Jekyll2026-02-12T22:01:56-08:00https://theboardingcall.com/feed.xmlThe Boarding CallTravel stories, EV road trips, and adventure guides from around the world.Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 12 – Zion NP to Vegas2023-07-18T04:10:35-07:002023-07-18T04:10:35-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-12-zion-np-to-vegasWe left Zion around 10:30am and stopped by the visitor center to pick up a couple souvenirs and write some postcards. We topped up the battery in the morning, and didn’t have to charge on the way to Vegas.

Vegas was so hot when we arrived, that the in-car thermometer showed 114F! It felt like opening the door and walking into a sauna.

Leaving Zion National Park in the Tesla Zion park exit with desert scenery

We got a charging spot at the Aria, and pretty much explored Vegas on foot the rest of the time there. Charging spots are hard to come by, and the general etiquette there is the luck of the draw (how Vegas), and people don’t move their cars until they leave town. Of course the overall temperature was above 100 all the time, so the cabin overheat protection was pretty much running non-stop during the day.

We had dinner at Mott 32, which we cannot recommend the Peking Duck. Everything else was great, but the Peking Duck, which is also their signature dish, was subpar and left us disappointed.

Postcards from the road trip National Park souvenir stamps Road trip postcards and memorabilia Souvenir collection from the trip Postcards written at Zion visitor center Trip mementos and keepsakes Arrival in Las Vegas Tesla charging at the Aria in Las Vegas Las Vegas strip view

The weather gets even hotter the next day…

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 11 – Full Day of Zion2023-07-17T15:59:50-07:002023-07-17T15:59:50-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-11-full-day-of-zionWe kept this day pretty low key because we managed to get a permit to hike Angel’s Landing, which is an insane hike that spans 5.6 miles and goes up 1600 feet. We wanted to leave the park and check out Springdale, but the line to get back in was too long for us to even consider it. So we drive the scenic drive again, but the light was too harsh at that time of day to take great photos.

However, something we learned is that everyone wants to crowd Angel’s Landing at sunrise and early in the day when it’s cooler. However, Sunset may be the best time to hike it, as the trail is shaded, and you can get great views at the time without the sun beating you down too hard.

Photos:

Angel's Landing trail view of Zion Canyon Zion canyon walls from the hiking trail Chain section on Angel's Landing trail Narrow ridge along Angel's Landing View from Angel's Landing summit Zion valley floor seen from above Hikers on Angel's Landing trail Zion canyon overlook during the hike Switchbacks on the Angel's Landing trail Zion National Park panoramic view Angel's Landing trail with canyon backdrop Zion rock formations along the hike

Vegas tomorrow.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 10 – Bryce to Zion2023-07-17T05:06:41-07:002023-07-17T05:06:41-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-10-bryce-to-zionThis drive was done without a charging stop, as there are chargers at the Zion Lodge. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is exactly that, very scenic.

We started the day with 70% and made it to Zion with 49% remaining. We woke up early to catch the sunrise, and started our drive after that.

Bryce Canyon NP at sunrise Bryce Canyon NP at sunrise.

I will provide a stats update later on, but for now, just enjoy the timelapse above, and the pictures.

Zion Canyon scenic drive vista Zion National Park towering rock formations Scenic road through Zion canyon walls

Lodging and Charging

We stayed at Zion Lodge, which is excellent. Unfortunately the Wi-Fi there is worse than spotty, so the Starlink had to be brought out. There are two chargers, and not many people use them. We walked around the entire parking lot and found no other EVs, other than ours and the red 3 that used the other one. 7kW is great, however lack of cell signal means a more or less useless Tesla App.

7kW chargers 7kW chargers Zion Lodge Zion Lodge Starlink Starlink

Starlink worked surprisingly well, considering it was very obstructed with Trees and the lodge overhead. But it worked better than whatever internet was provided to the Zion Lodge, and I could even upload the above time lapse to YouTube.

Full day of Zion tomorrow

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 9 – Bryce Canyon National Park2023-07-12T21:20:10-07:002023-07-12T21:20:10-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-9-bryce-canyon-national-parkThis is really going to be a photo post. But I wanted to point out a few things:

  • Charge up at Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City, they have 2x 4kW and 2x 8kW Tesla chargers.
  • Bryce Canyon is not a ‘scenic drive’.
  • Bryce Canyon is best at Sunrise, and is an amazing place to view the night sky. Sunset is underwhelming
  • The food at the lodge restaurant is surprising in a good way.
  • The Sunset lodge has fiber internet, which is also surprising. 250up/250down, maxing out the wifi.

Wall Street Wall Street Sunset Sunset Stargazing. You can see the Milky Way with your naked eye here. Stargazing. You can see the Milky Way with your naked eye here. Sunrise Sunrise

The update for this day was delayed due to many things going on and prioritizing sleep. See you in Zion!

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 8 – Provo, UT to Bryce Canyon City, UT2023-07-11T03:50:55-07:002023-07-11T03:50:55-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-8-provo-ut-to-bryce-canyon-city-utWe’ve been on the move for 9 hours, with about 5.5 hours of actual driving time. Let’s just say we took the scenic route. We knew this ahead of time which is why we planned to stay outside of the National Park where we can prepare for the next few days, charge up the car, and grab a hot meal before heading into Bryce and Zion for the three nights.

For live updates, follow us on Instagram, we’re posting stories as we go there.

Scenic Utah landscape on the drive from Provo to Bryce Canyon

Technical Details

  • 271.4 miles driven
  • 110 kWh used
  • 406 Wh/mi
  • $25.68 in paid charging

From Nephi, UT all the way to the turn off towards Bryce Canyon, there were head and cross winds that sustained around 15mph, and gusted up to 35mph. This increased electricity consumption by about 5-10%, and reduced our efficiency. The trip computer on the Tesla did a very good job at estimating arrival SoC.

Headwinds Headwinds

With the crosswinds, FSD did a better job at keeping the car stable. I did not realized how strong the winds were until I took over for various reasons. The gusts were challenging, and FSD made quick work of it.

Mount Nebo Scenic Drive

I can’t say that this scenic route was worth the time and detour during this time of year. Perhaps in fall when the leaves are changing colors and the sun is less intense would be better. You can get views of Utah Lake and the Utah Valley at the summit, which is around 8700 ft.

Mount Nebo Scenic Drive overlook Utah Valley vista from Mount Nebo Mountain road along the scenic drive Mount Nebo summit views Utah Lake visible from the scenic route

Serious Headwinds on the way to Beaver, UT

Mentioned above, we experienced some crazy winds on the way to the only Supercharger before we head into the national parks. I didn’t want more charge than necessary at Nephi, due to it being an expensive Supercharger.

Tesla energy display showing headwind impact Driving through windy Utah highway Open road en route to Beaver, UT Supercharger stop in southern Utah Utah desert landscape with strong winds

Towards Bryce Canyon

Another one or two mountain passes and you get to the highland area where Bryce Canyon City is located. It’s scenic.

Highland landscape approaching Bryce Canyon Scenic mountain pass near Bryce Canyon City Utah red rock terrain on the road to Bryce Arriving at Bryce Canyon area

Tomorrow we’re heading into the National Park to spend the night in the lodge. There’s no wifi there, or cell coverage. So I’ll be breaking out the Starlink dish. Good night.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 7 – Salt Lake City, UT to Provo, UT2023-07-10T03:13:45-07:002023-07-10T03:13:45-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-7-salt-lake-city-ut-to-provo-utWe’re taking a day at a cheaper hotel, and 30 minutes south of the major metropolitan. This is a staging day as we can avoid SLC traffic, charge up for free at the hotel, and shave 30 minutes off of our drive to Bryce Canyon. We’re using this stop to do laundry, re-pack our things, and prep the car for the journey into the National Parks.

This must be the most picturesque REI with the mountains in the background This must be the most picturesque REI with the mountains in the background. Provo is 88% Mormon Provo is 88% Mormon 4 6kW free chargers 4 6kW free chargers. SLC Mountains SLC Mountains

Long post coming for Day 7.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 6 – Salt Lake City, UT2023-07-09T14:23:46-07:002023-07-09T14:23:46-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-6-salt-lake-city-utRest day. Enjoy the photos. It’s hot and dry here. Can’t wear contact lenses for more than a couple hours.

For live updates, follow us on Instagram, we’re posting stories as we go there.

Salt Lake City street view Salt Lake City downtown Salt Lake City with mountains in the background Salt Lake City skyline and cityscape Salt Lake City urban scenery

Leaving for Provo tomorrow as a stopover to Bryce Canyon.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 5 – Twin Falls, ID to Salt Lake City, UT2023-07-08T06:03:22-07:002023-07-08T06:03:22-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-5-twin-falls-id-to-salt-lake-city-utWe decided to take a detour in order to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats en route to SLC, instead of making an out-and-back trip after wards. Coincidentally, this was almost the prettiest of the drives so far.

For live updates, follow us on Instagram, we’re posting stories as we go there.

Day 5 route through Nevada to Salt Lake City

Technical Details

  • 328 miles driven
  • 126.08 kWh used
  • 384 Wh/mi
  • $27.94 in paid charging

Day 5 TeslaFi driving stats

Crossing into Nevada

Going south directly from Twin Falls leads you through a lot of farmland, and eventually it turns into undeveloped federal land. You spend a lot of time in the 5000-6000 feet of elevation, and you can definitely feel it when you’re breathing, and your ears popping. These are not your typical mountain passes. You’re in high desert territory.

We stopped at Jackpot, NV to see if we could get some free CCS juice, but alas, no. We got a little bit of L2 during the bathroom break, and we went to the Wells Supercharger in Nevada. I thought everything being a casino was just a Las Vegas thing, but it appears that it’s a Nevada thing. Every border town… is a casino town.

Wells Supercharger Wells Supercharger Not sure what's going on here Not sure what’s going on here Jackpot, NV Chargers Jackpot, NV Chargers

After wells we headed out towards West Wendover, NV. The clouds made for some dramatic skies, and the landscape was expansive. The scenery really showed off the Model X’s windshield.

Dramatic skies over Nevada highway Expansive Nevada desert landscape from the Model X Wide open road towards West Wendover

We did some off-roading to get to a viewpoint before arriving in Wendover. However I didn’t like how the rocks looked so we stopped and reversed out. Not in the mood to deal with a sidewall gash.

Everything is a casino Everything is a casino Lite off-roading Lite off-roading The view over Wendover and the salt flats The view over Wendover and the salt flats Wendover Will Wendover Will

Bonneville Salt Flats

No description is needed for this place. Pictures say it all.

Preparing for launch Preparing for launch Model X on the Bonneville Salt Flats Bonneville Salt Flats panorama

I did try a 0-60 run, the road surface is surprisingly numb and smooth. After leaving the salt flats I drove to the nearest self serve car wash place and threw $10 into the machine and blasted as much salt away as I could. There are only a few traces remaining, a heavy rainstorm or another deep blast with a pressure washer should clear it. The Rallyarmor mud flaps did a great job of keeping the salt contained in the wheel wells.

Towards Utah

We charged up at West Wendover before crossing into Utah towards Salt Lake City.

West Wendover Supercharger West Wendover Supercharger

Interstate 80 after Wendover is straight and flat. You just cruise along at 80 for miles and miles, salt on your left and right. Once you leave the salt area, it’s just a short drive in more high desert until Salt Lake City.

Interstate 80 through the salt flats Flat straight highway after Wendover Salt flats stretching to the horizon Salt left, salt right Salt left, salt right. SLC! SLC! SLC on the other side of the mountains SLC on the other side of the mountains

Time lapse:

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 4 – Boise, ID to Twin Falls, ID2023-07-07T05:19:49-07:002023-07-07T05:19:49-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-4-boise-id-to-twin-falls-idFor live updates, follow us on Instagram, we’re posting stories as we go there.

Day 4 is a short drive to Twin Falls as a stop over on the way to Salt Lake City. This is to limit our driving time on the long days.

I-84 wide open high desert I-84. Just wide open high desert. Luckily the speed limit is 80 here.

We charged enough at Boise’s only Supercharger to arrive in Twin Falls with around 16%. The nice folks at Twin Falls Volkswagen are nice enough to open their CCS (which just happened to be the slowest DCFC I’ve ever used, peaking at 18kw, and tapering to 5kw.) and L2 charger. We needed to charge a little faster, so after a couple hours with the slow CCS, we went to the Twin Falls Supercharger.

Boise's only Supercharger Boise’s only Supercharger Twin Falls Volkswagen Twin Falls Volkswagen

Technical Details

  • 153 miles driven
  • 57 kWh used
  • $27.02 of paid charging.

Twin Falls

Let’s just say that I’m surprised at the natural beauty of Twin Falls. I totally was not expecting this.

Shoshone Falls overlook Twin Falls canyon scenery Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls Shoshone Falls waterfall Twin Falls scenic vista Snake River gorge near Twin Falls Twin Falls natural beauty

Salt Lake City tomorrow.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/EV Road Trip Day 3 – Boise, ID2023-07-06T05:25:32-07:002023-07-06T05:25:32-07:00https://theboardingcall.com/ev-road-trip-day-3-boise-idFor live updates, follow us on Instagram, we’re posting stories as we go there.

Day 3 is a rest day. No long drives. Enjoy the food photos.

Wood fired bagels from Good Times Bagels Wood fired bagels from Good Times Bagels Boise restaurant food Boise local cuisine View from mid way up Table Rock hike View from mid way up Table Rock hike. Boise at sunset Boise at sunset.

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]]>Kevin Chauhttps://theboardingcall.com/about/