Charlie's Big Adventure

I posted yesterday about my neighbor Charlie and there was a lot of interest in seeing the rest of the story of his big road trip.

In 1953, Charlie bought a new Harley Davidson Hydra Glide.  He took 3 months off from work and road across country and back visiting many of the National Parks as he traveled.   He mostly camped off the side of the road, took lots of pictures and kept a notebook.   He sent the notes and pictures into the "Enthusiast" which was Harley Davidson's club magazine at the time and they published his story in December if 1957.  It's a simple story but one that was one of his proudest achievements.  I hope you enjoy!

So I just reread it again myself and noticed something I hadn't before.   Apparently Charlie rode up Pike's Peak on the Hydra Glide.   The one with the "suicide" shifter on the side of the tank...badass.  

Damn, Charlie! What a great story. I love that he refers to the trouble free miles he did on the trip, never mind the 8+ services he stopped for on the way.  I'm sort of assuming that he received service at all the dealerships he stopped at; he did say he got service in a few places. 

How old is Charlie now? Got to be on in years...

In reply to Mezzanine :

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/miss-you-buddy/177888/page1/

That is a thing worth doing. 

That's a hell of a trip, I'd like to do one like that some day. 

Raise a glass if you wish.  Charlie would have been 98 today (he almost made it to 96!).   Miss you buddy. 

Thanks for sharing this. What a cool trip.