Meet The Rider Rick McLeod # 875

                Other than family fun in general, I suppose my greatest joy is traveling with my wife, Naomi. We’ve gone to many areas in the U.S, and around the world. We’re traveling to Ireland in 2020 prior to the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge!   The Hoka Hey presents a number of challenges you don’t see in a lot of the rallies. Removing GPS devices, camping with your bike, and no extra gas cans makes for fun backdrop against the miles, weather, and other obstacles. Most of all, it’s challenging to you as a person. You find out a lot about yourself on a ride like this.

                This will be my second Challenge, but I expect that I’ll face many of the same issues in making sure I’m on course, not sleepy, and prepared for what the road will throw at me. As a return rider, I’m not nearly as concerned about how to find a sleeping spot at night, or what equipment to bring, so that’s a definite plus. I think the camaraderie of such great riders is certainly high on the list of favorites, plus the fantastic route we go over. I saw a lot of country I’d love to travel to again. The most difficult part, just making sure I stayed on course. There were a few times I was too focused on speed and not enough on watching for the next turnoff. I learned a great deal about how to better monitor signs on the small backroads of our nation!

              Some of the best advice I have been given,  “Ride your own ride!” I tend to get anxious if I see people passing me, or doing something different than me. I learned in the last Challenge to simply ride in my own way, and let the chips fall. I have a great support group at home, so I’m able to make the best of my preparation for the Challenge!

#6. How did you hear about the HHMC?

                My Dad told me about something he’d seen on the wall of a convenience store in Garfield, Arkansas about the challenge.  Just some note about a motorcycle challenge. When he told me the name, I looked it up online. I knew immediately this would be something I’d enjoy! But what attracted me the most was the self-reliance factor. It really is you against Mother Nature, the road, and most of all, yourself. I know we can all depend on our fellow riders to assist us along the way, but knowing your responsible for getting yourself to the finish line on such a tough challenge really sparks something in me.

 

                The Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter is who I will support on my ride.  I rode for them in 2018 as well. They work to support children that have been uprooted from their homes in terrible circumstances, ensuring that they have some level of continuity in their lives. Really a great mission.