08/23/2026
Congratulations to Robert “Stone Cold” Wendt for his successful completion of the HOG 50, One Nation Challenge.
Robert writes: I began studying the U.S. map, looking for each state’s checkpoints and featured rides. I looked forward not only to the miles and fellowship, but also to the route itself and the chance to complete another state. I would plan detours or ask whether we could add a stop along the way. As riders, we often travel 200 miles just for a meal—so why not see the country differently? For me, it was never just about the destination, it was about the journey, the overnight stops, and the stories we shared before reaching the final mile. In August, Robbie Barnes and I continued our trip from the 86th Sturgis Rally toward North Dakota and Montana. We left Custer State Park, parted ways with our fellow H.O.G. members, and continued a journey that, for me, had begun in June 2020 in South Carolina at the famous Peach landmark off Highway 11 in Gaffney. Over the past six years, every trip with friends brought me closer to my final state. The journey took longer than expected because of accidents, surgeries, and other delays, but the closer I got to the finish, the more determined I became to complete the challenge. I could not have done it alone. Some of the best friends I have made through our chapter have become more than friends—they are family, my brothers and sisters on the road. We laugh, tease one another, and share the moments that make every ride memorable, even when someone forgets which state has the checkpoint.I could not have completed this journey without the support of my two wonderful daughters, Autumn and Ashley, and their husbands, Stephen and Aaron. Every outing is a good time because we truly “live to ride,” and I hope and pray I can keep doing this for many years to come.
