The Long Journey Home: A Marine's Ride to Harley-Davidson USA

Biker Blog by Brandy Fitgerald

DAY 1

THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: A Marine’s Ride to Harley Davidson USA 5/31/2022

Warm and sunny on my first gas stop. Bentleyville, PA. 50 miles from Wheeling WV Quick stop at Valley Harley-Davidson

Day 2

THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: A Marine’s Ride to Harley Davidson USA 6/1/2022

As I rode today through the deep turns of I-70 through Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, I contemplated what the green mountains and forests must have looked like unspoiled, and pristine. The Allegheny Mountains were magnificent and the road made sweeping curves left then right and I enjoyed every mile. It was hard to imagine that Flight 93 crashed near there.

I stopped at Valley Harley-Davidson and enjoyed their hospitality and made everyone laugh at my excitement of buying more Harley gear. ‘

I also think they got an eyeful when I pulled up and parked the bike, while I sang and danced to my favorite ride song by REO Speedwagon, “I Can’t Fight the Feeling Anymore.”

While there I met another Veteran, an former Army Reservist of 25 years, who was waiting for his bike to be serviced. Of course we told each other the story of our lives and Harley-Davison for about an hour as he waited for his bike and I just enjoyed the day.

I rode west towards Wheeling, West Virginia and decided that it was so beautiful, the sky so blue, and the roads so empty that I would keep riding to get closer to my destination before the incoming storms hit. In Cambridge, Ohio I stopped to fill my tank for the last time of the day, and encountered another Vet filling his truck and he said,

“You do not want to go on Ma’am. Columbus is being hit by severe thunderstorms now and you will be riding right into it.”

I had been on the road since 8am, it was now 3:30pm and I was yawning, so I decided to call it a day and checked into a hotel. Not too long after I did, the first clap of thunder reverberated around my hotel and I was glad to be dry and safe inside. I spent the evening re-packing my gear and prepping for a rainy ride in the morning and my last 3 hour leg into Indianapolis, Indiana. Later as I drifted off to sleep, a line from the movie “Gone with the Wind” passed through my mind as I thought, ”…tomorrow is another day.”

DAY 3

THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: A Marine’s Ride to Harley Davidson USA

It was nearly 11pm as I stood slowly up and looked around those gathered once more. Some of us were limping, some on canes, many with little to no hair, and much of what we had was white, but we were ALL Marines! Between all the various bases and duty stations; bands around the country and the world; people who had come and gone; those with us and long past, reminded me of something I had read long ago in Dicken’s “A Tale of Two Cities”

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us”

I thought to myself, that applies to us. We came and went from duty station to duty station, unit to unit, band to band, often saying goodbye only to go on and start over again in some strange new place, far from home. And here it was that time again, and the last story had been told, the last hugs given, the last tearful good-byes were said, and we all went to our respective rooms. My eyes too, were full of tears as I entered my room, enjoying for just a minute the stillness of the night.

As I began the finishing touches on packing, I wished in that instant I could take them all with me so they could experience the depth of my excitement. I smiled realizing that tomorrow was the culmination of the great adventure, the “long journey home” and I shivered slightly with trepidation as well as excitement for tomorrow I would be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the home of Harley-Davidson USA!. Many children and their parents across the country revel in the joy of going to Disneyland; I was finally going to Harleyland!

Day 4 THE LONG JOURNEY HOME: A Marine’s Ride to Harley Davidson USA 6/6/2022

I awoke to my first full day in "Harleyland" to find bad news: It is cold and raining here. Now most bikers would say, "So what, we ride anyway!" And I know all bikers do, BUT...I have ridden in rain, snow, hail, and thunderstorms and I do not HAVE TO do that anymore. At 70 years of age, that gets painful and I don't need pneumonia on this trip!

I do believe there is a window of riding time around lunch before the next storm moves in this afternoon, and I am going to be ready to take advantage of it. I am dressed in my Harley best with Harley socks, boots, jacket, jeans, jewelry, etc. And before any smarty asks, "NO", I am not wearing Harley underwear....YET. LOL! So stand by for the great Harley reveal, if not today, tomorrow for sure!

SIde Note: I spoke to Brandy via phone and if she was any more excited about meeting Bill Davidson she would have shot electricity through the phone line and struck me down, Cannot wait for her next blog. LButler