A pair of motorcycle riders from Chatham navigated their way through mountains, deserts, swamps, and even a hurricane on their way to raising $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 challenge based on the Lakota Sioux principle of Wolakota, which means 'peace' and "celebrates all that is pure and powerful in the warrior spirit," according to a release from the HHMC.
Riders who participate in the challenge need to fill out an application form and go through an interview process because of the difficult nature of the event.
Watters and Pollard's trip started in Daytona, Florida on August 4 and they travelled down to Key West before they made their way across the continental U.S.A. and into Canada, finishing in Homer, Alaska on August 13.
In total, Watters and Pollard logged more than 10,000 miles on their bikes in 10 days, finishing in the top 10 of all riders who had registered.
The challenge also requires riders to sleep outside with their bike while travelling only secondary roads and using no electronics to guide their way.
Their journey took them through dozens of mountain ranges and First Nation reserves along with more than 20 national forests, 18 deserts, six national parks, and a special weather event this year -- Hurricane Debby.
Debby started as a tropical storm and then strengthened into a hurricane while the riders were still making their way through its path.
“That is the true 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 your ride can change depending on the weather conditions and what time of day you make it there," said Watters. "This year we rode some of the most technically difficult roads at night and in the rain."
Watters was riding in the challenge for the second time, having finished fourth in 2022. He was joined this time by Pollard, who was a first-time rider.
"Having done an Iron Man in the past, I was confident in my ability to take on the endurance part of the challenge. What I hadn’t realized would be so difficult was the old-school navigation. You are in the middle of nowhere, you are exhausted, one wrong turn and you really have no idea where you are," said Pollard. "That was tough at times but fortunately we stuck together most of the ride and were able to work through it together."
Organizers of the Hoka Hey challenge also encourage riders to use the event to raise money for a charity of their choice and 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 23 at 5 p.m. to welcome home Watters and Pollard -- everyone is welcome to come out and congratulate them on their successful trip.
