WOW!!
I don’t even know where to begin chronicling this awesome trip - the 2007 “Dangerous Curves” Estrogen Ride! From the bikes to the people to the weather to the route to the sights to the arrangements, meals, and gas stops, it was about as perfect a trip as you can imagine.
We left Des Moines promptly at 8:30, proving to the skeptical husbands/SO’s that 30+ women CAN all be ready to go at an appointed time (the SAME appointed time, mind you!) if the occasion is worthwhile enough. And the last of us arrived home, as far as I’m aware, around 6:30 p.m. Monday night - perhaps the gang from Carroll took a little longer?
I do know that before I get to the actual ride reports, a few big thank-you’s are in order:
First, Holly N. put together this awsesome trip from start to finish. She planned three days of scenic rides, secured hotels with plenty of room, arranged for restaurants to accommodate us, ordered perfect weather, and still left enough time for a side-trip to Poopy’s!
Sue S. made sure we all looked the part with awesome denim shirts embroidered with a ride logo and a nickname - this started out being a fairly safe bet for her, because originally she was only expecting maybe nine or 10 participants. I’m sure she must have gotten a little panicky as the number of riders grew and grew, but she hung in there and all who wanted them ended up with a “Dangerous Curves” riding shirt!
And, each of our sub-groups had a ride captain and a sweep rider - I don’t think I can remember all of them… I know that Holly, Lee, Diane, Carole, and Carla all helped out in this way. But I know there were others, so ladies if you served in these roles, THANK YOU!!
I’ll close this first-of-several posts about the ride with a tip for anyone organizing a group ride: do what Holly did - break the large group up into smaller groups, with a captain and a sweep for each small group and a common destination at the end of the ride. It’s easier to keep ten bikes together than 30… more efficient at gas stops and potty breaks… and safer on the road because there’s less chance of cars sneaking their way into the column.
Coming next, DAY ONE ride report!
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August 1st, 2007 at 10:04 am
While I had a blast putting all the arrangements together for the ride, it wouldn’t have been a success without the awesome women who participated! To have that 31 women go for three days and not have any disagreements, arguments or bad feelings is amazing and that’s just what happened!
I can’t thank Sue enough for doing the shirts and for Lee providing me with not only ride support as a road captain but also emotional support throughout the planning time and the ride when I started to have mental melt downs! Couldn’t have done it without you, Louise!
You know everyone is having a great time when before the ride is even over gals are starting to talk about “Where are we going next year? Let’s make it 4 or 5 days!”
Can’t wait until Estrogen ‘08!
August 1st, 2007 at 11:30 am
Holly!! Thanks for checking out the “Estrogen Ride Chronicles” - I’m thrilled to have been invited and it was indeed an amazing group! Your efforts were HUGE - as were Lee’s and Sue’s and all who assisted - those of us “along for the ride” really thank you all for an awesome weekend! ~ Janet
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 am
Hey, Biker Chick! Great Chronicles! Love the day-by-day….No, McGregor will never be the same, will it?
Holly; Yes, you could have done it without me, just really glad I could help out! I had an absolute blast.
Thanks again to all that participated!
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:25 am
Lee!! Thanks for stopping in! This trip was simply amazing - I can’t wait til next year! ~ Janet/BikerChick
August 4th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Biker Chick. Just wanted to let you know that I love reading all your experiences with your bike. I just got my new bike yesterday, which is my first bike that is good for highway riding. So I look forward to having similar experiences. Hopefully we can meet sometime. I have pictures of my new bike at http://vickidearduff.googlepages.com/motorcycles
August 4th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Vicki! I’d love to add an item about you and your new bike to the “Biker Chick Buzz” series here… do you have a picture of you with the bike that you’d like to share??
Thanks! Janet/BikerChick