Ride to rally a dream come true

Valley Life editor

When Harry Duckworth jumped on his 2003 blue Electra-Glide Classic in Swansea, Mass., on June 10, he was hitting the road to fulfill a dream.

"It's always been my dream to ride to Alaska, and now here I am," Duckworth said Friday morning at the opening ceremonies of the state Harley Owners Group (HOG) rally. "I was here in 1986 with my brother, and we floated the Togiak River, but I've always wanted to ride here."

Duckworth said he put 5,500 miles on his motorcycle -- traveling alone the entire way. After riding in Alaska and taking a different route home, he expects to log between 12,000 and 13,000 miles this summer.

"I love doing long rides, and a lot of guys at home don't want to do those long ones," Duckworth said. "So I do a lot of my riding alone."

Duckworth rode to Alaska just for the rally. He has been to them all around the country, but Alaska's rally is the exception to his "rally rule."

"For me, the destination isn't the big thing, it's the long ride getting there that I look forward to," Duckworth said. "That's not the case with Alaska, though."

Duckworth's story is like many others at HOG rallies around the country. He talked to a rider from Winnipeg several times, coordinating a return trip together.

"I didn't know how old he was or what he looked like or anything, but we met up yesterday and he's a good guy," Duckworth said. "Now we're sharing a room and it was quite a thrill to meet up with him."

At many rallies, Duckworth's wife accompanies him. But the extended trip to Alaska meant she had to stay in Massachusetts and work.

"She comes when she can, but I don't mind doing it alone," he said. "You always meet new people and you always have fun."