22nd Annual Women on Wheels® International Ride-In (2008) - A Photo Retrospect

 

Here's my story with pictures.

Thanks to time constraints and that, in July 2008, regular gas averaged nearly $4.50/gallon nationwide, it was actually cheaper to fly to Columbus, OH, stay at my boyfriend's mother's house, and then drive the seven hours north that it took to reach Boyne Falls, MI. So, although disappointed that I wouldn't be able to motorcycle my way to northern Michigan from Orange County, CA, I was happy that I still had a chance to make an appearance for a 2nd consecutive year at this event. I was only able to visit for a few hours to see some of the festivities, but I am hoping to return this year to Kerrville, TX.

To get to our flight at LAX, my boyfriend and I rode my motorcycle, parked it there (bikes park free at LAX - no joke), and then jumped on the plane. Mom picked us up when we arrived and we were in Columbus for the week.

A familiar sign of the times...welcome to Boyne Falls and Ride-In 2008.

Here's the main lobby for the Ride-In. There's one of several frogs taking a break before the next registrants show up to the resort.

If you’re a WOW member, this is the premiere annual ride in which WOW members from all over North America converge in one location for three days of festivities celebrating women in the sport of motorcycling. There are lots of activities, vendors, and of course, other women riders to talk bike with. It’s a fun and rewarding event that is definitely worth the journey.

Starting a Ride-In consecutive visit streak wasn't my only reason to take this trip up there. Please read on to find out how I brought a part of "the frog" back home to WOW.

The Ride-In took place at a ski resort in Boyne Falls. There aren't very many bikes in this shot; most of them were in the middle of an organized ride and were trickling back in.

Here are the ladies gearing up when I was leaving to return to Columbus, OH for a police escorted ice cream run...because we must all ride safe to our dairy confectionaries.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the "Frog Journal." This journal used to accompany a stuffed frog and would be sent from chapter to chapter of WOW to record the adventures of its many members. So why the frog? According to WOW tradition, the frog is a symbol of camaraderie and togetherness and has become, for lack of a better definition, the unofficial mascot of the yearly Ride-Ins. This journal and frog made its way across the United States to California where it was delivered to the LA Iron Angels so that this chapter could record its chronicles. Back then, I was one of three co-directors for that chapter; I hadn't moved to Orange County yet. It was held by Los Angeles held for several months until the 2007 Cycle World International Cycle Show. I then ended up with the journal by itself after the show and after some searching and inquiry with my fellow co-directors, it was "claimed" that it had been mailed to me and then lost in the mail. (I still don't buy the story, but that's an argument for another day.)

When I moved to Orange County and subsequently took over as Director for the OC Spirit Riders, I made it my goal to return this journal in person, somehow, to WOW.

So, upon arriving to Boyne Falls I walked to the registration booth holding this journal. One of the ladies immediately recognized it and several others were quite surprised that it still existed and hadn't been lost to the abyss of the US Postal System (like the frog). I told them that I would keep it for a few more minutes so I could fill in my part of this journal's story and how I came to acquire it. According to some of the ladies, the lost stuffed frog's cousins were here in Boyne Falls so at the least, this book was to be reunited with its little, polyester family.

So here I am writing in the journal. I simply said that Frieda (I think that's what the frog's name was) loved the California weather so much that she stayed behind the brush up on her surfing. At least I was able to make a few WOW members happy and the seven hour drive from Columbus was rewarding. Also, since I never leave home without my motorcycle gear, so I got to take a fun test ride on a low frame, low suspension BMW R1200GS...now my new favorite bike of lust and one of many potential replacements for Eleanor.

And voila, here's the journal back with one of Frieda's relatives, ready for another postal send-off to another WOW chapter.

To any WOW member who may happen to have the journal and be reading this at the same time (very unlikely but you never know), please don't lose it again. I had to travel over 3500 miles to bring it back!