From Gas Station Meetings to Lifelong Memories: Hoka Hey Rally Tales!

I have blogged and posted videos on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. This installment deals with the 2020 Challenge that took me through the Northeast of the United States. More specifically I stopped in St. Johnsbury, Vermont at a gas station where I met injured Richard. I ran across his video in my archives. I just had to share injured Richard’s video because you meet such great people on the road and other times you meet people in need. We helped out Richard with $20 for a meal.

Richard looked like he just finished an MMA fight for the Vermont title bout. He told me he had a fight with a sidewalk and got a few good licks in. he may have left the sidewalk bloody but it was his blood. His shoulder was in need of emergency room attention. He was hungry and asked me for $10 but I gave him $20 seeing the shape he was in. As a recovering addict that’s been drug free since 1984 I understand the reality of making bad decisions. Having the means to help someone in greater need is a moral obligation. My heart went out to Richard in his condition that Sunday morning at 7 AM-ish.

I always find unique people on the Hoka hey Challenge. My competitors argue that people steal your time cause you’re competing against fellow riders. Every minute that your wheels are not moving means a mile that those behind you are catching up. It’s not a race but riders (other than I) want to make good time to earn that shiny belt buckle awarded to the top 25 that cross the finish line first. I always have people coming up to me at gas stations and their first question is, “Where ya going?” I make these cards and tell them I am on a time sensitive cannonball run. I give them a card to find out more. I apologize as I haul ass back on the HHMC route!

**Kenneth Andrews From Arkansas Top 25 HHMC Rider!**

We have to learn from the parable of the Good Samaritan who stopped to helped the guy on the road that was robbed and beaten up. All these important folks gave excuses why they could not help. The Good Samaritan gave his time and of his wealth to help this man. I am sure God blessed this man in His time. Some call it Karma or other things but you reap kindness if you plant love!

I am not the best YouTuber around but i enjoy recording to my ability then doing the editing on my computer. I love to have my GoPro batteries charged up documenting my HHMC adventures to share with fellow riders. Keeps me busy during the following two years posting videos chronicling life on two wheels as they turn 10,000 miles in 16-18 days. The next run coming up August 2024 starts in Daytona Beach, Florida to Homer Spit, Alaska. I have to search for my archived videos because I have some great interviews to share. I also have a picture of the elk that attacked me back in 2014 when Washington was suffering from a great fire that consumed 3/5th of the state. All the wild life was meansering into human space to escape the fires.

This elk didn’t like the sound of my horns or the brightness of my lights thus it rushed me out of a sense of self defense. His head hit the right side of my engine guard. The left antler hit my gas tank missing puncturing me by inches. The right antler damaged my aftermarket fairing that I installed on my HD 2013 Road King. I did not go down but I did have to change my underwear from the scare.

I ran the 2014 HHMC from Key West to Home Spit Alaska. I then rode to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to only shot down to Key West for full circle. I also earned a bad ass Iron Butt Association certificate documenting my run.

WHAT IS THE HHMC?

The Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is a motorcycle endurance challenge. Entry is limited to riders of American-made V-twin-style motorcycles. It is named after a rallying call of the Sioux Indians and is designed to test the participants’ physical, mental, and emotional boundaries.

There are four legs to the run with approximately 2,500 miles in each leg totaling 10,000+ miles crossing the finish line. Riders cannot take hotels but MUST sleep next to their motorcycles. In days of war the Lakota Indian warrior slept next to his war horse thus we in the same spirit sleep next to out iron horse.

There is no monetary prizes but there are individuals that are awarded prizes for their loyalty, or other traits displayed on the trail. The first and second HHMC awarded cash prizes but people cheated and federal court cases hurt the run. Afterwards it was about the love of riding and meeting the challenges on the road.

Attorney That RIDES Begins the 2014 Hoka Hey Challenge from FL to Alaska

SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD

I have personally had spiritual experiences on the road. My experiences compelled me to draw off the power of God, Jesus Christ more specifically, in order to finish the run. Other riders compare their spiritual encounter to that of the sweat tents. While riding long distances in short time under various riding conditions shall reveal your weaknesses. Dehydration, hunger, fatigue, and sleep deprivation affect the way you perceive reality to the point many hallucinate.

Hoka Hey Challenge 2nd to Last Finisher!

I Hallucinated in Yellowstone Park in 2014 when I saw Scooby Doo run across the front of my bike at 2 AM in the morning. I knew it was not real. I saw dark running figures in the trees from my headlight that jumped out at me. I hear shit that I knew was not real.

Instead of going to sleep I ended up about 800 miles from the path. I had to travel back to the point of my mistake to start over. What a mess I was on my first challenge. I have completed every run since 2014 successfully. I am going to finish here but there will be many more HHMC installments to come.