The 2011 Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge is officially ended!!!

Rider #660, Aristotle Liceralde arrived at the finish line at Ramsay's Harley-Davidson in Sydney, NS at 5:35p.m. Atlantic Time – just 43 days
after leaving Mesa, AZ.

Congratulations to Aris and every one else that put their heart and soul in to this year’s EPIC event; and special thanks to the wonderful people on Cape Breton Island!!

As many of you know, the Medicine Show Land Trust is still a very small organization with limited staff and this event wouldn’t be what it is without the generous support and dedication of those who believe. Not the least of these are the Cape Bretoners! The hard work and enthusiasm of the local H.O.G. Chapter (Chapter 9044), Ramsay’s Cycle & Sports, the Joan Harris Pavilion, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and Destination Cape Breton made the finish line and closing ceremonies a memorable end to an amazing event.

No matter that our travel plans got pushed back or that the original host for the party at the end of the road pulled out; Andy Tonet, the director of the HOG chapter in Cape Breton, told us not to worry about it -
“We’ll get it taken care of”. And that is just what they did. Everything from the venue, to food for our riders was arranged on our behalf. All we had to do was show up and check the riders in (and failing that, the HOG members were on hand to pick up the slack).

After I came back to the States, Andy and some of the more staunch Hoka Hey supporters from the community have been on hand to make sure our riders weren’t left standing alone at the finish line upon completion of their incredible journey. In fact, the entire HOG chapter met Rider #660 today and rode with him the entire distance of the Cabot Trail and in to the finish line where the celebration just got started!

Whether it’s because they were glad to have us visit their special corner of the world, or if it’s because they just love to ride; the people of Cape Breton Island have really made our riders feel welcome. For my own part, I was made to feel like one of their own during the 20 or so days that I was there and I feel I came to know the Cape Bretoners fairly well. These people are true believers! They believe in keeping their word, they believe in the spirit of community and they believe in our Hoka Hey Challengers.

Thank you Cape Breton - from the bottom of my heart,
Beth

List of Arrivals as of September 17th
Eugene Adee - #71
Kenneth Aston - #618
William Barclay - #355
Gary Barnes - #662
Wendy Battles - #685
John Baumann - #645
Gary Beach - #672
Larry Berland - #374
Jane Bixby - #650
Travis Brian - # 694
Schatzi Brown - #652
Robert Carlo - # 341
Robert Crawford - #50
Douglas Davenport - #622
Keith Deninno - #616
Daniel Dowell - #665
Richard Drake - #190
Moe Ducharme - #659
Marion Ezell - #319
Shaun Fickes - #679
Michael Fox - #601
James Geray - #674
Robert Griffin Jr - #148 (#704)
Jim Herold - #116
Henry Hilliard Jr. #180
Mark Hodge - #348
Stanley Hoover - #636
James Howatson - #654
James Huffman - #604
John Ibbitson - #640
Mark James - #605
Scott Jenkins - #639
Peter Johnstone - #166
Piotr Kacki - #132
Frank Kelly - #175
Dennis Kelly - #683
Thomas Kinsey III - #668
Stanly Kistler - #676
Debra Langley - #677
Walter Ledig - #290
Aristotle Liceralde - #660
George Liebel - #648
David Lutes - #91
Eden Mailloux - #265
Charles Marble - #85
Brian McDonnell - #375
Michael McGuire - #55
Tim Menzie - #670
Terry Meyer - #264
John Miller - #686
Kenneth Miltimore - #621
Lawrence Murray - #628
Marshall Myers - #253
Karl Netherland - #5
Steven Nowak - #608
Harold Park - #644
Rodney Pashcke - #304 (#701)
Debby Pearson - #695
Newton Pereira - #691
Jeffrey Piscitelli - #626
Michael Rogers - #699
Eula Rose - #383
Pedro Salcedo - #657
Bruce Sather - #678
Robert Scott - #655
Garry Simoneaux - #619
Heinz Spielvogel - #332
Marc Story - #16
William Stueber - #643
Shaun VanBeber - #600
Milton Vincent - #207
Robert Vincent - #658
Ronald Warren - #653
Kelly Withers - #649
Brent Witters - #682

Last man on the Road...

I named my motorcycle after my sister "Sincha". She passed away in April 2009 (complications from pancreatitis). She was 29 years old. I've had a couple of setbacks on the challenge. The first being a new rider. I received my motorcycle indorsement back in 2005 but have been off more than on. When I first got "Sincha", I drove once around the dealership parking lot and called my neighbor (the Ranger) to drive it 26 miles to my house. I was sooo unfamiliar with it that I couldnt just jump back on. On 11 Aug, on the tail end of the HWY 14 route in WA, I was trying to make miles and drive through the night. I noticed some road kill on the opposite lane and when I looked up it was too late. A wolf was in my lane eating road kill and my attempt to swerve wasn't enough and I clipped it with my gear shifter and left leg. I assessed my physical damage and knew I sprained/broke my left leg/ankle. I was able to move it so I knew it couldn't be that bad. When I tried to shift, the impact sent the shifter 90 degrees north so I stayed in 6th gear for a couple of miles till I could exit HWY 14. I slept behind a gas station with the shift manager's permission and pressed on to MT the next morning after I bent the shifter back into place until I could get it replaced at the next checkpoint...

I think it was on the 22 of Aug when I had my second incident. After driving through what I thought were the worst rains I've been through at the border of New Mexico, I tipped the bike over in Trementina. There's a new bridge construction out there in the middle of it all and I didn't take my time negotiating the terrain. The dirt was hard packed, until I got to the bottom... So now I'm nursing a swollen left leg, the bike ends up on my right leg/foot to even things out. I was able to push the bike off of me, but wasn't sure about getting her back on her kickstand. After a few minutes, the site mgr for the bridge shows up and helps me get her back... She starts up and push on...

From the beginning, it has never been about the money. Being a new rider, it was a snow ball's chance... I've served in the military for 24 years and I figured it was time to see our country that we've been defending... I ride for my sister who didn't get a chance to see all of this beautiful country... I ride to see family and friends along the way that I haven't seen in years... I ride because I'm still able and am thankful for all the military members still serving that allow us pursue all these freedoms...

Will I do the next challenge? If the timing and finances are right--maybe and with a windshield next time? 8)


Aristotle Liceralde #660

New updated list of Arrivals!!

List of Arrivals as of September 12th
Eugene Adee
Kenneth Aston
William Barclay
Gary Barnes
Wendy Battles
John Baumann
Gary Beach
Larry Berland
Jane Bixby
Travis Brian
Schatzi Brown
Robert Carlo
Robert Crawford
Douglas Davenport
Keith Deninno
Daniel Dowell
Richard Drake
Moe Ducharme
Marion Ezell
Shaun Fickes
Michael Fox
James Geray
Robert Griffin Jr
Jim Herold
Henry Hilliard Jr.
Mark Hodge
Stanley Hoover
James Howatson
James Huffman
John Ibbitson
Mark James
Scott Jenkins
Peter Johnstone
Frank Kelly
Dennis Kelly
Thomas Kinsey III
Stanly Kistler
Debra Langley
Walter Ledig
George Liebel
David Lutes
Eden Mailloux
Charles Marble
Brian McDonnell
Michael McGuire
Tim Menzie
Terry Meyer
Kenneth Miltimore
Lawrence Murray
Marshall Myers
Karl Netherland
Steven Nowak
Harold Park
Rodney Pashcke
Debby Pearson
Newton Pereira
Jeffrey Piscitelli
Michael Rogers
Eula Rose
Pedro Salcedo
Bruce Sather
Robert Scott
Garry Simoneaux
Heinz Spielvogel
Marc Story
William Stueber
Shaun VanBeber
Milton Vincent
Ronald Warren
Kelly Withers
Brent Witters

From the mouth of Junie and Chuck.....

As we traveled across the US and Canada we were encouraged by people from facebook, the yahoo group, phone calls from family members and the people we met on the road. The media leads us to believe that it is a dangerous and cruel world out there but what we had the fortune to realize is that this is really a loving caring world of kind and generous people. We were fed by homeless people, given money to buy breakfast by a kind man who wanted to show his christian love for man kind, had our bikes repaired by random passers by who just want to help and spent countless hours sharing the needs of the Lakota Sioux. We truly hope that we can carry this to the rest of the world and allow others to share vicariously through our adventure of a life time.

Hoka Hey

Love Junie and Chuck
#383 & #85

A Letter to MY Challengers

I am finally preparing to leave Nova Scotia (or more accurately Cape Breton) after 20 days spent trying to wrangle in as many of the Hoka Hey Challengers as I can. Since things have slowed down and the time between arrivals has shifted from hours to days; I've had more time to reflect on the Challenge, the people who participated in it and what it all means to me.

Now - I am not an eloquent speaker and am only slightly better at the written word but, I have something to say....

Although, I have an awful lot of work to do when I get back to the States, I have been unable to tear myself away from the finish line. Sure, I’ve enjoyed the salt air, beautiful scenery and the warm hospitality of Cape Breton Island; but that’s not why I stayed. I stayed because I am exceedingly proud of you, my challengers, and your efforts to reach the finish line. I stayed because I believe you deserve to see a familiar face when you come to the end of such a long and difficult journey and like the anxious parent whose teenaged child has been out past their curfew - I am relieved when you arrive home safely but am cross as hell for the risks you took to get here. (I’ve heard the stories and you kids worry me some.)

But, because tenacity is one of my stronger suits; I can identify with the drive that makes a person turn around at the finish line in order to cover the ground they missed by taking the ferry instead of the prescribed route. There is a certain resilience required to pick up the pieces and press on after hitting a deer, an elk, a wolf or an owl and I can appreciate that as well as the resolve it takes to stay the course - even after the deadline has passed and you’ve just come to realize that you are in it for the ride and not for the money. I’ve stayed because it is my honor and privilege to share the moment when you’ve crossed the finish line and have finally conquered the Hoka Hey Challenge.

On the other hand, there are a number of you who were robbed of that accomplishment when illness, mechanical problems or an armadillo has stopped your progress short. I know you still feel the call of the Challenge and I expect that when the broken bones are healed or the bike is right, you’ll be out there riding again. I’ve stayed at the finish line because I respect and admire the “reckless romanticism” that it takes to be a true Hoka Hey Challenger and I know you are here in spirit even if you couldn’t make it in person.

Finally, there are those who went home or cut the route because you ran short on time, money or inclination. You had the grit to join this mad cap Challenge and you gave it your best but; sometimes it is more honorable to know when to quit than it is to press on and most of you handled the setback with grace and dignity. I know that we often face our greatest disappointments when circumstances are out of our control and your dedication your family & job are commendable. I’ve stayed because I can only hope to reflect that in my dedication to the riders who are still out there on the road.

When talking to any one about the Challenge, I find myself calling you MY Challengers. I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point during the past three years, I’ve taken ownership of you all. It isn’t just because you’ve helped us to turn our efforts into a successful event (although I am grateful to you for that). No, it’s ever so much more. It is because your dogged determination, your compassion for one another and your courage and enthusiasm have enriched my life. You’ve taught me a thing or two about humility through your gracious acceptance of whatever the Challenge throws at you and I have a deepened appreciation of what it is to have selfless devotion and super-human energy. I’ve stayed at the finish line because you are not just my Challengers; you are my friends, my brothers and sisters; you are my heroes.

With love and respect,
Beth

Updated list of all Arrivals!!!

The finish line has been relocated to Ramsay's Cycle & Sports at 616 Keltic Dr. Sydney, NS. (902-539-7644). It will be open from 8:00am to midnight for our challengers until the 5th of September and then it will return to normal business hours.

In alphabetical order here are our 2011 Arrivals....we still have 6 challengers on the road!!

Eugene Adee
Kenneth Aston
William Barclay
Gary Barnes
Wendy Battles
John Baumann
Gary Beach
Jane Bixby
Schatzi Brown
Robert Carlo
Robert Crawford
Douglas Davenport
Keith Deninno
Daniel Dowell
Richard Drake
Moe Ducharme
Marion Ezell
Shaun Fickes
Michael Fox
James Geray
Robert Griffin Jr
Jim Herold
Henry Hilliard Jr.
Mark Hodge
Stanley Hoover
James Howatson
James Huffman
John Ibbitson
Mark James
Scott Jenkins
Frank Kelly
Dennis Kelly
Thomas Kinsey III
Stanly Kistler
Debra Langley
Walter Ledig
George Liebel
David Lutes
Eden Mailloux
Brian McDonnell
Michael McGuire
Tim Menzie
Terry Meyer
Kenneth Miltimore
Lawrence Murray
Marshall Myers
Karl Netherland
Steven Nowak
Harold Park
Debby Pearson
Newton Pereira
Jeffrey Piscitelli
Michael Rogers
Pedro Salcedo
Bruce Sather
Robert Scott
Garry Simoneaux
Heinz Spielvogel
Marc Story
William Stueber
Shaun VanBeber
Milton Vincent
Ronald Warren
Kelly Withers
Brent Witters