The Woodstock Run
September 4, 2026
This past Saturday an event that sounded like it was just up my alley was held at Woodstock Harley Davidson in, of course, Woodstock. The weather was perfect and I was pretty happy riding there which made the day start just right. After registering I found I had been handed a route sheet with directions for the ride. I hopped on the 250 Honda Nighthawk, my ride of choice for the day, and set forth.
This ride was a Poker Run wherein you stop at various checkpoints to pull one card out of a stack. At the end of the day the highest hand wins a prize. The initial problem I had was finding the first checkpoint based on the description on the sheet. Ultimately I located it and set forth for the second checkpoint which also required some logical thinking to locate. Still, the riding was great and after that checkpoint I ventured back across the Hudson to ride in the southern Catskill Mountains. After passing through Gardiner I began to rise up and located the final road checkpoint at the famous hairpin outside of Gardiner. From there it was a good ride over the hills, back up to Kingston and then to the highway out to Woodstock and the finish.
When I got back I expected the place to be empty since people should have been out riding the route I had just finished. Instead, there were a goodly number of motorcycles in the lot, music playing and a large number of people hanging around. In addition, a large group of motorcycles pulled in appearing to have just returned from a separate ride. I handed in my sheet with the cards I had gathered at the checkpoints. It wasn't a great hand and so I departed quickly since I had other obligations to attend to.
Overall, it was a marvelous day with good weather, a good route through the countryside and a large gathering of fellow riders. I was home in no time and the Honda ticked happily cooling in the garage as went upstairs. Another event is scheduled in Woodstock in October which I hope will be just as fun.
This ride was a Poker Run wherein you stop at various checkpoints to pull one card out of a stack. At the end of the day the highest hand wins a prize. The initial problem I had was finding the first checkpoint based on the description on the sheet. Ultimately I located it and set forth for the second checkpoint which also required some logical thinking to locate. Still, the riding was great and after that checkpoint I ventured back across the Hudson to ride in the southern Catskill Mountains. After passing through Gardiner I began to rise up and located the final road checkpoint at the famous hairpin outside of Gardiner. From there it was a good ride over the hills, back up to Kingston and then to the highway out to Woodstock and the finish.
When I got back I expected the place to be empty since people should have been out riding the route I had just finished. Instead, there were a goodly number of motorcycles in the lot, music playing and a large number of people hanging around. In addition, a large group of motorcycles pulled in appearing to have just returned from a separate ride. I handed in my sheet with the cards I had gathered at the checkpoints. It wasn't a great hand and so I departed quickly since I had other obligations to attend to.
Overall, it was a marvelous day with good weather, a good route through the countryside and a large gathering of fellow riders. I was home in no time and the Honda ticked happily cooling in the garage as went upstairs. Another event is scheduled in Woodstock in October which I hope will be just as fun.
Posted by Jim Zeiser.
If you wish to comment my e-mail address is h1500e@hotmail.com. I'd like to hear anything-good or bad-that anyone would like to say. As they said in college, we're all lifelong learners.
