Meet The Rider # 990 Carl Harris

 

 Let's welcome back the returning Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenger Champion from 2022, Carl (KSolo DaRyder) Harris (#990). This will be his third time riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, finishing 3rd in 2020. 

KSolo has completed all 50 states ride (twice); rode as far north on a solo trip to 'The Top of the World' (Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, a.k.a. Deadhorse); and as far south as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on a Harley Davidson Road Glide.  

KSolo is Iron Butt Rider # 652, with more than 100 certified rides through the Iron Butt Association. KSolo completed 100,000+ miles in a calendar year in 2019 and again in 2021. KSolo is the face of the Iron Elite and the 2022 Titan Award recipient. 

KSolo is also an active member of the Southern California Motorcycle Association (SCMA) #46192, a Triple Crown recipient, and a member of the AZRATPack, Titanium recipient.

 

 KSolo is the co-founder of the Reef & KSolo's official RTE. 

KSolo's most notable affirmations are: 'Aspire to inspire' and 'be legendary'. 

KSolo will be riding a 2024 Harley Davidson Road Glide in the 2024 Hoka Hey Challenge, sponsored by his hometown dealership Boneyard Harley-Davidson of Winterville, N.C. This year he will be riding for the Pride of Washington Masonic Lodge #98, Benny “Pop’s McCraney” Scholarship Fund

Meet The New Rider # 1175 Pat Smith

 I rode mini-bikes as a kid, then bought my first real bike, a Honda Shadow 600, when I was 25. Sold it to
get married. 2 kids and 1 divorce later, I bought my first Harley, a 1996 Heritage Softail, when I was 40.
It wasn’t until I went on an all-day ride with some friends that I realized what I had been missing! I’ve
been through 3 more bikes and almost 100k miles since then (child’s play by HH standards, I know!).

I don’t recall exactly how I heard about the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge (probably a Facebook post),
but when I looked it up, I knew I had to do it. I was too late for 2022 registration, so you can bet as soon
as it opened up for ’24, I was on it! As for why I want to ride: to see just what I’m made of! I know some
of you veterans are probably saying “well get ready, ‘cause you will!”.

As for my non-profit, I finally chose the Fisher House Foundation , specifically the house in Kansas City
(my nearest metro). They offer a “home away from home” for families of
veterans who are receiving treatment at the nearby VA hospital. I took an advanced rider class this year,
and I was the only non-military student. I was also the only local student, which got me thinking how
most vets never end their career the same place they inducted. I also wanted to go with something
military-related, as I have a 25 yr-old Marine daughter.
Fundraiser link: Fisher House Foundation

Meet The Rider # 1052 Derek Iltis

This is my 2nd Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. Rode my first Hoka Hey in 2022. I listened to a retired Navy Seal giving me his story about riding his Hoka Hey and after he passed away, I decided to ride the Hoka Hey in his honor. Hooyah Retired Master Chief, SEAL Mike Martin.

Me: Age 62, Male, US Navy Deep Sea Diver, Retired. Currently working for US Navy as a Government
Civilian. Married to a wonderful Red Head. I have two children remaining (daughter and son). We
currently live in Norfolk Virginia. I speak several languages some fluently (French, Italian, Spanish,
a little Greek, a little German, and some Chinese, Thai and Japanese (enough to order a beer and
say ‘thank you and you’re welcome’).

I was born and raised abroad and after graduating from Secondary School with my ‘O’ Levels
(Scottish way of saying ‘graduating High School’) left Europe for the USA for the first time (1980) at
the tender age of 18, when I joined the US Navy in Holy Loch Scotland. I attended US Navy
bootcamp in Orlando and after 20 years of honorable service retired in 2000. I’ve lived in France,
Holland, Scotland, Hawaii, Sardegna, Indian Head Maryland, San Diego and Norfolk VA.

 

I’ve been riding a motorcycle off and on since 1969 and loving every moment of the Journey. I
currently own a HD 2021 Electra Glide and love my ride. The Hoka Hey: The best part of this journey are the friends you make along the way. I’ve travelled the World but have yet to see the USA in all its splendor and glory. Riding the Hoka Hey will allow me to see much more of this beautiful country of ours, including Canada. Get some!

Meet The Rider # 953 Jesse Alexander

Hello, my name is Jesse Alexander, rider #953.


I have had the pleasure of finishing the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2020 and look forward to this year.  I was all set for 2022 and even got as close as York, NE, while heading to the start in SD, but was just still too sick from Covid I caught ten days earlier.

Like many other riders, I have spent a lot of time on two wheels, starting with bicycles and racing BMX, then onto street motorcycles (but not racing).

This year, I am riding to support Veterans through The Dog Alliance Hounds for Heroes.

https://milesoftexas.com/hhmc

I look forward to seeing everyone in Daytona!

Meet The Rider # 814 Robert Saunooke through his Wifes Eyes

1. 

   
   Have you seen any change in Your rider since they started riding the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge? If yes, what?
    
   Rob's first Hoka Hey was 2014 to Alaska.  He had never done anything like it before and was of what to expect.  He would call at the end of each day and would basically say "things are going good, I am closer to the next checkpoint than home so I guess I will just keep going."   By the time he got to Montana he was a different person.  His calls changed to calls of thankfulness, gratitude and emotion.  Each day he made it to the next stop he found miracles and perspective he did not have before.  The ride changed him for the better.  He was more peaceful, humble, and forgiving.  He found an appreciation for the things that he had forgotten or gotten distracted from in the past.   His approach to all aspects of life have been so much different and his love for the world, people, and things around him increased.

    

   

   
    
   
   
2. Why do You continue to support their efforts?
    
   The relationship between Rob and the other riders means so much to him.  He truly cares about each of them.  Rob feels each rider that goes down or gets hurt.  It is literally a physical part of him now.  I cannot remove it from him and support him simply because it is a part of him.  Each ride he does returns to me a better person.

    

   

   
    
   
   
3. What part if any do you have in their adventure?
    
   I make sure everything is ready for his trip.  During the ride I simply let him ride his ride and find myself primarily providing emotional support and words of encouragement.  In 2014 as he crossed into Canada he was doubting himself.  I got all of his friends to send him facebook messages and text messages to keep him going and lift his spirits.  It worked and he finished the journey.

    

   

   
    
   
   
4. Why do you think they keep coming back?
    
   I think that when you do the Hoka Hey and complete the journey it becomes a part of you that you cannot remove.  I used to think it was more for the challenge, but now I think it is more for time to heal, recharge your soul, and allow you to reconnect with yourself.  I think Rob keeps coming back to try and recreate what he felt and experienced on the first Hoka Hey.   It also helps him clear his head from all the stress and pressure of his job so that he can come back and really do what he needs to do.

    

   Rob will be riding for Mile Monsters Inc. donations can be made here.
   

Meet The Rider # 618 KC Aston

My wife & I were on a ride of our own doing the Route 66 with a different group of Harley riders awhile ago. We stopped for fuel in Flagstaff AZ and while fueling up we came across a different group of riders. They said they were riding the Hoka Hey. I asked "What's that?" They said they were on a cross-country ride from Key West FL and ending in Homer Alaska. I thought "that's a long way" and they said that's over 12,000 miles, which they were hoping to accomplish within the next 14 days. My wife & I continued our trip on the Route 66 to San Diego CA. On finishing our ride, I started to look up information on the Hoka Hey and found that it was a fundraiser for the Pine Ridge Reservation, the Lakotas. I became interested in finding out more about it and found they were doing another ride the following year.

I got online & found out what needed to be done to become a participant, and filled out all the paperwork & paid my entry fee & patiently waited for the ride to begin from Mesa AZ to Nova Scotia. I rode from Denver to Mesa & prepared myself for the adventure to come. Not knowing what to expect, I was eager to see if I was able to ride 1,000 miles a day & sleep on the rode & to complete the ride. My intentions were good. After 7 days of riding, I found myself in Colorado going to Grand Junction for one of the stops where we got our next set of directions. After a 5-hour rest, I headed off back towards Denver following the route to the next stop, but I had motorcycle issues & broke down & since I lived in Colorado, I went home & said I was still going to complete the ride, although I had to do it in my pickup truck. I continued in my truck & drove to Nova Scotia following the directions I was given. I was able to be at the finish line about 1/2 a day before the first rider appeared who had ridden the route in full on his motorcycle.

From that trip, I found that this was some challenge that I wanted to try again and waited for the next information for the next ride which was the following year. I signed up & rode that ride & found finishing enhanced my spirituality & my faith in myself that I could accomplish these things. The people I rode with for periods of time, the people I met have become friends that I look forward to seeing at each Hoka Hey challenge in the future. I am looking forward to finally being able to do the Homer Alaska Challenge this year so I can say I have done one of the three that they've done. Hope to see everyone in Daytona for this 2024 challenge. I am thankful to be able to support the Kenaitze People.

Rider 618 K.C. Aston  Thank you all for your support and friendship.

Meet The Rider # 1057 Tim Owens

Hi I am Tim Owens Hoka Hey 1057!  I am 46 years old married with 3 boy the ages 26, 22, 15. I enjoy spend time with my family going moto camping, fishing, and of course riding motorcycles. IMG_1314
I have rode and completed the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2022 but when I heard about going to Alaska this was an adventure that I had to jump on quickly! 

 

I will be riding to raise money for LRMC making Christmas Happen! They raise money to provide Christmas for Burleson County for kids in need. They also provide Christmas to the two nursing homes and the assisted living. Which all proceeds are raised through non profit. The Line Riders have been providing Christmas for 20 years with the help and generosity of others! Thank You! Any of these links can be used yo make donations.


Tim Owens Venmo

Tim Owens PayPal