New year... new bike...new challenge!!!
Meet my new bike: The 2010 Harley-Davidson Road Glide! Purchased last August, she is a welcome replacement for my previous Street Glide, a bike with computer glitches, squeaky brakes and various mechanical troubles. With the new Road Glide, I am in Harley Heaven!
Hoka Hey to all! The last time I blogged, more than a year ago, I had just retired from "the ride of my life" after a series of unfortunate incidents. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. As I travelled the long journey back to Ohio on that June day, totally defeated, I kept rehashing the previous 4 days on the road and the mistakes made that led to my decision to call it quits. Unbelievable! I had set out to complete the Key West to Alaska Challenge. I had arrived in Key West confident and driven (no pun intended), all loose ends at home tended to, bike checked out and packed... I was ready for the long haul! Bagging it wasn't easy! Even though I knew I had made the right decision under the circumstances, those un-ridden miles were haunting me. They continued to haunt me, in fact, I tortured myself for about a month or so before I (maybe subconsciously) set the wheels in motion for the next "ride of my life".
The Hoka Hey Challenge 2011...
So folks, once again it's time for me to GET ON THE BIKE AND RIDE!!! On August 5th, 2011, I'll set out on the 2nd Annual Hoka Hey Challenge. This year's event, open exclusively to Harley-Davidson riders and covering more than 10,000 miles, will begin in Phoenix, Arizona and travel through all forty-eight contiguous States and into Canada. The finish line is in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The Decision (Lebron style)...
Looking back, I think I made the decision to ride the Challenge once again much earlier than my official entry date of May 2011. Maybe it struck me last August, when the winner of the 2010 Challenge was announced, that I'd have to ride it again. I had purchased the new bike and had set out making changes for improved distance riding like replacing the seat for a more comfortable one and adding two additional headlights (for better visibility in those rural areas). Then, wasting no time, I had to "break 'er in" with rides to Atlanta (twice), New England, Daytona (for Bike Week), Key West (because, why not?) and Tennessee all totalling thousands of glorious miles!
The Plan...
I am officially ready to hit the road! The bike is prepped, packed and blessed (for added divine support, by Father Kevin, our St. Mary's Priest and fellow rider)! I have trained, physically and mentally and spiritually! I am ready to ride!
On Sunday, July 31, 2011, Candy and I are heading to Phoenix for the August 5th start. I expect the actual ride to take 12 to 17 days. Candy will fly home on Friday, after the start, and barring unforeseen circumstances, will join me at the finish line in Sydney sometime around the middle of August!
http://www.hokaheychallenge.com/
Thanks for your interest in my blog! I'll keep everyone posted on my progress......
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