Leaders of the Pack

T minus - 17 Days

Not long now, and I will fly back home to essentially overnight and depart next day from Mobile, Al. enroute to Key West. I will basically get off the plane and load the steel horse in the back of my pick up truck as Karen, Haley and Heather (my Wolf Pack) will travel with me to see me off at the starting point. No time to rest. I have all my gear layed out in the garage. As packs go, they travel, hunt and remain together whenever they move into new territory.


Did you know?

Individual wolves in a pack play different roles in relation to the others in the group. The parent wolves are the leader of the pack - the Alpha male and Alpha female. Alpha is the first letter in the greek alphabet. The Alpha male and female are the oldest members of the pack and the ones with the most experience in hunting, defending territory, and other important activities. Some of the younger wolves of the pack may leave to find vacant territory or a mate.

Sound familiar?

My 2 daughters left the pack last year and found vacant territory (about a mile away) in an apartment. Hopefully they will postpone looking for a mate until college is finished. As for the Alpha male, he currently travels overseas each month (away from the den) while the Alpha female is either hunting (shopping) or defending the territory (farming).

We also have two other family members who make up our wolf pack. Dixie (pictured above in snow) and Sam. No photo of Sam (weiner wolf and acting Alpha male when I am away) as he hibernates mostly.

I look forward to travelling with the pack as one towards the starting point. They will give me strength and support to ensure a safe journey. We will also celebrate Karens birthday and Fathers day on the morning the Challenge starts (June 20th) where the sound of nearly 1000 steel horses will thunder and ride out with Warriors shouting the Hoka Hey cry. Having Fathers day fall on the same day that my epic journey begins, was not a coinicidence I believe, and this will be one of many "signs" to come that I will see along the way that will be for a reason. On that day, I will also honor my own father, Robert Byron Marrs, who is not only my hero but a true Warrior that also served his country well. May 31st is Memorial day. Let us not forget those who sacrificed for our freedom. For me, everyday is Memorial day and I show it with the flag on my front porch.

Shout out to 2 fellow Challengers - Paul / Harry

Back on Feb. 20th of this year, I had the opportunity to be invited by the Hoka Hey organizers to meet up with a few other challengers and to speak live on the Open Road Radio Show at the Cleveland International Bike Show. It was a great time not only at the bike show and visiting downtown Cleveland in brutal 15 degree weather, but to spend about 15 minutes talking with Gina Woods (radio host) and others on live radio about why we are participating and how important the charities are. This is where I met up with two other challengers, Paul & Harry, who also came to the show and talked with us. It was great to meet them and talk about our interest in the challenge and I have nothing but respect for them and their courage. I felt a bond with these guys as we agreed we were involved with something big about to have an impact in our lives. Looking forward to meeting them at the start in Key West and at the finish line in Alaska.

Check out the Chicago based radio show OPENROADRADIO.COM and read/hear informative cycle news.

Hoka Hey Challenge Video with Music

How this whole thing got started

Last year my brother Bob who is a trucker, sent me a message about a poster he saw in the Dakota's about the Hoka Hey Challenge and suggested it would be a great ride if I was interested. I checked it out and read through the details. My first thought was it's for a good cause and the second thought was, what an incredible logistics challenge. 7000 miles in two weeks starting from Key West Florida and ending in Homer Alaska. I knew where Key West was but never heard of Homer and never been to Alaska either.

I contemplated the whole idea and thought wouldn't it be a nice ride. It was only a matter of a few weeks while at work that I kept thinking how difficult it would be to travel that far on a motorcycle by yourself and in such a short amount of time. To qualify as a Warrior, you have to arrive in Homer, AK no later than July 4th which is two weeks from the start in Key West on June 20th. The thought of the prize ($500k) never factored into my decision. It was all about the challenge and whether I had the "guts" to even complete such a journey. As I look at my scale, I know I have the guts, but it's now more about the Mental Fortitude. (fortitude-Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage)

Since I submitted my application and became accepted as a challenger in Nov. 09, I have now committed myself to see this life changing (or life ending) event through. I have played out many scenarios of the logistics challenge in my mind which includes weather, camping (rules say you have to sleep outside each night), fuel stops, mechanical issues, physical stamina (butt and back aches), food and water needs. Oh yea, and the occasional mad or careless car driver and critter crossings large and small. I can deal with bugs in the teeth, but deer and moose meat at 55 mph is tough to chew. I have also contemplated the route expected based on what I have read through the websites information. As the rules go, you will not know the exact routes and do's and dont's until they are handed to you at the start on June 20th. This also makes it challenging and keeps people honest. There will be several checkpoints along the route but you don't know which states you will be driving in next until you reach these checkpoints where the organizers will validate your movements and that you are who you are. Any sign of cheating or speeding and a rider is disqualified. Safety is the number one priority for this event. I intend to use some safety tips that I also learned at work and be as proactive as possible to avoid injury.

It's at these checkpoints, that my Support Team Karen (worried wife) and Trish (co-worried friend) will meet and greet me (if they don't get lost) and basically offer moral support and subsistence for my brief stops. I plan to use this checkpoint "pitstop" to replace dirty clothes or exchange light for heavy gear depending on the climate, replenish my MRE's, hose down the bike and body, spend 10 minutes with a chiropractor and move on to the next checkpoint. It's anticipated we will travel through 62 Mountain Ranges, 33 Indian Reservations, 26 National Forests, 8 Deserts, 6 National Parks and 4 Swamps. Having to cross into Canada on my way to Alaska could be another challenge as well, aye?

I've pretty much checked and rechecked, made my lists of things to consider and most probably will not be able to cover everything to prepare for such a journey. I will travel as light as possible as weight equals drag and drag means more fuel stops. Time is valuable but so is enjoying the trip and making the most out of any situation. I intend to document each days travel and send photos to this blog to share for others who want a good laugh and to see if I really have the hide and hair to complete such a trip. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I intend to reflect in this trip on those who have served, "All gave some, some gave all", and offer my thoughts to the true warriors and their families that have faced greater challenges that this freedom ride I am going to embark on.

The real Lone Wolf Sioux

I have a great respect for Native Americans, their history and words of wisdom. They too have sacrificed their lives or the lives of someone they love for country, family and honor.

See more great pictures and stories of Native Americans at http://www.firstpeople.us/

First People is a child friendly site about Native Americans and members of the First Nations. 1400+ legends, 400+ agreements and treaties, 10,000+ pictures, free clipart, Pueblo pottery, American Indian jewelry, Native American Flutes and more.

I purchased a flute not long ago and have been practicing. The haunting sound tends to send my dogs away to hide. I plan to carry it with me on my 7000 mile ride and play it at night or early in the morning as inspiration.

One Month Away

It's countdown time. One month away from embarking on a challenge that is being advertised as the "Iditarod of Harley-Davidson's" in a one time event where only 1,000 riders from around the globe have entered to be counted as a Warrior. You can read more details in the website www.hokaheychallenge.com.

I, Jimmy (aka Lone Wolf), of unsound mind and aging body, have elected to attempt this challenge on the basis of a few observations:

#1 Observation- The M-W definition of Challenge reads: "to confront or defy boldly", "to call out to duel or combat", "to invite into competition", "to demand as due or deserved", "to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties", "to order to halt and prove identity".

It's understood, Life is one great challenge in itself but there are times (example A) when a human is put into individual challenging situations with or without warning and then there are those (example B) who search for challenges to test themselves time and time again. Success or failure is not the desired objective, but merely the essence of the above definitions. Example A types could be those who proudly serve in the Military and without warning, are called to a foreign country to defend freedom and thus are put into extraordinary challenging situations. These challengers are also heroes and will be the essence of my individual challenge.

Example B types are those who shoot themselves from a cannon at a carnival in front of a crowd of hundreds "to arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties". Although success (hitting the soft target) is the desired objective, the human cannonball will continue to test themselves if failure occurs and the healing process is achieved without disorders. Other example B type challengers are boxers who meet opponents in the ring and "demand as due or deserved" their title of winner. Another is the cad who insults a gentleman or his lady, and a dual of guns is required at 50 paces. This "call out to dual or combat" challenge often leads to one of them saying "Oh crap" in the end. Another group of challengers are the car dealerships who post the names of their salemen like a golf leader board, "to invite into competition". And finally there are the 50 year olds who read about a 7000 mile motorcycle ride, two week time limit challenge "to order to halt and prove identity", which basically means Hey wait a minute, I'm still young and can do this!

#2 Observation - Everything about this event and my entry fee is dedicated to the numerous charities and the theme of Warriors going into battle that has attracted me to it. The proceeds will go towards Paralyzed Veterans of America, Warrior Weekend, Disabled Veterans, American Gold Star Mothers Inc., Vietnam Veterans of America, American Indian College Fund, The Red Cloud Humanitarian Fund and The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

#3 Observation - I like riding my motorcycle and what better way to see this great country (Canada included) than to ride hard and free on the open roads. Even though the challenge has a $500,000 prize to the first one who arrives legally to the destination, it's not about the money for me. It's about testing my will to endure both physically and mentally. As riding long distances often does, your mind allows time to reflect. I intend to reflect along my journey how difficult it must have been for those who served or are still serving in the military including my family and relatives. I dedicate this journey to all of them. Without them, my freedom to ride across one border to another would not be possible.