marketing the event as a result!

As the morning of the event rolled around, we were excited to see the weather was going to be beautiful, which meant we had one less thing to worry about raining on our parade (pardon the puns)! Despite the relatively early 8:30am start, Teslas started taking over the Tarrytown Supercharger parking lot and signing in.

Before we departed, Kamal grabbed the mic and gave everyone a pre-departure rundown of what we were going to do (drive in a Tesla caravan to the top of Bear Mtn.) as well as what we weren't going to do (get speeding tickets :) and then we were off!

Things were going swimmingly until we arrived at the base of Bear Mtn. What I'd love to say is that we then all started our 5-month-anticipated, curvaceous ascent up the famed mountain, enjoying the crisp mountain air as we threaded forest and cliff. Gosh I would really love to say that, but what really happened is that we met an orange-ribbon barricade and stern men in uniform telling us that the road was closed :<(

At this point, I'd later learn, an exchange was occurring at the front of the line: one of the followers asked leader Kamal, "Now what are we going to do?!" To which Kamal calmly and in epic fashion responded, "Just follow me" (as he meanwhile was thinking to himself, "Man, what are we going to do?!") Fortunately, he had remembered an overlook parking lot on the other side of the river, that though small, was probably not behind a police line and the great Tesla caravan did a 16-car u-turn and was off again.

The overlook parking lot was not even close to empty when we found it, but fate would not have us denied twice in one day. Whether it was the intimidation of our collective lack of engine noise or the wild enthusiasm with which we claimed our valuable parking spots, we soon had commandeered almost the whole lot within minutes of arrival. Let the festivities begin!

Finally, our Tesla caravan took its final trip south again and took over Chili's restaurant for nice lunch. For the first time today, parking was not a challenge.

Here's a final goodbye from the Hudson Valley. As fate would have it, Bear Mountain remains yet unconquered by TOCNYS, but our spirits were not crushed and we vow that we will return!

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