Published: June 28, 2008 12:06 am            

TOM LAVIS COLUMN | Bikers also enjoy riding the waves

Dean and Debbie Anderson bet a bundle that motorcyclists who normally enjoy riding the roads together would also come together for an ocean cruise.

The gamble paid off.

The couple mortgaged their home and founded HOGs on the High Seas seven years ago and discovered a niche market that provides the world’s only rally on a cruise ship.

The Andersons, who have been married 33 years, normally park their motorhome at the monster bike rallies such as Sturgis, Daytona and Myrtle Beach. But they are finding Johnstown to their liking as they attend their first Thunder in the Valley rally.

They reside in Waynesboro, Va., but grew up in Western Springs, W.Va., where the terrain is similar to the surrounding Allegheny Mountains.

“This is the kind of country in which people enjoy riding a motorcycle, and looking through the (Thunder) event brochure, there are at least 30 or 40 things or rides to do, and that’s rare,” said Dean Anderson.

Dean, 53, never dreamed that he would become a travel agent, which was a requirement to start the cruise business.

He worked 70 hours a week for 11 years at their tool franchise and he retired in 2001.

“Then Sept. 11 happened and I was well-invested in the stock market,” he said. “We all know what happened there. So I had to go back to work.”

He was determined that his new career would include his passion for engines and traveling.

From their motorhome parked in the Biker Mall off Washington Street, the personable couple hands out DVDs, brochures and presents a video of their adventures on the high seas.

But they ran into rough seas when they first proposed their concept to cruise lines, which feared that bikers may be a little wild aboard ship.

“Royal Caribbean turned our proposal over to their chief of security and it turned out he was Harley rider,” Dean said.

“They agreed to an initial half-ship charter, and we are now booking two-thirds of the ship for our twice-a-year cruises. That’s 2,000 people.”

No formal attire is required

– except for the captain’s dinner, where some form of leather garment is required. Dress is strictly casual.

“We are booking people who don’t even own a motorcycle, but enjoy being around fun-loving people who are always ready to have a good time,” said Debbie, 52.

Participants have come from as far away as the Arctic region, Newfoundland and Australia.

They also have had members of the Johnstown Chapter of the Harley Owners Group go cruising.

These also are cruises with a cause. The couple founded the Kidney Dialysis Fund with the idea of providing a motorcycle enthusiast a free cruise opportunity, even while they are in treatment.

Depending on the ship’s medical facilities, HOHS has taken as many as 16 people on past cruises.

The Andersons chose dialysis because there’s a history of kidney disease in their family.

“We raised $180,000 in seven days (on ship) last year,” Debbie said. “While on board, we have a poker walk, 50-50 tickets, a tattoo contest, an auction and bike raffles.”

The couple owns four motorcycles, two Harleys and two custom bikes.

Cost of a cruise is about $3,000 per couple.

The Andersons recognize that the bikers are a captive audience aboard ship and invite only vendors willing to donate a minimum of $5,000 worth of merchandise to passengers.

As the Andersons drove their motorhome into Johnstown late Tuesday night they spied two rows of lights climbing the hillside behind the War Memorial.

“As a native of West Virginia, I felt right at home pointing to the lights and thinking it was leading to a coal tipple,” Dean said. “It turns out, it was the Inclined Plane and we had a nice dinner up their Wednesday night. I didn’t realize the expanse of the city, but it’s a great view.”

        

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