Taking the long way around…

A trip to see old friends turned into an epic trip across the country for Harley Owners Group^® member Arnold Evanson.

Words by Jeremy Pick

Arnold Evanson from Bellingham, Washington, rode a motorcycle rider in his youth before taking a break as a young adult. The riding bug bit again around 20 years ago, leading to a succession of Harley-Davidson^® motorcycles, including an XL 1200C Sportster^® Custom, Fat Bob^®, Street Glide^® and his two current rides — a 2022 Pan America™ Special and 2023 Low Rider^® ST Fast Johnnie, which was his ride for a cross-country trip.

“In March 2025, I took a month off from work to complete my bucket list ride from Bellingham, close to the Canadian border, to Miami, Florida, and back. It’s about the longest round-trip ride possible in the United States,” he says. “Another reason for the trip was to visit childhood friends I hadn’t seen in 35 years. So my journey took in Salem, Oregon; Fresno, California; Gallup, New Mexico; Dallas, Texas; Fort Myers and Miami, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; Los Angeles, California; and then through the Sierra Nevada mountains before heading home.

“So I fulfilled two bucket lists simultaneously, and it was the most amazing 30 days of my life.”

The inspiration for Arnold’s road trip had been brewing for five years. “I live in the Pacific Northwest and have traveled through it and wanted to go further. I also wanted to visit my friend in Miami and take on the challenge of riding there. I’m 57 years old now, and figured I should do it while I had the opportunity, so I fitted a Tour-Pak^® luggage carrier onto my Low Rider ST, packed everything I thought I’d need, including camping gear and tools, before setting off.

“The hardest part was the first stretch riding through Washington state and Oregon, when it rained for 200 miles non-stop. I remember thinking that I must be crazy, and should turn back,” laughs Arnold. “But of course, I kept going and soon got into a rhythm and started to feel the excitement of taking on a journey like this.”

To add to the challenge, Arnold didn’t book any motels or accommodation for the trip, instead riding as far as he wanted each day before finding a rest area or truck stop and pitching his tent. “That was a fun part of the journey — just riding until midnight or whenever, then pitching my pop-up tent, sleeping, and going on my way in the morning. I like riding so much that sometimes I wanted to ride all night long without stopping.

“Once in California, I visited a friend there, then went to see my brother, who lives in Arizona, and an old friend in Texas before I reached Miami. On the return leg, I took the opportunity to ride the Tail of the Dragon on the North Carolina/Tennessee border and visited another friend in Tennessee, so it was a great opportunity to reconnect with people I hadn’t seen since high school. Despite the fact it was 35 years since I’d last seen them, it felt like yesterday. It was amazing.”

Apart from reconnecting with old friends, what were the highlights of the trip? “Seeing the different sights of this country,” says Arnold. “Riding across the U.S. is like riding through so many different countries — one day you’re in beautiful deserts, the mountains the next, then grasslands or lakes, so there’s always something new to see,” he says.

“One ‘accidental’ highlight was riding on Route 66. I was in Palm Gardens, Nevada, heading north on I-95 towards Searchlight, attempting to detour through the desolate and beautiful Joshua Tree Highway. But sunset was an hour away, and I thought it unwise to ride an unfamiliar road in the pitch black. So I turned around and headed south on I-40. Somehow, I took a wrong exit and ended up on a poorly maintained road. As the sun was setting, I noticed the iconic Route 66 logo in the road and realized where I was. It was the perfect moment to memorialize my wild adventures.

“Another highlight was talking to people every time I stopped. When you ride a Harley-Davidson, people treat you like a celebrity and want to talk about where you’ve been and where you’re going. I really liked that, but after a while I came up with a little script so I could get back on the road and make progress. It was nice that everyone liked my bike, though! Stopping at the Harley-Davidson dealerships was great too. The staff were always really nice, and if I needed a nap I could grab a few hours’ sleep there, grab something to eat and chat to people.

“I’d advise anyone who is considering a trip like this to learn how to work on their own bike, and carry the right gear for the varied conditions you’ll experience,” he says. “I changed my own oil at truck stops if I wasn’t near an H-D^® dealership, so I always carried a quart with me. I also carried three pairs of gloves — a pair suitable for summer and two pairs of rainproof gloves so I had a backup pair in case it rained. It’s really important to have the proper gear to keep warm and dry in whatever conditions you’re riding in. So, keep your bike maintained and have the proper gear. Other than that, just ride!”

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