The Carnival Weekend with La Valette Malta Hoggers

This weekend was an absolute blast, starting with a fantastic Saturday at WKD. It was clear from the outset that it would be a memorable day spent in great company with the La Valette Malta Hoggers. The WKD showroom was buzzing all morning with members eager to enjoy the beautiful Maltese weather and some quality time together before our afternoon ride.

The highlight of the morning was when our lovely fellow members, the Cremona couple, joined us to share the wonderful news of their expected baby. It was heartwarming to welcome the newest (and youngest) member to our clan.

At 1:30, we geared up for our much-anticipated ride. Our destination? The famous food truck Sofrito, known for its legendary millionaire toast. The journey to Mriehel was short straight to the truck, we did a bit of noise to announce our arrival. The toast lived up to its reputation, and everyone eagerly queued to grab a bite. It was also a treat to meet the owner of the food truck, who has become quite a character on the island.

With our stomachs full and spirits high, we hit the coast road for a relaxed ride, eventually stopping at Xemxija Kiosk. It was the perfect spot to mingle with other bikers, before we headed home to prepare for the evening's official event—the Carnival party.

By eight, members began gathering at House of Flavors in Sta Venera, all dressed up in creative costumes for the Great Siege theme. The venue transformed into a medieval spectacle with knights aplenty, and some costumes even had a nod to Harley Davidson. The night was alive with music, laughter, and dancing as members hit the dance floor to show off their outfits.

One of the evening's highlights was the costume catwalk and parade, where members competed in a friendly competition to showcase their creations. It was hilarious and entertaining to see everyone give their best shot, with the winner to be announced during the group lunch the next day.

Despite the late night, our tradition held strong, and we gathered for our Sunday morning ride. The weather wasn't particularly nice, with solid clouds hiding the sky. Nevertheless, our brave members made it to Kettles Mriehel with their bikes, albeit later than usual, to gain the energy for another long day together. As always, we started with a cup of coffee or a full breakfast before the ride.

At 10 a.m., the road captains gathered the bikers to share the day's plan and remind everyone about the upcoming important event—Road Safety on the 16th of March. We headed north for a shorter run, aiming to arrive at our lunch destination on time. We wanted to give a warm welcome to our esteemed Harley Davidson dealership partners, Mr. Gaetano Prudente and Mr. Salvatore Turrisi, along with his lovely family.

Other members opted to meet directly at the venue. As we waited for the rest to arrive, we enjoyed some time together before heading to the dining area for lunch. Thanks to the active members, we had a bit of hassle getting everyone seated, as the venue seemed a bit small to accommodate the 50 members who turned up for this surprise gathering with our Italian friends.

Once seated, we started with the starters. Our beloved Ambassador officially thanked the dealership representatives for coming over to meet us with a nice brindisi and, as usual, some noise from our members. Both visitors reciprocated by thanking the group for the warm welcome and acknowledging the vibrant spirit of the La Valette Malta group, which operates fully within the HOG guidelines and lifestyle. Mr. Gaetano mentioned his long-standing visits to Malta, spanning over 25 years, and the respect and love he has always received from the locals for Harley Davidson.

After the short speeches, the visitors had to leave for their early afternoon flight back home. The rest continued with their lunch, with many opting for the famous local fried rabbit but saving space for the usual cake to celebrate the February and March birthdays of members present. Marika A., Lucienne G., Joe G., Felix B., and Oliver C. were celebrated with loud cheers and clapping from everyone.

As the afternoon drew to a close, the winner for the best carnival costume was announced. The couple Adrian and Lucienne garnered the highest votes and were declared the winners, cheering Adrian up after losing his mobile during the carnival party, which he later found under his vehicle.

The day came to an end, and what a weekend it was with the La Valette Hoggers, packed with events and activities that brought everyone together to unwind from the busy weeks and prepare for the next one. We now look forward to the upcoming weekend, focused on our Ladies of Harley to celebrate Women's Day. We are La Valette Malta, living the HOG lifestyle that keeps us always happy on the road with our beloved Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Oliver Cassar