 It has been so long that I have posted a blog entry that I forgot how to post a blog on my site, geez!! Shame on me ;-) The power of the social media is truly amazing. More than 5 years ago, I discovered a gem in the male dominated motorcycle industry -- MOTORESS.COM. The site offers a unique place for FEMALE riders with a variety of events and articles sharing their stories. I learned about many other women around the world riding their motorcycles in amazing ways, racing, touring or just having fun. Stories of successful women around the world are showcased on the site with glamour and elegance as we participate in accomplishing major milestones and goals with our motorcycles. I was also intrigued by the International Female Ride Day during the first week in May offering female riders around the world a synchronized day to get out and share our passion for the motorcycle. Years pass and I continue to visit the site on occasion because it offers something to all. As a result, this year I decided to show my students the website. I created a few simple assignments for my students. They loved the assignments and some students were inspired to start riding a motorcycle. Shortly after the assignment, two boys decided to get their own scooters. For a few months, I shared my teacher parking space with my students and their scooters next to mine, too much fun for MissRIDER. ;-)  The story meeting Vicki Gray (http://www.motoress.com/vicki_gray_bio.htm) in person unfolded like this. It was snowing in Worcester, Massachusetts on April 12, 2013. It was windy, blustery and not good motorcycle riding weather. During the third week in April, I have spring vacation from my teaching job. For the past 12 years, I have been hitting the road that week for a long motorcycle ride as a way to celebrate the riding season with good weather in New England. This was the first year that it was snowing, but I was not going to back off my plans. I set out to meet Vicki in Buffalo, New York as we had agreed. She drove from Toronto, Canada to personally deliver a wonderful helmet to sponsor me. I asked myself, "How did I get such an honor to have been selected among hundreds of female motorcycle riders to be sponsored with a very expensive gift by MOTORESS?" This Schuberth helmet is something I always dreamed of. The technology in this helmet is superb and it is designed for female motorcycle riders. There is a wonderful review of the helmet written by Vicki on her site: http://www.motoress.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=705&c=gearstyle.  Biker Pup Mickey. I arrived to Buffalo, NY and Vicki was waiting for me in her Jeep. I jumped into the truck and "lo and behold", her dog Mickey greets me. He was not too happy that I sat on his special seat, so Vicki pulled out his beloved tiny tennis ball to distract him. He looked at me like, "How dare you come and invade my space and take my warm seat?" - LOL!! He is super adorable. It did not take very long before he warmed up to me and requested that I rub his neck. What a wonderful way to meet Vicki that day. I love dogs but have decided not to get any more until I slow down with my motorcycle riding adventures.  Notice Biker Pup Mickey inside the bag. We sat in Vicki's Jeep and chatted for a bit. I was still really cold from riding so far in that winter weather. After lunch, we decided to go and warm up with a cup of coffee in the mall. We entered the Macy's entrance with Mickey in the bag. In the United States, dogs are not allowed in malls. I said to Vicki, "Let's just go in and nobody will notice him in the bag. Besides, all they can tell us to do is to leave the mall". We walked in and all of a sudden, me and my infinite wisdom decided to ask a security guard which way to the food court. While I was talking to him, Vicki stood next to him and Mickey stuck his cute little head out of the bag and looked at him. He said, "Oh, there is a dog in there... They are not allowed in the mall, especially in the food court." I started speaking Spanish to him and he was very nice. Then he said, "just leave and I will pretend I never saw the dog". He was "so cute" too and very nice to us. We spent a little time at the mall finding our way out with Mickey in the bag. Vicki dropped me off at my hotel because I was too cold to continue riding south to Fort Bragg North Carolina. The meeting with Vicki was fun because we decided to eat and go shopping. Ha!! What else can two girls ask for? It was the first time we had met in person after many years of friendship via cyberspace.
Shortly after our meeting, Vicki invited me to participate on a scooter race called The Mad Bastard Scooter Rally. She invited me to be on her all female team that she calls the "Be-Boppin' Beer Maids". She has sponsored me by providing a KYMCO scooter (during the race), late registration into the event and hotel accommodations. That is a classic example of how MOTORESS helps female motorcyclists. This will now give us the opportunity to take a photo together as we forgot to do during our first meeting. There are no words I can use to describe how truly honored I am to have such a wonderful friend like Vicki AND the opportunity to meet her in person. Stay tuned for a future post about the race results.
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