Second Annual TOCNYS Bear(less) Mountain Cruise / By: Luis Alicea

Driving means freedom; for Tesla owners, freedom means driving. Nothing is more exciting to an owner than getting behind a wheel of a car that can out accelerate, and outperform almost any car on the road; while doing it in an environmentally friendly way.

When you earn your driver’s license and purchase your first car, they are two of the most empowering and exciting moments in your life. However, as time goes by and as we mature, driving becomes less and less exciting. Before you realize it, driving all of a sudden becomes a chore. That initial excitement and love for driving, suddenly, ceases to exist.

I think I can safely say, the day a new Tesla owner receives delivery is the day the new driver excitement gets rekindled. For each Tesla owner, unlike owners of ICE vehicles that thrill of the drive never ceases to exist. Tesla owners look for the thrill of the drive.

Since quarantine began over a month ago, many TOCNYS members were eager to experience this thrill again. In a safe, social distancing way and in the safety of our Teslas TOCNYS sought to re-experience “the thrill.” On Sunday May 3rd, fifteen Teslas from Long Island, Westchester county, NYC, and New Jersey met at the Tarrytown NY Supercharger station. Their quest, to reach the summit of Bear Mountain. After a much needed recharge, one by one each Tesla exited the charging station. In single file, all fifteen Teslas that included thirteen model 3s, a model S, and Carson’s model X all headed towards the Sprain Brook Parkway. From the Sprain Brook we headed to the twisty and winding roads of the Taconic; a perfect stretch of road for Tesla’s low center of gravity cars.

As we cruised through each twist and turn of the Taconic, we couldn’t help but admire the scenic view it had to offer. One could not help but loose oneself in such a beautiful scenery on a perfect warm sunny day. Just before reaching route 9 we took the tight turn of Annsville circle and one by one each Tesla drove into a nearby gas station; all parked in single file.

To our misfortune the road to Bear Mountain was obstructed due to a motor vehicle accident. As we reoriented ourselves we took the opportunity for some photo and video shoots. Once we confirmed an alternate route the long caravan of Tesla’s exited the gas station and headed down route 9. From route 9 we headed down to the 409. To our misfortune we soon learned the gate to Bear Mountain was closed.

We pulled into a nearby parking lot of a funeral home where we came across, what looked to be, a beavers nest. One by one each Tesla took a parking position, a much needed break to stretch our legs. Unfortunately, that was the end of our run to reach the heights of Bear Mountain. Although Bear Mountain was closed, again; all was not lost, the drive itself was well worth it. The exhilaration of driving our Teslas through the scenic, twisty, windy turns of the Taconic was bliss.

This was the first cruise my wife and kids participated in. My eight year old twins and my six year old, all boys, are all big Tesla fans. They too, like me, were eager for this cruise. They have never seem so many Teslas in a caravan. They even had the opportunity to see the Model X dance – thank you Carson! My kids enjoyed it. This was truly a memorable cruise for all.

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