Two Chatham motorcyclists navigated mountains, deserts, swamps and even a hurricane to raise $20,000 for the local chapter of the Special Olympics.
Craig Watters and David Pollard recently completed the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge (HHMC), an endurance competition based on the Wolakota principle of the Lakota Sioux. Wolakota means “peace” and “celebrates all that is pure and powerful in the warrior spirit,” according to a press release from the HHMC.
Due to the difficult nature of the event, riders participating in the challenge must complete an application form and go through an interview process.
Watters and Pollard’s journey began in Daytona, Florida on August 4 and took them down to Key West before crossing the continental United States and Canada, ending in Homer, Alaska on August 13.
In total, Watters and Pollard covered more than 10,000 miles on their bikes in ten days and finished in the top ten of all registered riders.
The challenge also requires riders to sleep outdoors with their bikes, while traveling exclusively on back roads and without using any electronic navigation.
Their journey took them through dozens of mountain ranges and First Nations reserves, as well as more than 20 national forests, 18 deserts, six national parks and one special weather event this year – Hurricane Debby.
Debby began as a tropical storm and then strengthened into a hurricane while drivers were still making their way through its path.
“That’s the real challenge of this ride and one of the things I really love about it – you know where the start line is and where the finish line is, but nothing in between, and the ride can change depending on the weather conditions and the time of day you get there,” Watters said. “This year we rode at night and in the rain on some of the most technically difficult roads.”
Watters was taking part in the Challenge for the second time, having finished fourth in 2022. This time he was accompanied by Pollard, who was riding for the first time.
“Having done an Iron Man in the past, I was confident I could handle the endurance portion of the challenge. What I didn’t think I would be able to handle was the old-fashioned navigation. You’re in the middle of nowhere, you’re exhausted, one wrong turn and you really have no idea where you are,” Pollard said. “It was tough at times, but luckily we stayed together for most of the ride and were able to get through it together.”
Hoka Hey Challenge organizers also encourage riders to use the event to raise money for a charity of their choice. Watters and Pollard chose the local chapter of the Special Olympics, raising more than $20,000 for the cause.
There will also be a special event at the Central Tavern in Pain Court on Friday, August 23rd at 5pm to welcome Watters and Pollard home – everyone is welcome to come along and congratulate them on their successful journey.
