Fall rolls in, and the throttle eases off—less pavement, more reminiscing. That year (2023), the Milwaukee run for Harley-Davidson’s 120th was a wild one: roaring engines, live jams, and a sea of chrome. But let’s be honest, the journey there and back is half the magic. Every mile is a memory, every pit stop a story.
Our crew? Mostly familiar faces—veterans of the Sturgis 2022 saga (still hunting down that footage, promise!). Six months of plotting, swapping routes, and hyping each other up. When the day finally hit, the excitement was electric.
We took the northern route, chasing coin stops and photo ops, rolling through landscapes that changed as fast as the stories at dinner. From the lush Pacific Northwest and the rugged Rockies to the pancake-flat Great Plains and the wild canyons of North Dakota to the Great Lakes, every stretch had its own flavor.
Small towns, big oil, and locals with tales straight out of the Wild West—this is why we ride.
Milwaukee greeted us with rally madness: Danish villages with goats on rooftops, rowdy street parties (burnouts and donuts, anyone?), and enough live entertainment to keep the spirits high.
After three nights, it was time to aim west—sort of. More coin stops, legendary roads like the Million Dollar Highway, and weather that tested our grit. Thunder, lightning, and rain that made you question your sanity, but hey, we made it through, dodging the worst thanks to a little luck and a lot of stubbornness.
The Rockies on the horizon meant the flatlands were behind us. Scenic roads, unexpected stops for killer food and shakes, and the “Loneliest Road in America” reminding us to never skip a gas station.
The closer we got to home, the stronger the pull—like gravity for the soul. The last night? Brew pub, trip trivia (“How many Walmart semis did we pass?”—who’s counting?), and a toast to the miles behind us.
But here’s the real reflection: Riding day and night with the same crew, you learn who’s got your back—and who’s just along for the ride. It’s not harsh, it’s honest. The right riding buddies lift you up, share the load, and make the tough moments bearable. The others? Well, life’s too short for drama. This trip built a tighter circle, and taught me to let go of the energy vampires. Brotherhood isn’t just about the ride—it’s about the bonds you forge and the ones you leave behind.
So here’s to the memories, the miles, and the mates who make it all worthwhile. See you on the next adventure—cage free, throttle wide, and surrounded by the right kind of crazy.
Places I recommend for a stop:
THE RUSTY MOOSE TAVERN & GRILL (Bonners Ferry, ID), combine with a stay at KOOTENAI VALLEY MOTEL
OURAY ICE HOUSE (Ouray, CO)
FIELDS STATION GENERAL STORE (Fields, OR)
GRANDMA’S (Austin, NV); combine with a stay at the COZY MOUNTAIN MOTEL
1188 BREWING (John Day, OR)
GRUZY’S ITALIAN BEEF HOUSE & PUB (Minong, WI), combine with a stay at WILD RIVER TRAIL INN
Roaming Cage Free 
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