EV Rally to Payson & Pine: A Perfect Day on the Road
Perfect weather, great food, beautiful Arizona scenery and, most importantly, a great group of people made the EV Rally to Payson & Pine a day to remember.
DRIVE Electric Arizona brought EV owners and enthusiasts together for a Saturday road trip from Fountain Hills to Payson and Pine, with plenty of time along the way to drive, charge, eat, relax and enjoy each other's company.
Donuts, EVs and an Unexpected Addition
The morning started at Rainbow Donuts in Fountain Hills, where rally-goers gathered over donuts and conversation before getting ready to head north.
And before we even left, the rally picked up an unexpected addition.
A Tesla Model Y owner happened to stop by Rainbow Donuts, learned what the group was doing and decided to join the caravan to Payson. Sometimes the best parts of an EV rally aren't planned.
Heading North on SR-87
With everyone ready to go, the group headed north from Fountain Hills on SR-87 toward Payson. Clear skies and beautiful weather made for a perfect drive through some of Arizona's most scenic terrain.
Charging and Lunch in Payson
Once in Payson, the group had some time to charge, catch up and talk EVs before lunch. It also provided one of the more fitting photo opportunities of the day: a lineup of electric vehicles charging beneath a sign displaying the day's gasoline prices.
From there, everyone headed to Macky's Grill for lunch. The food was fantastic, and the stop gave the group a chance to sit down together before continuing the final stretch north to Pine.
Relaxing at Cowabunga Camp
After lunch, the rally continued from Payson to Pine for our final destination: Cowabunga Camp.
The private lounge was the perfect place to slow things down after a morning on the road. Rally-goers had time to relax, explore the property, talk EVs and simply enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the pines.
Cowabunga Camp gallery photos by Peter Culin, Amanda and Scott Toughill, and Rachel Culin.
A Few Cowabunga Locals
Of course, a visit to Cowabunga Camp wouldn't be complete without spending a little time with some of its most memorable residents.
One Last Arizona Surprise
Even the trip out had something special waiting for us. Wild elk were spotted near the entrance to Cowabunga Camp, providing a fitting Arizona ending to an already memorable day.
The EV Rally to Payson & Pine was about more than the cars. It was about getting out on the road, exploring Arizona and spending the day with people who share an interest in electric transportation.
From an unexpected Tesla joining us over donuts to a caravan up SR-87, lunch in Payson, an afternoon among the pines and even a few Highland cows and wild elk, it was exactly the kind of day that reminds us how much fun this community can be.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success. We look forward to seeing where the next road takes us.
Explore Electric.