On the Road Again

JAXHOG: On the Road Again

On club rides, JaxHOG has ridden nearly every road in Northeast and Florida and Southeast Georgia. Sometimes JaxHOG trips even take us to Alabama (Andersonville) and North Carolina (Tail of the Dragon). With the ABCs of Touring, club rides have travelled from A to Z.

But individually, members of JaxHOG have ridden their V-Twins to every state in the Union--and beyond. Where have you been? What have you seen? What adventures have you had? This web page lets the world know just how far and wide our wanderlust and our Harley-Davidsons carry us.

"JAXHOG: On the Road" Guidelines

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Members: Charles & Dori Smith (2006 Street Glide), Bill & Jan McKinley (2005 Police Road King), Steve Coleman ( 2006 Ultra Classic) and Susan Coleman (2003 Fatboy) Dates: November 8 - 11, 2008 Days: 4 Total Miles: approx 1,200 States: (1) FL Discover Florida Trip with Tallahassee Wild Hog – from Jacksonville to Key West and back Best Experience: Charles: Exploring the back roads of Florida with new friends and good friends; Dori: Surviving 1200 plus miles on a motorcycle!; Bill and Jan: The RIDE and the RIDERS; Steve and Susan: The RIDE Worst Experience: Charles and Dori: The length of the ride, we needed a few more days to “Discover Florida; Bill and Jan: too rushed; Steve and Susan: Not getting to spend more time in Key West. This Ride was Special Because: We all saw parts of Florida we had never experienced before – we took a scenic route through the Everglades, we saw the agricultural section of Homestead/Miami and we rode our motorcycles on Duval Street in Key West!!
Members: Parker and Sandy Pearman Ride: 2008 Anniversary Ultra Classic Dates: Aug. 23 -Sept. 2, 2008 Days: 11 Total Miles: 3825 States: (13) FL, GA, SC, NC, VA WV,OH, MI, WI, IL, IN, KY, TN Plus Canada Best Experience: Taking the Anniversary Ultra Classic home to Milwaukee for its Birthday!. Worst Experience: Even a bad day o the Harley o nthe road beats a great day at work! This Ride was Special Because: This was the first long trip for my wife, Sandy, and she did not complain ONE time!!
Member: John Lyles Ride: 2003 Road King Classic Dates: Aug. 26 -Sept. 1, 2008 Days: 7 Total Miles: 3044 States: (6) FL, GA, TN, KY, IL, WI Best Experience: Being part of the 105th and riding to never before been to places. Worst Experience: Are you kidding? This Ride was Special Because: I had time off from work and was able to forget everything else and be part of the 105th. I met strangers and left as friends with phone numbers and a place to visit if ever in their neck of the woods. It felt great riding to get to Milwaukee and just as great going back home to family.
Members: Steve and Susan Coleman Ride: 2006 Police Special Ultra Classic Dates: Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2008 Days: 3 Total Miles: 1100 States: (3) FL, GA, AL Best Experience: Visting the Barber Motorcycle Museum Worst Experience: Lunch at Montana's. This Ride was Special Because: We rode the twisting roads going into northern Alabama. The hotel accommodations were fantastic. We visited the Talladega Super Speedway, the Barber Motorcycle Museum, and the DeSoto Caverns. The weather was overcast and breezy.
Members: Dennis & Marilyn Frobish Ride: 2007 Ultra Classic Dates: July 4-19, 2008 Days: 16 Total Miles: 6,087 States: (19) FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, MA, NH, ME, VT, PA, OH, WVA, KY, TN Washington, D.C. New Brunswick & Nova Scotia, Canada Best Experience: Riding the "Cabot Trail" on Cape Breton Island, NS, eating the world's best scallops in Digby, NS, & riding through New England again. Worst Experience: Knowing the ride was going to end. This is one I could have done for 16 months, not 16 days. This Ride was Special Because: It was Marilyn's first motorcyle ride outside the U.S. and we saw some of the most beautful coastline in the world. Friendly Canadians. Fascinating history. And a side trip that took us to the Statue of Liberty, through Manhattan and down Broadway in NYC. Oh yeah, and I rode some of the world's best roller coasters at Cedar Point, Ohio.
Members: Ana Flores and George Straughn Ride: 2008 Ultra Classic Dates: June 12-16, 2008 Days: 5 Total Miles: 1541 States: FL, GA, SC, NC,TN Best Experience: Riding the "Tail of the Dragon", "HellBender, & "The Smokies" Worst Experience: None This Ride was Special Because: The hospitality from the owners of Dragons Rest Cabins. The clean fresh air, beautiful scenery, and Anne Baxter said it best: "Riding in God's country". The mountains are the best!
Member: Larry Parham Ride: 2006 Electra Glide Standard Dates: June 4-7, 2008 Days: 4 Total Miles: 550 States: FL, GA, NC, TN Best Experience: The best thing was having a great ride with great friends for all four days Worst Experience: the worst thing since there was not one i guess was missing the jaxhog group photo This Ride was Special Because: There were 29 jaxhog menbers that made this trip. the gazebo meeting after riding all day was one of the great highlights also JEFF BLAKE winning1st place in the hog poker run take home the big money .
Member: Donna Parham Ride: 2006 Ultra Standard Dates: June 8-17 Days: 10 Total Miles: 3800 States: FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, OH, VA, WVA, KYI, PA, NY, VT, MD + Canada Best Experience: The best thing about this trip was spending time with great freinds, Rober & Mary Jordan, Chris & Kim Kiernan, Johnny & Nancy Thornton & Larry & I. Worst Experience: There is no worst thing about this trip. This Ride was Special Because: Seeing & doing things that we have never done before. The sites we saw & the riding was beautiful. We rode the Adirondack Mts, saw Niagra Falls, took the ferry from NY to Vt across Lake Champlain. We rode through the vinyards in Canada & rode the banks of Lake Ontario. We saw a great many wonderful sites. We were able to stop in Lake Placid NY one night, a really great place. This was a great many firsts for me, one being the longest road trip so far for me. One that I will always remember.
Member: Anne Baxter Ride: 2001 Ultra Classic Dates: June 3-8, 2008 Days: 6 days Total Miles: 1800+ States: FL, GA, AL, NC, TN Best Experience: Getting to spend a week with the best friends you could ever ask for, and riding in God's country. I have a passion for riding in the mountains. Worst Experience: Losing my credit card on a twistie road. Riding home in over 100 degree temp. But I got a good tan! This Ride was Special Because: "Taking 3 days to get to Tennessee through Dothan, Al. Great friends and riding some of the best back roads in the country! Eating at some of the best little places, We rode the Cherohala Skyway, Foothills Parkway, Deals Gap (several times), seeing old friends and meeting new people and having so many stories to fill my journal with!"
Members (Ride): Steve Coleman (Ultra), Susan Coleman (Fat Boy), Doug Barnhart (Ultra), Bishop Ellison (Heritage), Pam Ellison (Heritage), Parker Pearman (Ultra), John Buckley (Road Glide), "DrD" Frobish (Ultra) The Southern Heritage Tour with the Tallahassee Wild Hogs Dates: May 17 - May 24, 2008 Days: 8 Total Miles: ca 3,200 States: FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, PA, WV, TN, MS, AL DrD: "This Ride was Special Because: seeing the sun rise over historic Kitty Hawk, gliding through picturesque Pennsylvania, touring the York HD assembly plant, cresting the Appalachians, and retracing the historic paths of sturdy pioneers on the Natchez Trace Parkway were enhanced by cruising with 'serious motorcyle riders,' cementing old friendships and making new ones." Bishop Ellison: "This Ride was Special Because: of the new friends we made, the things we learned about bike riding you can’t learn on a day trip (or lunch run) and because I got a small taste of the real freedom only a motorcycle can give. I couldn’t possibly go again before RIGHT NOW!" John Buckley: "This Ride was Special Because: I had a chance to do something that I would probably not get a chance to do again. To see some sights that I would not ever see again. And to enjoy the comaraderie of folks who share the same passion." Parker Pearman: "This Ride was Special Because: it gave me a chance for the first time to ride 8 days straight averaging over 400 miles per day. In the past I had only had the opportunity to ride about 3-4 days straight, but I proved to myself that the Ultra is the ultimate bike and I could ride 400 miles comfortably on it every day." Susan Coleman: "This Ride was Special Because: we were able to be gone for a week from the usual day-to-day problems, responsibilities and issues and just ride! We were able to ride simply for the joy of riding. We saw awesome sights, rode over every type of road surface imaginable, rode in many different weather scenarios, met all different kinds of people, practiced our u-turn skills, and experienced an amazing camaraderie among the group of riders on the trip." Steve Coleman: This Ride was Special Because: we covered 1/4 of the lower 48 states, we met some wonderful people on the ride and in the areas we visited and we went over roads we had never travelled before. Including the Chesapeake Bay bridge and tunnels and the Natchez Trace – which was unbelievably beautiful. We had all weather (hot, cold, wet, dry, violent , calm). It was a great time to relax and leave your stressors behind. Doug Barnhart: This Ride was Special Because: of the people, the riding and the destinations. I was able to meet and get to know some really interesting people while doing something I enjoy the heck out of. We saw some great sights and some of the best back roads. The Natchez Trace Trail was more peaceful and scenic than I could have imagined. Other highlights include the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the back roads of Lancaster County, and the old city charm of places like Charleston, SC, Wilmington, NC, Lexington, Va, and Natchez, Ms. The weather only added to our sense of adventure while making the trip an even greater endurance test. I think a number of people were able to do something that they had only dreamed of doing and to be part of their experience made the trip even that much more special. It’s true that there were places that we didn’t have enough time to fully experience but the up side is that I have a number of destinations that I’ll be adding to my list of places to go for 3-days rides. Hmmm… 3-Day motorcycle trips from Jax…sounds like a good title for a new book. What do you think Big Man? Let us know if you need some assistance with the research.
Member: Wally Perez Ride: 2007 Deuce Dates: April 24-27, 2008 Days: 4 Total Miles: 1,450 States: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina Best Experience: Lunch at The Coleman House Inn in Swainsboro, Ga -all you can eat of the some of the best home cooking!, Riding the Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Skyway and visiting The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. Worst Experience: Being in the middle of the twisties in a torrential down pour with hail and no where to pull off. This Ride was Special Because: "It was my first road trip away from Florida on my Deuce, the beautiful scenery and surviving the Dragon unscathed!"
Members (Ride): Mike Baker (Road King), Bill Hartley (Ultra-Classic), John Colgrove (Ultra-Classic), Steve Coleman (Ultra-Classic), Susan Coleman (Fatboy) Non-member Dave Alexander (not on a Harley, but that is okay!) Date: March 14, 2008 Days: 1 Day Total Miles: 1,034 (Iron Butt!) States: FL, GA, SC Best Experience: The group camaraderie Worst Experience: Constant threat of rain. This Ride was Special Because: "It was an IronButt! We tested our endurance and we met the challenge!" — Susan Coleman "...that is one more item crossed off the “bucket list.” — Bill Hartley "We took on a challenge that few try. Many want to but some aspect of the ride holds them back. Maybe it’s the distance or the need to ride a long time at night or simply fear of the unknown. To accomplish something like this stretches you physically and emotionally. To complete the ride we had to call on all the skills we have developed while riding a motorcycle and proved that safety and operator training really does pay off. " — Mike Baker "This ride was special because I got to see Susan ride the distance and do it on her own. It was a great confidence builder for her… and me." —Steve Coleman “I had the pleasure of working with five great people for a memorable ride, the “Iron butt Saddle-sore”. We devised a terrific idea, planned it out and executed it. The ride was a big, but manageable challenge. Great plans and fun times are best enjoyed with great friends. This ride is what team work and camaraderie is all about!"—John Colgrove
Member: John Buckley Ride: 2007 Road Glide Dates: August 2007 Days: 4 Days Total Miles: 1,000 States: FL, GA, TN, NC, SC (Smoky Mountains) Best Experience: Just riding again with my best friend after 15 years Worst Experience:The heat of Knoxville in late August. 105 degrees. This Ride was Special Because: "This was a special ride for me because my friend John and I had planned on riding the HOG Adirondack ride. His plans got changed at the last minute and we couldn't go. But we decided to go to Knoxville for the National HOG rally. John has a cabin in Gatlinburg so we stayed there and made that our base of operations. We rode The Dragon, Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and whatever roads struck our fancy. It was fantastic!."
Member: John Lyles Ride: 2003 Road King Classic Dates: Nov. 9 - Nov. 17, 2007 Days: 8 Days Total Miles: 4,956 States: FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, NV, CA Best Experience: Seeing the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon Worst Experience: The last day: 34 degrees just west of Tallahassee. This Ride was Special Because: "This turned out to be a great ride, my longest ride to date. I started out going west and decided on the second day I could make the Ca. state line just to be able to say I did. Saw a lot, last day- 1,026 miles in 22 1/2 hrs."
Members: Doug and Peggy Barnhart Ride: 2006 Ultra Classic Dates: Sept 20 - 30, 2007 Days: 11 Days Total Miles: 3,350 States: FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, PA, NJ, NY, ME, NH, VT, DE, MD, DC Foreign Country: Canada (Montreal) Best Experience: The romantic, yet adventurous night on the town in Montreal with Peggy Worst Experience: 40 minutes waiting to cross into Canada w/85+temperatures (coming back took less than 60 seconds) This Ride was Special Because:"I picked up Peg in Albanywhere we spent time with her family before heading to Canada.In Montreal we enjoyed a horse drawn carriage ride through Old Montreal followed by a romantic dinner. The next day we visited Montreal’s H-D dealership. You can imagine our disappointment when we found it closed. Outside the dealership with us was a gentleman that was trying to get the attention of his supervisor in an office above the dealership. We were able to assist him and learned that he was the dealership owner. He invited us into his new facility and as a sign of his appreciation he gave us a souvenir. We left Montreal for northern Vermont where we witnessed the changing of the seasons. We then went on to visit Cape Elizabeth, Maine where we had lunch at a park overlooking the rocky coastline w/Lighthouses in the background. We also visited North Conway and Laconia where I was able to satisfy a 30-year dream to tour covered bridges while riding a Harley. I also visited the H-D Assembly plant in York for a fascinating 90 minute tour. By the way, the tour has been expanded to include the Softail assembly line. A definite 5 star ride!."

Member: Tom Medlock Ride: 2007 Street Glide Dates: December 2006 Days: 1 Day Total Miles: 320 States: FL, GA, Best Experience: Awesome day trip and hardly anyone else on the road This Ride was Special Because: "My friend John Lyles (Road King Classic) and I decided to play hooky from work one day and take a ride from my house in Macclenny. We rode through the Osceola Forest and the Okefenokee Swamp to Homerville and over to Waycross making a loop around Laura S. Walker Lake and stopping for a picture in front of the Swamp Park sign. We came down US1 to 121S and back through the swamp to Macclenny. Hope others might try the route. It was a big square through South Georgia and North Florida with lots of places for food and stopping along the way."

Member: Dennis Frobish Ride: 2007 Ultra Classic Dates: Aug. 18- Sept. 6, 2007 Days: 19 days Total Miles: 4850 States: FL, GA, AL, MS, AR, MO, KS, NE, WY, CO, OK Best Experience: Time with Marilyn Worst Experience: Pouring rain in Rocky Mountain National Park This Ride was Special Because: "The West is special. Frontier history; open spaces; deer, antelope & elk; soaring mountains; shear-walled canyons and rock-cutting rivers. Add a family reunion, old friends, and a ride along the highest paved through road in the U.S. (U.S. 34 in Colorado). This year's trip was also the first chance for Marilyn to join me on a long ride."
Member: Ride: Dates: Days: Total Miles: States: Best Experience: Worst Experience: This Ride was Special Because:


JaxHOG: On the Road Again Guidelines Open to JAXHOG members only. Submit one (1) full-size digital photo to the Webmaster per trip per person, preferably one that shows you, your bike and a backgroud showing why the trip was special (e.g. mountain scenery, the Statue of Liberty, Welcome to [fill in the blank], The World's Biggest Ball of Twine, HD factory Milwaukee, Sturgis Rally, Niagara Falls, the Pacific Ocean, Devil's Tower, etc.). In short, what was the highlight of your trip? If you ride two-up, you may submit two pictures, with each person choosing the scene that meant the most to him or her (both people can be in either or both pictures). If you're riding in a group, all JaxHOG members can submit a different picture. In 50 words or less, tell why the ride was special. In addition to the 50-word description, specify: What you rode When you went How many miles you rode round trip (or an estimate) What states you went through Length of ride in days Best experience Worst experience You may submit more than one ride a year, but you may only submit one picture per person per ride. We look forward to your tales of adventure, to your fabulous photographs, and to reminding visitors to our site why riding a Harley-Davidson is a lifetime passion we indulge as often and as extensively as we can. Ride far, ride friendly, and ride safe.