Welcome to Thrillwaukee Wisconsin rolls out the black and orange carpet for Harley-Davidson's 115th anniversary By: Willy Williamson Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Friday, Sep. 14, 2018

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/09/2018 (2198 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It may have taken the better part of two days to ride the nearly 1,300 kilometres from Winnipeg to Milwaukee, Wis., for Harley-Davidson’s 115th anniversary party earlier this month — yet, miraculously, the moment we arrived I felt like a kid again.

My flashback to childhood occurred when we roared into the parking lot of our hotel for the weekend and I spotted my big brother, Allen, polishing his gleaming Harley-Davidson under a blazing Wisconsin sun. Allen, who is 18 months older than me, had ridden a long way too — his journey began two days and 1,200 km prior in Ottawa.

A big hug from Big Al reminded me we were in town for a fun-filled bro weekend loaded with laughs and adventure.

Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson and Big Al totally delivered on all fronts.

This was my third trip on a motorcycle to Milwaukee for a Harley-Davidson anniversary party; I previously made the trip to the rally in 2008 and 2013. Every five years, the motorcycle company, the city of Milwaukee and the surrounding area host a brilliant bash to celebrate not only the iconic brand founded in the city in 1903, but also the lifestyle and camaraderie that seems to go hand in hand with owning and riding a Harley-Davidson.

On past trips I had a terrific time travelling with Dave Gray, the owner of Harley-Davidson Winnipeg, and his crew, but this time around I had two less days to make the long ride to Milwaukee and back, and opted instead to travel in a smaller pack with my friends Don Swirsky and Dave Wolfe.

The three of us rolled out early on Thursday morning with Swirsky, who is a skilled rider and gifted navigator, in the lead. After crossing the border, we blasted through Minnesota with only short stops for fuel and to stretch our legs in Warroad, International Falls and Duluth, before arriving at our stop for the night in Eau Claire, Wis., which is about 900 km from Winnipeg and home to some of the friendliest folks in America — every person we met was genuinely interested in our trip and full of compliments for our shiny motorcycles. There’d be plenty more of that kindness and hospitality in store for us throughout the weekend.

Because we had ridden so far on Thursday, our scenic ride from Eau Claire into Milwaukee on Friday took less than four hours and we arrived under a hot sun just after lunch.

One of the great things about the Milwaukee Harley rally is that it doesn’t just take place in one spot. There is so much to see and do throughout the weekend — in Milwaukee and all around the surrounding area. The local Harley dealers, of which there are many, all get involved and host huge parking lot parties with live bands, great food and all sorts of motorcycle-related vendors selling parts, clothing and accessories. It’s basically a carnival of chrome everywhere you go.

On Friday afternoon we checked out a couple of those dealership parties, made some new friends, then made our way downtown for dinner. Allen led us to a Mexican restaurant named Conejito’s Place, a small but popular spot he and I discovered purely by accident when we were in Milwaukee together back in 2013. Swirsky helped Allen and I demolish a table covered in delicious tacos and enchiladas served on paper plates. Wolfe, who is about the fittest biker I’ve ever travelled with, seemed to enjoy the chips and salsa. Following dinner we made our way to Brady Street, which was closed off to all vehicles except motorcycles. A sea of bikers who were all clearly having a really good time welcomed us with open arms, and although it was ridiculously hot and crazily crowded, it was also about the best fun I’ve had all summer — and it was a really fun summer!

Saturday morning we woke up to rain, so I rolled over and went back to bed. Allen, Wolfe and Swirsky toured a couple more dealerships in the morning and got soaked. I was a tad upset we missed the motorcycle races that afternoon at Bradford Beach, but the folks I talked to who did make that scene said although the races were fun to watch, by the time they got out of there their bikes and boots were covered in muck. Oh well, there’s always next time. Plus, I needed the rest.

The forecast was looking quite grim for Saturday, but thankfully in Milwaukee they are about as good at predicting the weather as we are here, so the sun arrived at about 3 p.m. Big Al planned a trip within our trip to a spot he’d heard about called the Knucklehead Pub & Grub in nearby Eagle, Wis., which is about an hour’s ride from Milwaukee through scenic Wisconsin farmland, rolling hills, sweeping turns and some very smooth asphalt. It was a really fun spot, the food was great and the ride was greater. We rolled out of Eagle with the sun setting on our backs and a lightning storm brewing in our mirrors, but the weather gods were on our side and we made it to a hot and muggy — but dry — Milwaukee just in time for another raging party on Brady Street. We finished the night with a small party of our own in Wolfe and Swirsky’s hotel room, where we swapped stories about all the funny, crazy and downright beautiful things we’d witnessed throughout the weekend. Trips like this really help friends bond, and we all agreed it was a spectacular weekend.

Back in July I had the good fortune to travel to Prague in the Czech Republic for the European Harley-Davidson party, and although it was a dream trip loaded with fun and excitement, I will say this — if you want to get treated like rolling royalty, ride a Harley-Davidson through Wisconsin. These folks not only give motorcyclists tremendous respect on the road, they also go above and beyond to make bikers feel at home in the state where it arguably all began.

Swirsky and Wolfe rolled out early on Sunday morning, while Allen and I got going a bit later, then waded through a steady drizzle from Milwaukee to Stevens Point, Wis. The hot tub at the Holiday Inn was calling our names when we arrived.

My big brother and I bid a fond farewell to one another on a cloudy Monday morning in the middle of America. I rode alone all day and into the night and made it home literally moments before that big storm crashed Winnipeg. In five short days I’d ridden more than 3,000 kilometres — and although it felt great to be home, as I laid down for some much needed sleep plans of all the fun we are going to have in Milwaukee when we return in 2023 ran through my head.

Thanks Wisconsin, and thanks Harley-Davidson. I’m a better man for knowing you both!

willy@freepress.mb.ca

Willy Williamson
Travel/Homes/Autos Editor

Paul “Willy” Williamson joined the Free Press editorial team in 2007, turning his back on a career as a corrections officer. His motor has been running non-stop ever since.

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