Meet The Returning Rider # 1237 Frank Stephens

Hello again Hoka Hey kinfolk…  My name is Frank Stephens #1237, still married with 3 daughters, two grandchildren, coming back for another round in 2026.   I still live on that Island on Lake Ontario (Prince Edward County), I'm retired now and enjoying the free time to ride anywhere and anytime. 

 

 

So I thought I'd ask Chat GPT to describe me… 

"You come across as a highly practical, detail-oriented person who likes to deeply understand how things work before making decisions. Your questions tend to focus on optimization, troubleshooting, and long-term value rather than surface-level answers.

• You enjoy technical systems and complex games,
•  You seem comfortable balancing technology with outdoors interests.
• Your motorcycle road-trip requests emphasizing twisty secondary roads, elevation changes, forests, streams, and lakes  — suggests you appreciate scenic experiences as much as technical detail.

Overall, you seem like someone who combines:

• analytical thinking,
• hands-on problem solving,
• curiosity about complex systems,
• and a strong independent streak."

…. Not a bad description…   BUT

 

What it didn't capture was that I enjoy the solitude of long rides, blues playing in the background, incredible scenery and the chance to connect with others along the way.

A wet 20 hour sightseeing ride to Cape Reinga NZ

 

 

Tires in the waters of Nunavut Canada

 

I have been active in Taekwondo for over 40 years which has helped keep me fit and centered..   I flew single engine airplanes,  raised salt water fish and corals, play darts, kayak, and am starting to boat.  I am involved with the local community group to help "safeguard" the health of our local bay. I enjoy hearing different points of view and respect that we all see the world a little differently. 

 

I am returning in 2026 to experience again the personal challenge of the  Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge .  I valued the personal connections made along the way, the support and comradery of the riders,  Beth, Junie and others who put this event together.  I  felt a kindship to this group who like myself like long challenging rides.    I'm hoping to bring a little more experience this time around and avoid those 100 mile wrong turns :)  I finally figured out where to put my Denali lights on my 2020 Roadmaster. (This should help with those dark rainy nights looking for road signs).

 

There were many memorable moments along the way in 2024.

• The Hurricane going into Key West (getting over the first bridge only to then come across the seven mile bridge    
• The 100 mile side trip toward Salt Lake City only to realize I missed the turn in the construction zone (it wasn't the only major sightseeing detour)
• Reading the 2nd last turn instruction from Missoula to Homer  thinking there must have been a typo on the mileage
• D| 29|>260

  U turn

  At Lands Ends Resort

• It was a looooong, cold 26 miles!!...    Thank you Beth and others for getting up in the middle of the night to welcome me in
• There were the friendly folks along the way who pulled up a piece of pavement alongside for a couple hours of rest or simple exchange at a gas/food stop

 

Waiting for service to open in Sturgis

 

So once again we will depart on a journey. The statement that is made multiple times "Ride your own ride" is so incredibly true and important to remember…   It will be even more prevalent in my mind in 2026.

 

See you in Woodstock

 

 

Cheers

 

 

Meet The Returning Rider # 1215 Chris Paxson

 

I’ve been riding motorcycles for most of my 54 years. My wife Ann doesn’t ride, but she fully supports my two-wheel addiction and wherever the road takes me.

I’m returning for the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge after completing my first in 2024. That ride became more than a motorcycle event  it was a pilgrimage that changed my life. I’m coming back looking for a few more answers hidden somewhere in the miles ahead.

This year, I’m riding in support of the Vigilant Torch Foundation and its Philo Project, which helps members of one of our nation’s most elite military communities gain access to preventive health screenings that spot issues before they become life altering.

Through full body MRI scans provided by Prenuvo, the program supports early detection of cancer and hundreds of other conditions without radiation or invasive procedures.

These men and women have spent the majority of their lives putting the mission first. I’m helping ensure their health and welfare become a top priority. 

A link to the Vigilant Torch fundraiser will soon follow. 

Looking forward to the road ahead, with all riders returning and new.

Hoka Hey.

Meet The New Rider # 1362 Rodney Golson

 Hello, I am Rodney Golson . I am from Linden , Alabama. I’m married to the love of my life, Julie Golson for 38 years . We have one daughter Kristy, 34 years old . I have worked as a lumber inspector for 31 years . I went to MMI in Orlando for 2 years, got my certified Harley tech degree. I have been riding bikes since I was 7 or 8 years old. I have always loved bikes. I have rode my bike many places. My last bike I had before this one . The bike had 110,000 miles on it.

 

     My friend , Phillip Waltz had mentioned the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to me . We was talking about doing the Hoka Hey ride. I was visiting him, we were out riding and met up with Louis Percido. Louis was on the Hoka Hey at the time of the meeting. Louis was on Cherohala skyway. We talk to him then ride with him for a little bit. When we got back to Phillip’s. We both decided that we would do the Hoka Hey.

 

 

 

      My non-profit charity will be Shriners Hospital.

The Shriners hospital helps children with all kinds of needs for medical. Shriners hospital helps children with life altering medical no matter what . That is why I think fundraising for the Shriners are so important . They going beyond what they can do for each child . 

Meet The Returning Rider # 985 Valerie Stewart

 

I’m Valerie Stewart,  rider #985, my road name is Gypsy. I am 72 years old, and this will be my fourth Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. My goal is to finish as quickly as possible while staying safe.

Like many of us, I started riding motorcycles as a child, though horses were my primary passion back then, so I mostly rode other people's bikes. I married young and had my two children by the age of 22. Life was busy with work and raising my family, but we spent a lot of time camping and enjoying the outdoors together.

My journey back to motorcycles began when a work friend set me up on a blind date with a Harley rider. We eventually married, and after spending some time as a passenger, I bought my own 2000 Harley 883C Sportster. That was a turning point for me; I discovered a true love for riding solo. Living in Northern Nevada at the time, I worked a schedule that allowed for long trips. I often finished a 12-hour night shift at 6:00 AM and would immediately ride to Oregon to visit family before heading back for my next shift.

In 2009, I traded my Sportster for a Street Glide to make those long-distance trips more comfortable. It was during one of those night shifts that I first discovered the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge online. I was immediately intrigued by the riders' experiences and knew I wanted to participate, but my job didn't allow for that much time off.

Everything finally aligned after I moved back to Oregon, and I was able to apply for my first Challenge in 2020. Now here we are 2026 and prepping for another Challenge. Crazy how time passes so fast.  Hoka Hey is an amazing experience. 

 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to ride this year and to have my son Craig Tooley #1156 and daughter Andrea Tooley #1066 take on the Challenge again.  I have been told insanity is hereditary.  Peace, Love, Hoka Hey!

My charity is Mile Monsters Inc. We love doing EPIC to raise money for our Heroes. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is fatal and takes so much away. We want to help them live their best life. Check out what we do at Mile Monsters Inc

DONATE

Meet The Returning Rider # 923 Charlie Farrell

Hi, I’m Charlie Farrell, a 30-year active-duty veteran of the Coast Guard! I completed the 2024 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge . I truly had the time of my life! Recently a friend asked me “Was there ever a day when I asked myself if  ‘I’ve had enough?’” My response was a big “NO!” It was immeasurable waking up every morning looking forward to what new adventures the day would bring.  Some of my fondest memories of the 2024 challenge were: riding through Hurricane Debbie, hooking up at various locales along the trek with #1142, next meeting #1122, and crossing into Alaska meeting #1027 on his return from Homer, AK. 

 

Some of the 2024 challenge highlights included: from Keyenta, AZ heading north was waking up in the middle of every night shivering from the cold, the giant potholes on the ALCAN riding through the Yukon, seeing three grizzlies (a momma and two cubs) road side near Destruction Bay, the trial of limited opportunities for refuelling in Canada and Alaska, and all the people I met along the trek.

 

Lessons learned from doing the 2024 challenge = 1) I over packed and under packed. There was stuff I had and didn’t need and stuff I needed and didn’t have. 2) At 65 years old, to sum up what the bare minimums for me to “challenge the challenge” were: Time, Money, and Energy. The absence of any one of those elements are deal breakers…as it was for me in prior plans to do three previous challenges. In 2024 I was blessed that everything came together, albeit at the last minute…getting on the road from NJ on August 2nd at 3:43 PM and arriving at Teddy Morse's Destination Daytona on August 3rd at 3:30 PM. Just in time, being the last tracker to be installed on my 2017 Victory Gunner, aka “The Animal”, and for the challenge briefing. From then on it was all up hill – North to Alaska, but first south to Key West.

 

For the 2026 challenge fundraiser I’m being sponsored by CopperFox Coffee Roasters, a family operation and independent roaster located in Colorado Springs (copperfoxcoffee.com). Annually CopperFox raises funds for Pro-Life initiatives and antihuman trafficking. This endeavor will be in addition to my personal fundraising effort at this link: DONATE

Lord willing…see you in Woodstock, IL!

Ktentowshketon Mnopmatsowen!

Meet The New Rider # 1295 Ken Perry

 My name is Ken Perry rider #1295 for the 2026 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge . My riding started at age 7 with a mini bike then progressed to racing dirt bikes and quads then onto road bikes.I have owned many different makes and models but my heart has always been with Harleys. Have always been a limited fan and just stepped into a road glide and look forward the challenge. I am a foreman at a semi dealership and also work as a auto mechanic and body shop painter. 

 

 I have been watching the Hoka Hey for the last six years and seeing 2024 with the hurricane just made me more interested seeing what the riders can endure. There were many late nights watching the trackers and cheering them on.

 

 The fact that it is also charity based also gives me great interest. My charity that I have chosen is DONATE Sheep-dog-impact-Assistance. They are made up of ex military,fire,ems and police. They deal with ptsd and when a natural disaster hits they load up and travel to give assistance.

Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer

Meet The New Rider #1310 Chris Dubie

 

I was born and raised on a farm in northern Michigan. In August 1979 I joined the United States Marine Corps and served until retiring in February 2001 after numerous deployments. Following my military career, I continued serving through Civil Service until retiring in January 2026. I am married to Leigh Ann Dubie, and together we raised three children and now enjoy time with our five grandchildren.

 

I began riding motorcycles in 1976, but during the years of raising a family and serving in the Marine Corps my riding was mostly set aside. In 2016 my wife reintroduced me to long-distance riding, and that same year we completed our first SaddleSore 1000 at the spring Iron Butt Association event, my IBA number is 67014. Since then I have completed more than 60 IBA-certified rides. Long-distance riding has become both a personal challenge and a way to stay connected to the discipline and perseverance I learned in the Marine Corps. 

The above bike has nearly 300,000 miles on her, but it will not be the bike I ride on the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.  I will be riding a 2025 Street Glide. 

 

It was at those IBA events that I first encountered riders from the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. Watching their dedication and hearing their stories sparked my interest, and over the past decade I have followed the challenge from the outside. Now that I have retired, I have decided it is time to see if I have what it takes to earn a place among the Hoka Hey family.

My wife will also be riding in the 2026 challenge. To commemorate my retirement, I have set two major goals for the year: to ride 100,000 miles on two wheels and to successfully complete the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge.

 

I have not yet selected a nonprofit charity, but it will be one dedicated to supporting veterans.

I am looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to prove to myself that I still have what it takes.