By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor

Charlie’s back!

After partaking in one of the biggest adventures and biggest challenges in his life, Charlie De Pari has returned from Homer, Alaska, the final destination for a grueling 11-day, 9,000-mile motorcycle run.

His experiences were unique. He got to see some beautiful spots in his travels through Utah and slept outside under the stars next to his Harley-Davidson.

There also was tragedy.

“Some guys were hot-rodding it and I know at least one of them was killed,” De Pari said. “The ride itself was pretty safe … it was some of the people making the mistakes.”

In all, three people were killed and 18 others crashed during the Hoka Hey Challenge, which saw nearly 800 Harley-Davidson riders gather at Key West on June 20 with the goal of reaching Homer, Alaska, in as little time as possible. The first to cross the finish line there would win $500,000.

De Pari, who was only able to take one shower during the 11-day run, said he did not know who came in first, but a few others cheated by going on non-approved routes, like interstates, and having trucks haul their bikes. They were disqualified. The winner will be absolutely determined through a series of tests, including a polygraph test, and will be officially announced at the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota, which starts Monday.

For his part, De Pari came away from the race with a very respectable finish — 88th.

Riding times were extremely long – from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., sometimes 2 a.m. On some of those long stretches at night, De Pari said he was hit with some vivid hallucinations.

“You know those Macy’s balloon floats they use in the big parades? I could see them reaching down and trying to grab me,” he said. What he was actually seeing, he said, were the trees along the roadways playing tricks on his mind.

During the day, though, when De Pari’s mind was clear, he saw many unusual animals, such as black bears, grizzly bears, prairie dogs, moose, mountain lions and even a herd of buffalo that crossed in front of the riders.

De Pari dedicated his ride on the challenge to raise funds for the local Give Kids the World, a program that grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. He has raised more than $2,000 for the group and carried its mascot, Mayor Clayton, on his bike the entire trip.

Aside from raising the money, De Pari said he wanted to do the ride because of the personal challenge.

“I thought it would be a neat event and kind of a bucket list thing,” he said. “And I figured that if I finished it, I won, because you were testing yourself.”

The highlight of the trip, De Pari said, was “meeting some nice people along the way and I really saw some beautiful parts of the country.” He described the high, red rocks in the mountains of Utah as quite a site, as well as parts of the Grand Canyon he rode by.

Next year’s challenge will extend from San Diego to Nova Scotia. De Pari doesn’t know if he’ll make that one.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “That was a long time to take away from your family and your business.”

De Pari, owner of Ace Electrical and Plumbing Service in Kissimmee, was accompanied on the trip by George Surrey, owner of The Leak Doctor of Orlando, and Steve Darby, of Massachusetts, who drove the truck/support vehicle.

“It’s good to be back home,” De Pari said. He also said he appreciates being able to take regular showers again.

And if anyone is curious, no, De Pari did not bring any tattoos back with him.