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Rolling Thunder hits the Airwaves in the Chelan Valley
Paul Hastings reporting from the Enzian Motor Inn, Leavenworth, Day 2
The Rolling Rally sounded like Rolling Thunder when the Hill Gang motored through the beautiful Chelan Valley in Eastern Washington. The Hill Gang took a short 150-mile trip through the magnificent scenery of Lake Chelan. While the trip was familiar to some, the grandeur was fresh to all.
“That was one of the most beautiful rides I’ve been on,” Executive Diamond David Humphrey said of the 48 miles starting in Winthrop along the Chewuch and Methow rivers until they connect with the Columbia River.
The International Leadership Development motorcyclists then followed the Columbia River through a vista of high mountain desert with its sage brush and pine trees on one side of the road and lush, green, tree-lined orchards on the other.
The closer the Hill Gang got to Leavenworth, the more orchards of just about every fruit were seen. The area is famous throughout the United States for its apples, cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches and other fruits and vegetables.
But with the 90-plus degree temperatures and clear skies, it was the blue water of Lake Chelan and lunch that attracted the riders to Chelan. The narrow and very deep lake stretches for 55 miles and slices through the towering Cascade Mountains like a Norwegian fjord.
And the noise of 17 motorcycles attracted the attention of a curious reporter for the local radio station.
“When you see a bunch of Harleys in town,” Clint Strand of KOZI said, “you know there’s a story in there.”
When he asked who we were, John Orozco set up an interview following lunch. And the Hill Gang leader, Jack Daughery, did the talking, briefly explaining who made up the Hill Gang, the states the riders were from, the mission of the group and reason for the trip.
The interview was aired later in the day and most of the Bad Boys listened at the Enzian; a beautiful Bavarian-themed motor inn in Leavenworth, the site of the second stop. The station previewed the story by mentioning the “Rolling Thunder in the Chelan Valley” and Strand said, “These riders are far from Easy Rider. They take time out from their power suits and stock and bonds and roam around God’s country.”
With the song “Born to be Wild” playing in the background, he closed the positive interview with, “Right on, gentlemen.”
Click Here to Play the Interview!
Diamond Keith Lockwood wore a Harley T-shirt that had “Born to be Wild” on the front even though he is one of the three qualifiers on the 2001 trip without a motorcycle endorsement.
He comes for something other than the bikes. “I enjoy the stories, the camaraderie and the travel, getting away,” Lockwood said. “And I like to laugh.”
“I prefer a car,” Lockwood said. “That’s just a personal preference. I’m into the four wheels. But if somebody wants to ride a bike, that’s great. Now, if we had ‘a floating rally…’”
Lockwood, like all the other riders, also appreciates the meals paid for by ILD. Last night, the riders ate at the Kahler Glen Restaurant, which is owned by distributors in the Kremer organization. Needless to say, the food was great as was the atmosphere as the riders sat down to the sounds of the new Focus recording.
“It’s unbelievable country, unbelievable fellowship,” Diamond Don Berman said, “and the food is very good. Today was a 11,000 calorie day.”
But the Nevada pilot also promised to burn off most of those calories with a walk in God’s country today. “God is good,” he said.
 “The only regret I have about the entire trip is I have to leave early,” Berman said about testing required for his flight instructor’s recertification this weekend.
The second day ended with most of the Hill Gang closing the Enzian’s hot tub with more fellowship, camaraderie and laughter knowing there’s still four more days.
The Bad Boys will be spending more time in Leavenworth today - visiting Jack’s birthplace – and Lake Wenatchee and Icicle Island before heading back to Spokane via the Grand Coulee Dam.
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