Croatia calling: Belgian H.O.G. members tackle a long route to the European H.O.G. Rally

Belgian best friends, Stef and Luc, faced some challenges on their ride to Medulin, but only found it brought them closer together

On 6 June 2025, Stef Vandersmissen and Luc Veef set off with great enthusiasm on their long-awaited motorcycle journey to the European H.O.G. Rally in Medulin, Croatia. Their route took them through no fewer than 16 countries in 12 days, sharing the spirit of adventure, friendship, nature and of course the Harley community.

Day 1

The first day was a long ride: 870km towards Teplice, Czech Republic, mostly via motorways. Before long, they were confronted with hours of rain. In Chemnitz, Germany, they visited the local dealership and received a warm welcome before setting off again. Shortly afterwards, Luc discovered a serious issue: his exhaust silencer had broken. Using what lay to hand, the pair managed to fabricate a temporary fix, using clothes hangers and duct tape, then continued on with spirits still high.

Day 2

The journey continued along winding mountain roads through the Czech Republic and Poland. Again, the rain persisted, but the landscapes were stunning. They decided to skip a planned stop at the Skull Chapel to continue safely. In Malá Morávka, they found dinner at a mountain bike award ceremony and then spent the night in a ski resort.

Day 3

On day three, they covered 500km through Poland, Slovakia, and towards the Ukrainian border. The rain continued to be a constant companion. In Kaluža, Slovakia, they found a nice surprise: although the restaurant was closed, some food had been specially prepared for them and they enjoyed a private dinner overlooking a lake.

Day 4

There was finally some sunshine, but they weren’t so lucky with the rest of their day. At the Ukrainian border, they discovered that they needed international passports and were forced to turn back, instead continuing their travels via Hungary and Romania. In Arad, Romania, disaster struck: Stef was hit by a car at an intersection, leaving him with a bruised hand and a damaged motorcycle. With the help of Luc and some other bikers, he returned home to Belgium and Luc continued on alone, taking a 150km detour through dark country roads to read the next hotel in Serbia.

Day 5

Luc continued on through Serbia, then Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spent the night at a glamping site by a reservoir in Jablanica, where he enjoyed peace, nature, and spit-roasted lamb. The climb to his tent was tough, but the view was breathtaking. Meanwhile, Stef was looking for a way to still reach Medulin in time for the rally!

Day 6

Luc continued his solo trek along the rugged mountain roads of Bosnia, navigating areas where some parts of the road had been completely washed away. He eventually reached Pag, a Croatian island in the Adriatic, and took some time to chill out. After a warm welcome from the hosts of the B&B, he soaked up some sun, took a refreshing swim and sat down to a delicious dinner. While Luc was experiencing the seaside, Stef had found and booked flights to Pula.

Day 7

It wouldn’t be too long before Stef and Luc could reunite: as Luc caught the ferry back to the mainland and rode along the stunning Croatian coast, he heard that Stef would land in that evening. Their reunion was heartfelt and emotional and, together again, they headed towards Medulin to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere.

Joining the party

On the Friday and Saturday, they enjoyed the H.O.G. rally: music, thousands of Harleys, encounters with other chapters and old friends. During the flag parade and the final stage moment they, along with another H.O.G. member, were honoured to be named runners-up for the longest ride in – a beautiful recognition of their perseverance.

On Sunday, Luc departed for the return journey of 430km towards Austria. He braved traffic jams, heat, and accidents but arrived safely at his hotel. Stef stayed in Pula a little longer, exploring the city, visiting the Roman arena and the harbour, and soaking up the local atmosphere.

Luc returned home via Germany, France and Luxembourg, while Stef flew back via Charleroi, Belgium.

The final tally

Despite the misfortune met along the way, Stef nevertheless had a wonderful time in Medulin, and Luc came home with 5,163km more on the clock than he’d started with. As they reflect back on their experiences, Luc and Stef remark that despite the challenges and setbacks, the journey has only helped their bond grow stronger and proved that true friendship doesn’t end with adversity – the shared love for the road, the motorcycles and each other conquers all.

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