MILWAUKEE - Thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycles rumbled into town this week...and, Wednesday night, they all seemed to be in one place: Harley-Davidson’s facilities at 38th and Highland.

The late afternoon sun reflected off chrome and steel as motorcyclists renewed old friendships and started new ones.

As Foghat blared “Fool For The City” there were handshakes and knowing embraces.

Some of these riders have been on the road for weeks.

“I’m a native New Zealander, living in Australia, riding a Canadian bike through the states,” said Joe Kiwi referring to the twelve thousand mile sojourn that brought him to Milwaukee. “It has been a blast!”

Kiwi has what all of these motorcyclists have: a love of the freedom offered on the open road. It is fun to be with other people who love what you love. When asked what the appeal is of motorcycle travel, these riders give very similar answers.

“You’re on two wheels,” Milwaukee’s James Cameron said. “You got the open road. You check out nature. You get rid of your stress.”

Steve Farrar brought his bike all the way from Dallas.

“It’s a great feeling to have the wind in your face,” the bearded and ruddy-faced rider said. “You see and smell different things going down the road than you do in a car.”

It would seem Harley-Davidson riders truly understand why a dog sticks his head out of a car window at 55 miles an hour, but this gathering is about more than that. It is also about the people who share that passion. These are people who smile knowingly when somebody says, “midnight bugs taste best!”