Exploring new routes with new friends

VonGasphalt headed to Washington to take in the sights and sounds of the Pacific Northwest H.O.G. Rally.

Every Harley-Davidson enthusiast knows the acronym H.O.G.^® (Harley Owners Group^®), yet it sparks different feelings depending on who you ask. I’ve never mingled much with the H.O.G. crowd. I usually ride alone or with a few close friends—long miles, short breaks, fast lanes, and simple setups. So, when the chance came to attend the Pacific Northwest H.O.G. Rally in Spokane, Washington, I thought it was the perfect way to explore both the region and discover a new community.

I picked up a Heritage Softail^® in Missoula, Montana, and rode through Idaho, wondering how it would feel to join hundreds of riders I didn’t know. As a Frenchman who built his network in the U.S. over the last decade, I felt confident I’d connect.

On July 17, I pulled into Lone Wolf Harley-Davidson^® in Spokane to register. The place was buzzing—hundreds of bikes lined up for the day’s rides, riders greeting each other with hugs and handshakes. I grabbed a coffee and met Paul, the regional H.O.G. manager who gave me the rundown.

My first official H.O.G. ride was the Palouse loop—180 miles of twisty roads through lush landscapes. Our Road Captain, Mike, introduced me to more than 30 riders before engines fired up. We rode in staggered formation all day, avoiding highways and carving through some of the most beautiful terrain I’d seen in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). At every stop, conversations sparked as I took photos, and I found the riders not only welcoming but also genuinely warm. As we made our way back to the dealership through another ridiculously beautiful stretch of landscape, it occurred to me that I had missed a lot of the beauty of the PNW when I rode there on my own in previous years. Being able to explore the region with locals and hearing their stories really made everything more vibrant and interesting.

Every day of the rally, attendees had the opportunity to choose from different available routes. For my second day, I wanted to explore more of Idaho, which I heard had beautiful scenery near Coeur d’Alene. Within minutes, I was riding with 25 other riders near Coeur d’Alene Lake, hearing stories about the region from our Road Captain, Kevin, a native of the area. It made the day more meaningful.

In the evening, the chapter had organized something I hadn’t expected—a cruise on the lake. I must say, this was an excellent idea as it allowed everybody to mingle, relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery and great music.

As I prepared to ride back to Missoula that night, two things became clear: First, H.O.G. members ride a lot. I saw many members boasting 100,000-plus miles on their jackets, and I respect that. Second, a H.O.G. rally is an unexpected but very effective way to discover a region by riding the best routes with the locals and hearing their stories. Now I know this, I’ll definitely be back for more.

VonGasphalt is a rider and photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. You can follow his adventures at @vongasphalt on Instagram.