Rolling North

A Milwaukee rider’s journey to the Great Lakes H.O.G.^® Rally.

Words by Brian Redmond

There’s something about the open road that speaks to every rider, but a H.O.G. member seems to crave a little more. This time for me it started with the early morning hum of my bike leaving Milwaukee for the Great Lakes H.O.G. Rally in Marquette, Michigan. Through cities, forests, over rivers, and along the edges of the Great Lakes, my dad and I headed into an incredible weekend of riding, meeting new friends and enjoying the camaraderie.

Leaving the city behind, I could feel my head clear as the road stretched out before me. We took the scenic route—up through Green Bay, across the Menominee River, and into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With each mile, the landscape shifted: less concrete, more pines. The air crisped, traffic thinned, and every twist of the throttle reminded me why I ride. Even the rain we encountered couldn’t have brought the energy levels down. Crossing into Michigan’s U.P. feels like entering another country in some ways, and by the time we rolled into Marquette, the rally energy was in full swing.

There’s nothing quite like pulling into a H.O.G. rally. It’s part reunion, part revival. The sound of pipes, the smell of fuel, and the sight of bikes lined up in every direction—there’s something comforting, and it just feels like home no matter where you are. The welcoming party is something you don’t want to miss.

One of the best aspects of a H.O.G. rally is the chance to ride with other like-minded people, and we were lucky enough to enjoy some incredible routes organized by local H.O.G chapters. We rode in formation through the Northwoods and along the lake, then through the twisting U.P. backroads. It was such a high! Tree-lined curves and old mining and logging towns dotted the route like something out of a travel documentary.

The U.P. has everything a rider wants to experience—cliffside views, dense forest roads, winding lake drives, and stretches so quiet, you feel like the last rider on Earth. We did some serious miles, but we never felt tired. Only more alive.

One of the absolute highlights of the Great Lakes H.O.G. Rally was the unforgettable parade of bikes—a thunderous procession that roared through the streets of Marquette. Hundreds of proud H.O.G. members gathered together, revved engines and grinned from ear to ear as the police escort led the way through town. The sound of V-twins echoed off buildings, and the sense of unity and excitement was electric. Watching that sea of chrome roll by was a celebration of the freedom, camaraderie, and spirit that makes the Harley Owners Group^® so unique.

Riding to Marquette wasn’t just about the rally, it was about feeding that constant itch we all share: the need for the next great ride, the next unknown road. It reminded me that H.O.G. isn’t just about events or destinations, it’s about what happens between the lines on the map.

From the first throttle twist in Milwaukee to the last mile of exploration in the Upper Peninsula, this ride was a reminder of why we chase the horizon. Why we ride.

Until the next one—keep the rubber down and the spirit up.