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CLUB H.O.G.® Wild West: 23rd Annual National H.O.G. Rally - Billings, MT
Photos by Mandi

CLUB H.O.G.® Wild West: 23rd Annual National H.O.G. Rally - Billings, MT

It all began in December 2005, when the new HOG Tales came in the mail. A national HOG rally would be coming our way, at least west of the Mississippi, in June/July of 2006 in Billings, Montana. Big sky country.

Several friends said, “Let’s do it. The rally may never be this close again.” I had always wanted to return to Billings. The last time Carl and I were there, with another motorcycle group, my Mom passed away suddenly and we had to hurry home to Denver. We were not able to see the Little Big Horn Battle Field, Cody, or spend much time on top of Beartooth Pass.

All that would change this rally season. We would leave Longmont at 6 am on Thursday, traveling with the Johnson’s and Mason’s. Roaring north on I-25 just as the sun was coming up on the horizon. Five Harley Davidson’s, our own little pack of thunder.

The group decided to break the trip up a bit, so we stopped in Buffalo, Wyoming for the night at a KOA campground. We had made reservations late, but we were able to get a cabin that slept six. One couple was quick to grab the big bed, the other four split the bunk beds. Do you know how long it has been since I slept in a bunk bed?

The next morning we would meet up with Lee and Teri Hull just outside of the Little Big Horn Battlefield. The battlefield is on a hill top overlooking the valley. George Custer was out numbered and out smarted. Head stones mark the place Custer and his men died and a beautiful memorial built in 1998 to recognize the warriors who perished, is also on the hill top.

Saturday morning, early, Carl and I had to be at the staging area for the chapter parade of flags. I over heard someone say, there were 700 chapters represented, each carrying their flag and 300 (10 % of registrations) lucky lottery winners who were chosen from preregistration entries to ride in the second portion of the parade. Our own Teri Hull was one of the lucky lottery winners.

1000 motorcycles would travel the 4 mile route through Billings to the Metra Fairgrounds where all the activities would be held. We were in the middle of the chapters, which allowed up to see the first portion head out. Once on the road, we could see a couple of miles of motorcycles with flags flying a head of us. It was a great sight! The town’s people were out to support the parade sitting on their lawn chairs, standing at their store fronts, or where ever they could find a spot. The streets were full of spectators including other rally attendees.

At the Metra, there were venders, food, the HOG hospitality tent, the Beartooth HD dealership would have a satellite store, HOG national selling all their wares, performances by the Seattle Cossack’s Drill Team ,riding Harley’s from the 1930’s & 1940’s, a spectacular performance. Bands playing on 5 different stages, everything from country, to blues, to rock and roll. The evening would include a street party with more food, drinks, and a stage in the downtown area. So much to see and do.

It was now time to return home. Carl had been having some trouble with his shifting linkage, but he and Deron seemed to have it handled. I was excited to travel over the Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway, seeing it from a passenger point of view six years earlier. The ride to Red Lodge was beautiful, lush green meadows and farms. Not like central Wyoming and the Billings area. After a breakfast stop, we climbed to the top of the 10,946 ft pass. We were able to get our rain gear on just before the water and hail hit. We hit a few slick spots, but all five bikes made it down safely.

Once into Cody and a gas stop, we decided Carl’s bike was no longer safe to travel home, not being able to shift into the lower gears. With so much road ahead of us, we decided to leave the bike at a storage yard, spilt luggage between my bike and another, and travel 2-up the rest of the way home. That night was spent in Thermopolis, Wyo.

Rested from a long day, it was time to hit the road again and get home! Once we were packed up, the guys noticed Deron’s gas tank leaking. We were not sure why it was leaking. it was a cool morning, gas should not be expanding. On the way out of town, we stopped for some nuts, bolts etc…, even a cork for a plug just in case.

The morning was wonderful, fresh and clean. A check of the gas leak in Shoshoni, and we were good to go, traveling through Riverton and into Rawlings. After a bite to eat, we were now on the last leg of our trip home, or so we thought.

Just about 17 miles out of Laramie, Debbie’s trike lost all power. No voltage reading, no radio, no clock, nothing. With just an hour before the dealership in Laramie closed, Fred raced to get a new battery. The new battery did the trick, but she was loosing battery volts quickly. As a group, we decided to stay in Laramie for the night, and the guys would travel home the next morning for the truck and trailer.

Despite the bike problems, we all had a great time! A national rally is different than a state rally, only because it is so much bigger. Traveling with good friends and sharing the experience of the weather, the scenery can only make you want to ride more. Every riding season these experiences are there for the taking. Take advantage of them, ride and have fun.

Mandi

Photos by Mandi, 2006

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