Let's Ride the Dragon

[Donald Stanfield]

How will charging work? Seems like the only option is a single L2 site? That doesn’t seem like it’d be enough?

There are scattered DC fast chargers in Sevierville, Kodak, Knoxville, Maryville and a few other surrounding areas. I think there would be plenty of scattered charging within an hour or so drive from there.

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[ATL_Canes]

I'm following this thread as well - I'm interested in this. Low probability I can make it work, but if somehow the dates/times end up working, then I'd be interested.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

Ok so how does everyone feel about 5-6 November as the weekend? It sounds like that's going to be the ideal weather and it avoids Halloween.

My thought is that we meet at the bottom some time in the morning (9 or 10) and run up to the top, have lunch somewhere up in the mountains and then meet again around 2 to run back down.

Obviously open to suggestions from folks who know the area better.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Yeah it should still be pretty decent on that weekend. Hopefully I have my truck by then. That time of year is the busy season around that area, but it's towards the tail end so probably ideal.

 

[gombater]

sounds like a fun trip! depending on final dates [and my wife], I may be interested as well.

 

[Aviator]

I dont have an R1 yet, but willing to come on two wheels for support or a ride in one of them.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I am * hoping * to have my truck back in time for this. Right now it's at the body shop getting the door fixed and Rivian has a few things they have to do as well. I'm hopeful I'll have it back by early November but I don't have any sort of ETA at the moment unfortunately.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I'm going to get my truck this Friday. I was supposed to get it last Friday but it threw a rear drivetrain code. Regardless I'm down for this meet up.

 

[HokieR1T]

I found myself in the area this weekend, and couldn't resist. We made the trip up and back from the NC side yesterday morning. Didn't get caught in too much traffic, but was held up by some cruising bikes on both ends. The Rivian handled like a dream. I grew up on curvy mountain roads, so the comfort level has high.

Picked up a few miles at Killjoy while having lunch at Deals Gap. Very cool to provide to a free charger .... every little bit helps. For anyone coming from the NC side. Cherokee recently installed 2 Greenlots/Shell Recharge stations at the welcome center. Plugshare has them as 150. My experience in our 2 visits was 85-90 kWh. Grateful for the station as it made the trip much easier.

I want be able to join the group, but it sounds fun. Enjoy!

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

A quick update:

It's looking less and less likely that I will have my truck back from the body shop for the weekend of 5/6 November due to general incompetence.

 

[ashnazg]

PS my profile pic is me on a Zero DSR riding The Dragon!

Hey Buck, we're having our fourth annual Electrics at the Dragon in mid May (14-21) if you think you can join any part of that week. Lot of EV motorcycles from as far away as Ohio and Orlando, based on the last three meetups

 

[OUTAGAS]

I'd love to do this! It's the week of our anniversary, and the bride and I always make it a weekend in the mountains. We just might make it two weekends. So far, every weekend has been a new Adventure, so I'm really racking up the miles.

 

[Kevan Knapsack]

Count me in

 

[theadonnan]

You're going to have more fun doing a huge loop like this, +/- whatever stops you desire:
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=c0af7f04-1f32-4e29-8b84-9b2b62e91d93
- Rivian DCFC in Whittier / Cherokee, NC
- Clingman's Dome (parking fee but a nice destination)
- Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend
- Cades cove to Parson's Branch (one way looop) ends on us-129 aka the dragon
- Charge at tail of dragon (level 2) or at Tapoco Lodge (nice food)
- Fun forest roads near Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

We did something like that a few weeks ago, and despite the traffic it was a good driving loop.

 

[Autolycus]

You're going to have more fun doing a huge loop like this, +/- whatever stops you desire:
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=c0af7f04-1f32-4e29-8b84-9b2b62e91d93
- Rivian DCFC in Whittier / Cherokee, NC
- Clingman's Dome (parking fee but a nice destination)
- Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend
- Cades cove to Parson's Branch (one way looop) ends on us-129 aka the dragon
- Charge at tail of dragon (level 2) or at Tapoco Lodge (nice food)
- Fun forest roads near Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

We did something like that a few weeks ago, and despite the traffic it was a good driving loop.

How was Parson's Branch road? It was closed for a long time because of all the dead hemlocks constantly falling and blocking it. We've left Cades Cove via Rich Mountain Rd, and that was a nice change compared to heading back out Laurel Creek Rd. Parson's Branch would make for a much longer day though.

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