CAJUN COUNTRY H.O.G. RALLY
Words and images by Jace Hudson
When Harley-Davidson asked me to ride to Scott, Louisiana, to attend and photograph the Cajun Country Harley Owners Group® Rally, my first reaction was, “I don't know if that's my vibe.” I sat on it for a bit before deciding to take the job. I'm truly grateful I did, because it gave me the chance to experience a side of Harley-Davidson’s die-hard culture that was completely new to me.
I set out from Dallas, Texas, en route to the Cajun Country in the Lafayette area of Louisiana. I jumped on my Road Glide with a planned route through the piney woods in the heart of East Texas that would carry me into Louisiana, just across the Sabine River.
As I got into the Acadiana region, I started seeing crawfish ponds and rice fields and knew I was riding into a different culture.
From Thursday morning through Saturday night, Cajun Harley-Davidson became my home base. It’s where I started every day and ended every ride. I expected to meet new friends at the event (and I did!), but I also showed up with one of my own: a close friend from Dallas who grew up in Vermilion Parish.
Cory Hebert is a talented motorcycle builder and a genuine Cajun. Good for me, since Cajun food is a favorite of mine — and he knew all the good spots. Getting to ride Harley-Davidson® motorcycles alongside such a close friend in his hometown was an unforgettable experience.
The Harley Owners Group provided multiple guided and self-guided routes throughout Cajun Country. They were excellent, but three days were barely enough time to immerse yourself in this incredible place. And after much consideration, I knew I wanted to see a few specific things: a swamp with gators, roads with tree canopies, and the home of TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce.
THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP PROVIDED MULTIPLE GUIDED & SELF-GUIDED ROUTES THROUGHOUT CAJUN COUNTRY. THEY WERE EXCELLENT, BUT THREE DAYS WERE BARELY ENOUGH TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE.
On day one, while making my rounds at Cajun Harley-Davidson, I walked out of the registration area, and there it was: an old, crusty Shovelhead chopper in the parking lot. I didn't expect to see that here. As I photographed this wild animal in its natural habitat, the owner walked up and introduced himself.
Payton Broussard, a local from Broussard, Louisiana (no relation), was waiting for his father, Barry, to arrive. Barry is part of the Cajun Harley-Davidson H.O.G.® chapter, and the pair were going to head out on some of the provided routes.
After checking out both Payton’s chopper and Barry’s CVO™ Road Glide®, Cory and I decided to join them and head out to a local dive on the levee of the Atchafalaya Basin. This is where I finally saw a gator in the wild and a picturesque bayou. And, of course, got to eat more Cajun food.
Day two started with an early departure from the dealership, heading out on a scenic route to Avery Island, the home of Tabasco. Ray Cahee, the Touring Rally Coordinator, took Cory and I through some back roads leading in and out of dense Spanish moss-covered live oak trees that gave us an absolutely stunning experience.
We arrived on Avery Island at the Tabasco factory and there was so much history documented and on display throughout the experience. From the process of making the hot sauce, to the families and culture that have carried the torch for the past 155 years!
WHAT I DIDN’T EXPECT TO GET FROM MY CAJUN COUNTRY H.O.G. RALLY EXPERIENCE WAS A NEWFOUND LOVE FOR SOUTH LOUISIANA. HARLEY OWNERS GROUP RIDERS ARE AS REAL AS IT GETS WHEN IT COMES TO RIDING THESE MOTORCYCLES.
While I checked off a few must-have experiences in Cajun Country, I must say: Acadiana, the lively 22-parish Cajun homeland in south-central Louisiana, can’t be rushed. It invites you to take your time. Open roads meet bayous, and every stop has a story. It’s packed with stunning architecture, authentic southern hospitality, and, in my view, some of the richest traditions and flavorful cuisine in America.
What I didn’t expect to get from my Cajun Country H.O.G. rally experience was a newfound love for South Louisiana. The new friends I made, from members of my own backyard to those from states away. Harley Owners Group riders are as real as it gets when it comes to riding these motorcycles.
Many of the riders have years of experience behind them, but meeting Payton and his father, Barry, made it clear that the bar and shield carries across generations. While in his hometown, sharing the road with my friend Cory, I tapped into something more significant, and I believe we now share a deeper bond because of it.
H.O.G. starts the day you buy your first Harley-Davidson, but you don’t really understand it until you’re out riding with other people. You can go it alone and get so much out of the ride, but there’s nothing better than experiencing the road with friends (old and new).
This trip was a priceless experience.
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