Exit stage right.....

Game over: Brian is on his way home!! He's smiling now, but only after a shower, hot meal and a good night sleep in a room with air conditioning. The challenge, Key West to Alaska, came with few rules, and some were sketchy, but it was perfectly clear that a speeding ticket meant automatic disqualification.

Yep, he got a speeding ticket! Brian's luck apparently ran out in "Podunk", Alabama when "Barney Fife" pulled him out of a group of riders and, despite Brian's negotiating skills, gave him a speeding ticket!!! Now, before you say "Brian!!! Why weren't you being more careful!!!", you should know that for miles their course took them over back country roads where he was careful not to exceed 5 mph over the posted 55 mph. He knew the consequences. The riders were unaware of the reduction in speed limit (to 40 mph). No sign. :(

Brian decided to continue to tough it out, despite the ticket. He knew he was making good time and was in good position among the field. At the second checkpoint, he had been 21st (out of 700) to arrive. The leaders were only a couple hours ahead of him. And, he knew several of them had dropped out since the checkpoint. The challenge still had it's hold on him.

But then he encountered more bad luck when the group he was riding with missed one particular turn late in the second day. Missed turns had been a relatively common occurrence. Brian said that he often had to rely on instinct when approaching an intersection as many roads were simply unmarked. If he decided to turn, thinking it must be the course, it may be 30 miles before he found a route number and was able to verify the course or backtrack. This last missed turn was big! It resulted in an extra 350 miles of travel and a lost night sleep, just to get back on course. Very discouraging. Rumor has it that some road signs were deliberately being removed... by the the riders up front?? Don't know.

The leaders were now half way across the next state. Out of striking distance. Tough to catch.

His decision to fold 'em was not made lightly and came only after many miles of soul searching.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and prayers. Judging from this self portrait, Brian looks happy to be heading home (I wonder why?) and back to civilization! Boy, does he have some stories! Stay tuned...

What a long, strange trip it has been...

** A glimpse of Brian's view of the road **



Hello all! Brian is still truckin' along! He reports that he successfully reached checkpoint 2 yesterday (Monday) and then proceeded to have a very tough night. He found himself terribly lost with two fellow riders. They tried to camp near a church and were eaten up by mosquitoes. At this point, the other two riders decided to call it quits and headed for home. Discouraged, Brian decided to change locations. He called Candy at about 4:00am and said he wasn't sure if he was going to continue on with the race. They agreed that he should 'sleep on it'. He finally managed to fall asleep at about 4:30am.

8:00am brought about a new day! Candy spoke with him and he had decided to give the challenge another day. He was about 50 miles off course at this time - somewhere in Arkansas!

Today the course is much more spread out and seemingly a little easier to navigate. He is actually traveling on some minor interstate roads instead of solely on narrow back roads. Brian said that it is turning out to be a warm and beautiful day - a great time to ride thru Ozark National Park. He hopes to make it all the way thru Oklahoma today and then to have a great, restful night of mosquito free sleep to help recharge his battery for tomorrow!

Day 2 Update

Brian passed the 2nd checkpoint a short while ago with 3 guys from Missouri he has been riding with part of the day. Details are sketchy, we'll update as more info becomes available. Here is a pic he sent from his Blackberry of the Missouri boys.

Video of the Start 6-20-2010

Here is a link to the video of the start. It's hard to capture the emotions of the morning as the Challengers waited and finally were able to start, but the video tries to do so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtoBhH0iJKQ

Road Crew Headed Back to Ohio

Candy & Diane left Key West at 5;00 this morning for the long drive back to Ohio. No, they will not be towing the trailer with a moped in dresses. I'm (Rick) at the Key West airport waiting for my flight. More Later.

Day One Update

Brian reported in at 9:00 am that he had his first gas stop...and was in a group near the front of the pack.



At 2:00 he started to drive through steady rains which continued throughout the day, and into the evening.....got soaked!



He reached the first checkpoint around 5:45pm....in Daytona Beach, Florida.He is required to turn in all gas receipts at the checkpoint. He also received his next series of maps which direct him to the next checkpoint which is 900 miles away in Tennessee. He was planning on riding long enough to at least get out of Florida.



At 9:00 he checked in to report that he was in Georgia, and was teaming up with some other riders and continuing on late into the evening. Stay tuned......

Highway 1, Mile 0...

Brian wanted to ride before he left KeyWest. So did Candy.

The Challenge is on!

It was an early morning wake up call after a mostly sleepless night, glad we're finally underway! The moments of second thoughts, guilt and anticipation have now been left in Key West as Brian, along with approximately 749 other competitors hit the road!

Brian arrived just a few minutes earlier than the 5:00 line up, but lucky for him, it was early enough to land him a primo spot. The "cue sheet" was interesting. Imagine navigating a trip to Alaska , all back roads (many of which do not appear on most maps at all) with nothing more than the route number or street name and which direction to turn! The first direction was easy enough... North on Hwy 1. The first checkpoint is in Daytona at the Harley dealer, 615 miles away.

Road crew, Rick, Diane and myself, are exhausted and heading to the beach! More later.....

Posted by Candy

Shhhh... Brian's sleeping

Hi everyone and Hoka Hey!

The competitors have an early start in the morning. They are leaving for Alaska at sunrise, 6:43 AM. The riders are meeting at 5 AM to line up for the start. At that time they will receive their first "Cue Sheet" to the first check point, the first of 7, approximately 1000 miles north of here. Somewhere - Still a mystery.

Brian had a semi-relaxing day. After getting the bike checked out by the Race Committee, we headed to the beach to find some escape from the heat.

The final competitor's meeting was held in the grand ballroom at the Marriott. The Harley guys and gals are pumped and ready for the road. Jim Red Cloud, the race Chairman and creator, answered last minute questions and gave away few a details about the days ahead for these warriors. All that is known about the course at this time is that is will be challenging. Although the final number of competitors has not been revealed at this time (approx 700-800), Jim predicts the it could be fewer than 25 who actually finish.

More tomorrow.

Posted by Candy

Update from the road...

Candy reports.....

We are 60 miles from KW...starting to see guys on bikes with lots of gear...
Brian looks like a movie star, they look like Hell's Angels...

The road is calling....

Game on: June 20th, in Key West, Florida will be the day I embark on the "ride of my life". The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, a gruelling 7,000 mile cross country jaunt that, God willing, will end when my bike crosses the finish line in Homer, Alaska. (see http://www.hokaheychallenge.com/)

My name is Brian McDonnell Jr. I ride Harleys. I currently reside in Chagrin Falls, Ohio where I am the owner of BMJ Construction, Inc. My days are filled with my work (residential construction), spending time with my girlfriend, Candy and my two beautiful daughters, Megan (21) and Kelly (17), and dreaming of the road....

When I first heard of the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, I was completely hooked. Of course, I tried to dismiss any thoughts of competing and had tons of good reasons not to put myself out there, but I found that I couldn't let it go. Something about this race, covering countless miles and hostile conditions, had it's hold on me. Beginning at the Southern Most Point of the Continental United States and ending in our 49th state of Alaska, it literally spans the continent. I had to do that! In the true Harley spirit, there are known and unknown hazards to the passage. A challenge. Even the course itself is a guarded secret. As the race begins, the participants are given only the location of the first check point. I gave in to the call of the road. I'm in! So the question is: Am I up for the Challenge?

I've ridden a bike since I first went against my parents wishes at age 17 back in South Euclid, Ohio. I am a Cleveland area native, the oldest of four children born to Brian Sr.and MaryAnne McDonnell. My parents raised us with a love and respect for the outdoors. As kids we fished, hunted and rode dirt bikes (sorry Mom). I also love skiing and golf.

My first bike (first love?) was a Honda 450. I rode the hell out of that bike but my passion for the road may coincide with the purchase of my first Harley, a 1970 Super Glide that I bought in the early 90's. That's when I took off, literally, any chance I could. To date, I have ridden in all of the "lower 48" and most of Canada. I even have an Alaskan trip already under my belt. I am accustomed to long days/nights with endless highways or byways stretching out ahead. And I know what it's like to put 1000 miles in during one day of travel. On my current bike, a 2008 Harley Davidson Street Glide, I received the "Iron Butt Association Award" for a ride from Cleveland to Florida in which I logged more than 1100 miles in a day.

For more than two decades, I've seen my share of the road. Yet, the daunting scope of Hoka Hey humbles me. I am seasoned enough to know what I am up against. I will ride with focus and determination, calling on every bit of strength I can muster. Every day, mile after mile, I will leave it all on the road. As you read my blog, I ask for your prayers ( I heard a minister is among the participants... unfair advantage?) and wishes for good luck. It may just be the luck that sees me through...I'd rather be lucky than good any day!

To my fellow participants...safe travels...see you all in Key West! ... It's a good day to ride!