The Informant. Mark Your Calendars! Look inside:

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1 The Informant The official newsletter of: Women in the Wind Ladies of Chrome & Leather Chapter Table of Contents: Issue 214 Next Meeting & Ride May 19 Three Canyons Mark Your Calendars! May 2018 May 19 Chapter Meeting & Ride Three Canyons The LOCAL Pulse 2 Ride California Schedule of Events 4 Captain s Log 5 Breakfast 7:30 am Meeting 8:00 am KSU 9:00 am Flo s Farmhouse Cafe 5620 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside June 16 Chapter Meeting & Ride Seven Falls September 15 Accident Scene Management Soul of California 7 Pennies from Heaven 15 What s Happening LOCAL-ly 16 Stayin Alive 17 Look inside: Dev s Road Trip Story - Soul of California Ride California - Schedule of Events Accident Scene Management Class - Enroll online What You Missed 20 Last Look 21

2 the LOCAL pulse Karen Scott President Hello Ladies, We are within one month of Ride California! I can t believe we are closing in on it! It has been 10 months since we began this journey and we have worked diligently since then with our eye on the prize to pull together Ride California Personally, I have never been involved in planning an event like this before. The only thing I can liken it to is planning a wedding so to use that analogy, we are almost ready to walk down the aisle! Ha ha! It is really coming together well and the pulse at the last several meetings was palpable excitement related to all aspects of the work that has been done so far for the event. Thank you to each one of you who has been involved in any aspect from planning to working on a committee or looking forward to helping during the actual event itself. We have a tremendous amount of talent and creativity in our chapter and you all have inspired me in your commitment to our cause to put on the best Ride California ever! It has been said that motorcycling not only teaches you about riding but many principles can be applied to our lives as well. On the last four days of my journey visiting the last 12 missions with four of our sisters, I learned or relearned some valuable lessons. We had some long days where we just had to keep going, we had some beautiful roads to ride that were just easy and you could sit back and enjoy the ride. We also had some exceptionally tough times of riding that we really had to dig in, persevere and be out of our comfort zone. The trip took us on all kinds of roads where we had to use our entire arsenal of motorcycle skills at different times in order to get to our planned destinations. As most of you know, the Missions Trail Challenge was born out of looking for a riding challenge that is unique to California itself. Some of us have taken on this Challenge and I am sure it will continue to be sought after even after the 2018 Ride California. I spent approximately eight days over the last three months working on this Challenge and as many of you know, challenge is certainly the word to describe it. 2

3 the LOCAL pulse (cont d) We also had to expect the unexpected, which we certainly experienced, despite very meticulous planning prior to the trip. Many times throughout the weekend, I thought to myself, what am I doing or will I really be able to do this or is it worth it? It took me out of my comfort zone for sure and challenged my skills. When we reached each destination or the hotel at the end of the day, we found rest with a meal, a drink and our sisters and recounted the tales of the day. We would relive and share our take on our experiences and debrief a bit. We talked about the highs and lows, the ups and downs. So many times in motorcycling or life, we try to stay in our comfort zones but what I learned again on this weekend is that I do not grow or progress in the comfort zone. I learn, improve and grow when I am out of my comfort zone. Persevering through the difficult parts of the ride gave me knowledge and experiences that I can take into my future riding and hopefully make me a more competent, safe rider. We all experienced that sense of accomplishment that comes when you tackle something difficult and you succeed. the LOCAL pulse I need to remember all that I learned on that special weekend with some special ladies and not shy away from the hard stuff but rather see it as something that can only help or make me better in the future! Aha moments were realized, for sure. I challenge you to embrace the uphill climbs no matter what they will be, whether in motorcycling or otherwise because when you climb the mountain and you are at the top, you see beautiful scenery and greater vision! I am off for a bit of fun in the sun riding my quad in Mexico, so I will miss you at the general meeting and ride on the 19 th. The next time I will see many of you is at Ride California. I am so excited to experience all of this with you as the hosting chapter. I think it will be a blast! Take care and I ll see you soon. You now have your finger on the LOCAL pulse! Karen 3

4 COUNTDOWN TO SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, JUNE 7 CHECK-IN Hospitality Room 4PM - 8 PM FRIDAY, JUNE 8 BREAKFAST on your own CHECK-IN Hospitality Room 8 AM - 8 PM LAKE SILVERWOOD (escorted) Staging Area 8:40 AM MEET & GREET 2nd Floor 5 PM - 7 PM DINNER on your own SATURDAY, JUNE 9 BREAKFAST (ticket req d) Hotel 6 AM - 10 AM CHECK-IN Hospitality Room 8 AM - 10 AM CHAPARRAL RIDE (escorted) Staging Area 8:40 AM GROUP PHOTO Pond 4:30 PM HAPPY HOUR Banquet Room 5 PM - 6 PM BANQUET (wristband req d) Banquet Room 6 PM - 7 PM DJ & DANCING Banquet Room 7 PM - 10 PM SUNDAY, JUNE 10 BREAKFAST (ticket req d) Hotel 6 AM - 10 AM 4

5 CAPTAIN S LOG Vicki Goizueta Road Captain As we weaved through the Orange County canyons, we spotted other motorcyclists doing the same thing. Feeling the wind in their faces, waving to fellow riders as a show of solidarity, and looking super cool all the while. It was quite warm. Scratch that... it was HOT! The weather, coupled with a few unintentional detours, could have brought on a level of irritability, but Joe was a trooper. Once we got to the restaurant and indulged a bit... it was all good. Not only was this IFRD, it was also Cinco de Mayo. Chips, salsa, and guacamole were on deck and what was all good got even better! May 5th brought the 12th Annual International Female Ride (IFRD). Founded by Vicki Gray of Motoress, IFRD was created to connect women with motorcycling. The day was born with the purpose of emphasizing the fact that many women ride and enjoy motorcycling at all levels. My initiative of implementing a day where female motorcyclists simply got on their motorcycles and rode would truly underline this fact, stated Vicki Gray. Hopefully, you all had the opportunity to get out on two wheels and celebrate. Riding may seem like no big deal, but it is. I sit back, often, and reflect on the fact that I ride a motorcycle. In a sport dominated by men, it feels good to be part of the 10%, 12%, or 14% (depending on which study you read). It's an accomplishment worthy of recognition. Vicki IFRD was the perfect day for the May pre-ride. It was the perfect day to embrace the world of motorcycling. It was the perfect day to embrace being a woman on a motorcycle. It was the perfect day to scoot around with my favorite fella. 5

6 CHAPTER RIDE THREE CANYONS Come join us on one of our favorite backyard rides that we haven t done for quite awhile - Carbon, Santiago, and Trabuco Canyons. This is a relatively short ride and ends at a really cool place where we will lunch outside on the patio. Weather should be perfect! 6

7 by Dev Palau The past two months have been, without a doubt, personally gratifying. After retiring in March with 18 years of employment with the County of Los Angeles, I have fresh trails to blaze. On April 27, 2018 I set off on my first adventure to complete the California Missions Challenge. This is our story about four days on the road exploring the SOUL OF CALIFORNIA. DAY ONE - Our first day began by rallying at the 76 gas station on CA-138 in the Cajon Pass. Excitement was palpable as Sandy, Karen, Lori, Dee and I prepared to embark on our journey. Linda Smith would be meeting us later at our hotel in Martinez. After a group photo, we saddled up on our iron horses, with Sandy leading our posse and Dee as the sweep. We headed west towards Palmdale on 2-lane rural roads. It was the perfect riding weather, cool and partly cloudy. While transitioning onto Gorman Post Road, we encountered gale force winds, and after a brief gas stop, we continued battling the wind on the I-5N through the Gorman Pass. Lunch stop at an In-N-Out Burger provided respite from the elements and a chance to enjoy the sun. We could have done without the winds. Dee s Can Am Spyder F3 was not carving the wind well. We got back on the I-5N, battling intermittent gusting winds. I noticed Dee falling further behind until she was barely visible. Sandy pulled in at a rest area and read Dee s text. She was having trouble keeping her Spyder on the road in the severe crosswinds. For safety reasons, Dee returned home. It was upsetting to travel without her, but we were grateful she arrived home safely later that evening. The winds continued to punish us. The transition from the I-5N towards Martinez had us trading gusty winds for bumper-to-bumper traffic. Prior to arrival at our hotel, we picked up a John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) stamp. What a relief it was to get to the hotel. Linda was already there waiting for us. John Muir NHS After a brief rest, it was time to celebrate Lori s birthday at Pasta Bella Ristorante. Thank goodness the Italian restaurant was in walking distance from our hotel! Our conversations briefly gravitated towards revisiting today s ride, but ended quickly once dinner and wine arrived. It was time for dessert! Lori selected Tiramisu for all to share. Diego, our splendid waiter, served Lori a candle lit dessert while she emphatically said, NO singing! Ignoring Lori s plea, the restaurant customers joined us singing Happy Birthday. Could not have planned a better ending to a very long day! 7

8 (cont d) DAY TWO - Our motivation and determination was high as seven missions awaited our photo opportunity (SMILE!!) With Sandy as our lead and myself as the sweep, we headed north on I-680, across the Benicia- Martinez Bridge towards Napa/Sonoma. The use of FasTrak on toll roads and carpool lanes was a blessing! After leaving behind the urban jungle of freeways, we rode onto CA-12W to Sonoma. Sonoma Highway is a 2-lane road, traversing gorgeous scenery. It was mesmerizing watching from behind as Sandy, Karen, Lori and Linda serpentined through the tree-lined wine country road. I kept repeating to myself: THIS IS WHY WE RIDE! Only the sound of our motorcycles broke the silence as we continued to our first stop. Mission San Francisco Solano -Sonoma. The 21 st mission to be established, San Francisco Solano was founded on July 4, 1823 by Friar Jose Altimira. It is part of the Sonoma State Historic Park in the city of Sonoma. We parked our bikes across the street from the mission and took each other s photograph. After a brief stop, the group continued through the quiet residential neighborhood of Sonoma and onto our second mission of the day in San Rafael. We left behind the picturesque town of Sonoma, entering an area of open roads bounded by vineyard fields. As we headed south on US-101, we picked up speed. The City of San Rafael was next. Mission San Rafael Arcangel - San Rafael. The 20th mission to be established, San Rafael Arcangel, was founded on December 14, 1817 by Friar Vicente de Sarria. Today s mission is a modern replica completed in The original structure disintegrated into ruins. So far, parking our motorcycles had not been an issue. Why should it differ in San Rafael? We found front row meter parking (which we failed to put coins into), and left our bikes to take photos. Thanks to Sandy, who intercepted a friendly Parking Enforcement Officer, we each avoided a $35 meter violation fine. Whew! Onward to the Golden Gate Bridge, an iconic symbol of San Francisco and one of the Wonders of the Modern World. I have traveled to the Bay Area on multiple occasions, but this time was different. I was riding my Harley, accompanied by four incredible women, crossing the San Francisco Bay, on the Golden Gate Bridge. Before getting to the bridge, our single objective was to take a group photograph atop Vista Point, with the bridge in the background. 8

9 (cont d) The US-101 took us through Sausalito, offering spectacular cityscape views. Suddenly, a curve on the road exposed the ascending bridge towers between the hillsides. We stopped at Vista Point and walked up to the overlook. There we met a family who graciously took our Golden Gate Bridge photo. Definitely, a selfie stick is a must addition for my saddlebags. Unfortunately, we had to finally leave the overlook. We made our descent to the bridge entrance and rode across the pedestriancrowded Golden Gate Bridge. The experience was unforgettable as I absorbed the magnitude and beauty of the tallest suspension bridge in the world. The Five Amigas A brief stop at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center got us our National Recreation Area (NRA) stamps. However, we were unable to obtain two other parks stamps due to traffic and road closures in the area. After a few failed attempts to reach Fort Point beneath the bridge, we directed our attention to the mission. By now the city was alive and bustling with traffic. Let s say finding the mission was frustrating and exhausting. Maps and GPS directions conflicted with road signage. But we persevered. Mission San Francisco de Asis- San Francisco. Mission San Francisco de Asis, the sixth mission to be established, was founded by Friar Francisco PALOU on June 29, Wondering if I am related to Friar Palou? We share the same Spanish heritage. We took our mission photographs and left with the battle cry, Let s get out of the city! resonating inside our helmets. The Road Warriors headed east onto the Bay Bridge, staying in the three right lanes to exit toward Hayward. Where did the Hayward/Stockton sign go? We missed the connection? Traffic the other direction was horrible! We turned around, splitting lanes with Sandy s loud pipes leading the pack towards Pleasanton for lunch. LUNCH TIME!! Our bodies demanded rest and nutrition, and Sandy s planned stop offered a variety of food options. We enjoyed our lunch and then headed back on I-680S to Fremont. Feeling positive and detached from the Bay area experience, our spirits were high and motivated to complete the remaining four missions. Mission San Jose Fremont. The 14th mission was founded on June 11, 1797 and NOT by a distant relative. Feeling rested after lunch, we made a quick stop at the mission and powered on to Santa Clara. Three more to go; we are on a roll! 9

10 (cont d) Mission Santa Clara de Asis Santa Clara We made up for the time we lost in San Francisco, but Santa Clara challenged our observation skills to arrive swiftly at the mission. After several U-turns and circling residential streets, we stopped. Thanks to Lori, her Google phone map got us back on track. We turned onto Palm Drive (unmarked) and there she was, Mission Santa Clara, at the end of the esplanade! Binoculars anyone? Mission Santa Clara de Asis is located on the campus of Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit University. This mission was the first in California to be named in honor of a woman. The eighth in the mission chain, it was founded on January 12, The following stop was Mission Santa Cruz. We arrived at the mission after traveling south on CA-17, a 26-mile four-lane divided highway, consisting of narrow shoulders, sharp turns, blind curves and constantly changing traffic speeds. Mission Santa Cruz Santa Cruz. The 12th mission was founded on August 28, 1791 but was destroyed by an earthquake in We took our photos in front of a replica chapel built in The group got its second wind, or third, and decided upon Mission San Juan Bautista as the last stop for the day. Although a 31-mile inland detour from the hotel, we preferred to start Day Three directly towards Carmel. Mission San Juan Bautista San Juan Bautista. Off we rode to Mission San Juan Bautista for our final mission destination of Day Two. Our journey took us on 2-lane agricultural roads with light traffic. Thank goodness! We bade farewell to San Juan Bautista and jubilantly headed to our hotel in Watsonville. Karen and Dev After 10 hours on the road and seven missions later, we arrived at the inn. Since the area lacked restaurants, we ordered food delivered to the room. Our evening ended with scrumptious pizzas and delightful companionship. DAY THREE Feeling refreshed, the Five Amigas left Watsonville behind for beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea. The 28-mile ride on CA-1 led us to the exit towards Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. Luckily, we just avoided the Big Sur International Marathon crowd. A traffic detour took us directly to the mission. 10

11 (cont d) Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Carmel. This was the second of nine missions founded on June 3, 1770 by Friar Junipero Serra. Considered to be his favorite mission, Friar Serra is interred beneath the chapel floor. We left Carmel and rode to Soledad. Surrounded by farmlands and rolling hillside, the roadways leading to Mission Soledad traversed through miles of agricultural fields. As we passed the planted fields, endless linear rows of staked crops produced a visual graphic image of a giant harp. I lifted open my helmet visor and absorbed the sensory experience! Nuestra Senora De la Soledad (Mission Soledad) Soledad. Located on Fort Romie Road, the 13th mission was founded on October 9, 1791 by Friar Fermin Lausen. The name Soledad (solitude) is apropos for this mission s secluded location. Olive oil was the mission s specialty during the early days. Our favorite mission was coming up. Mission San Antonio de Padua Jolon. Our travels took us south on US-101 exiting at Jolon Road then towards Fort Hunter Liggett. Unlike the past missions, San Antonio de Padua is nestled in the middle of an active military training base, with all traffic and speed limit signs strictly enforced by military police. Being it was Sunday, we did not encounter traffic or training activity in the area. The road has been rerouted away from the main security gate of the base; hence no ID was required to enter the mission. We rode through the unstaffed gate entering the 165,000 acres of Fort Hunter Liggett US Army Combat Support Training Center. On the right we passed seven signs, each with the Army Core Values Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service, Honor, Integrity and Courage. The 2-lane paved road continued for two miles of beautiful natural landscape. We turned right onto a dirt road and parked our bikes in front of Mission San Antonio de Padua. This mission was a true hidden gem! Amidst open fields, oak trees and views of Santa Lucia Mountains in the distance, one could imagine what daily life was like in Established on July 14, 1771 by Friar Junipero Serra, San Antonio de Padua was the third in the mission chain. Its secluded location has preserved countless artifacts from the Spanish era on display in the museum. Mission San Antonio de Padua 11

12 (cont d) The Gift Shop lured us inside, extending our stay. We got our NHT stamp and admired the art, jewelry, and much more. We each bought must have t-shirts with all the missions silkscreened on the back. Sandy admired a painting of the mission, rendered by a local artist, and had it shipped home by Franki. I recommend visiting Mission San Antonio de Padua and creating your own memories! We all departed our favorite mission with hopes to return in the future. Mission San Miguel was next on our route. Mission San Miguel Arcangel San Miguel. The 16th mission was established on July 25, 1797 by Friar Fermin Lausen. Located on the city s main highway, San Miguel Mission suffered millions of dollars in damage from the 2003 earthquake. With the help of grass-root and generous donors, the restoration efforts returned the buildings to their original state. A lunch stop was desperately needed. With a local couple s recommendation, we headed to Taco Mafia. The delicious Mexican cuisine halted our conversation once the food plates arrived. While at the restaurant, we ran into the couple who had directed us there! With a full stomach and re-energized, we left our new found friends at Taco Mafia and headed to San Luis Obispo. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa - San Luis Obispo. The fifth mission was founded by Friar Junipero Serra on September 1, Taco Mafia Our arrival to San Luis Obispo was bitter sweet. Sandy and Karen were about to complete the last of their 21 missions. Lori, Linda and I watched as they did their deserving happy dance. We took our photos, grabbed the NHT stamps and left with the first two LOCAL superstars who completed the challenge. After our stop in Pismo Beach to refuel, we exchanged hugs, wished each other safe travels and saddled up. At the Santa Maria Route 166 junction, Sandy and Karen veered east to Lebec and Lori, Linda and I headed towards Lompoc. 12

13 (cont d) Mission La Purisima Concepcion - Lompoc Lori led our trio to Mission La Purisima Concepcion. We passed by Vandenberg Air Force Base, a space and missile testing site, but gusty winds did not lend themselves to a show in the sky. We pulled up to the parking booth, and before Lori could finish asking directions, the friendly attendant asked if we were part of a group that is riding the missions. We nodded our bubble heads and she pointed to the wooden sign most photographed by a group of females on motorcycles. Instead of walking the distance to the mission, we took her advice and posed in front of the sign. We waved goodbye to the 11th mission founded on December 8, Our next stop was Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. Mission Santa Ines Solvang We entered Solvang along Mission Drive, continuing to Mission Santa Ines. The 19th mission, established on September 17, 1804, was our last stop of the day. Our hotel was conveniently located directly across from the mission, a delightful sight to see after ten hours on the road. Linda opted for the pool, and I accompanied Lori on a walk to her favorite bakery shop. Our bodies appreciated the stroll as we dodged tourists and selfie sticks. Even after 40 years since my last visit, Solvang s Danish experience continued to captivate. We opted for dinner at Succulent Café, following Lori s interest in the restaurant from a prior Solvang trip. The food and service was excellent. Great choice! Lori, thank you for choosing Solvang! We ate breakfast at Linda s favorite morning destination, Paula s Pancake House. From there, we headed towards Santa Barbara along the scenic curvy San Marcos Pass Road with Lori leading and Linda as sweep. Approximately, three quarters into our ride through the pass, I noticed Linda lagging behind us. We pulled off the road and waited for Linda to catch up. Shortly thereafter, a car pulled up to us and the driver told us an item had come off of Linda s bike but she was fine. After talking to Linda on the phone and assured aid was coming, at Linda s insistence we continued without her to Santa Barbara. DAY FOUR - Mission Santa Barbara Santa Barbara. With Linda still in our thoughts, we arrived at Mission Santa Barbara, the tenth mission established on December 4, It was Lori s final mission and opportune time for her I did it happy dance. Congratulations! As we headed towards the freeway, Linda rode past us on her way to the mission. 13

14 (cont d) From 1978 to 1982, Santa Barbara was home while I attended Brooks Institute of Photography. While posing for my mission challenge photograph, I recalled standing on the very same spot, with my 4x5 camera, completing our architectural assignment. When not in school, I rode my Honda CB350 everywhere. In hindsight, I had never ridden a motorcycle before! Although I parted ways with the CB350, in 2009 I began a new riding chapter on a Honda 750 Aero. Other bikes followed. Thank you Blu Angel, my trusted Harley Dyna iron horse, for hauling me on this ride! Mission San Buenaventura Ventura. The Pacific Ocean remained visible throughout our ride towards Ventura. Conveniently located close to the freeway, we briefly stopped at San Buenaventura for my photograph. The ninth mission, also founded by Friar Junipero Serra, was established on March 31, We never reconnected with Linda, but her plans were to visit family in the San Fernando Valley. Home was our next and final destination. Fortunately we missed traffic, safely concluding our four day mission trip from Sonoma to Riverside. After 1182 miles, I had yet to complete my challenge. The following weekend, I rode to Mission San Fernando de Espana in Mission Hills, then to Mission San Gabriel Arcangel in San Gabriel. While at Mission San Gabriel, I met Sister Bernard, a Carmelite Nun, who joined me in my celebration with a selfie photo and a happy embrace! In retrospect, our group was as diverse as the motorcycles we rode BMW, Harley, Honda, and Kawasaki. Yet, we never departed from our objectives nor disrespected our differences. We stepped up as a collective force, tackling every challenge while drawing on our inner strength. I certainly ended with a completely different mindset and confidence level than when I started. To Karen, Sandy, Lori and Linda, thank you for taking this journey with me. I would not change a single aspect of this experience. Dev Be strong when you are weak, be brave when you are scared, be humble when you are victorious, be badass every day! ~ Michelle Moschetti 14

15 Pennies from Heaven Cathie Siglow Treasurer Chapter account balance March 17, 2018: $ 1, Plus April 50/50: $ Chapter balance: $ 1, At this time we have enough members and guests registered for Ride California to fund the event, and there is enough at this point for a small contingency fund. (The Ride California account is separate from our Chapter account.) If you have spent money for Committee items, please keep your receipts and complete a reimbursement form (below) as soon as possible. The reimbursement forms will also be available at the May 19 meeting. Cathie LOCAL Expense Tracking Form: Must attach receipt or bill. Reimbursement Chapter Pay a Bill Ride California (Circle which applies) Event/Committee: Details of Purchase: Authorized by: Date: Name and address of payee: Use back if necessary. Date Paid Check # Account By 15

16 What s Happening LOCAL-ly Getting ready for Ride California, that s what! Designing table decorations Checking out the hotel amenities Stacks of patches Planning rides and routes Map posters for Ride Central Last Planning Committee meeting 16

17 Stayin Alive Sandy Wietecha Safety Officer The Challenge As evidenced by some of the other articles this month, a few of us just completed the last phase of the California Missions Trail Challenge. Our trip was definitely a Challenge. Mile-wise, we didn t approach an Iron Butt or even a 1K 2 Day. But 300+ miles in a day battling wind and traffic, looking for addresses that don t quite match what s on the map, trying to find parking where there is none, splitting lanes, and hopping off and on the bike a dozen times, is not any less fatiguing than riding down a freeway for 500 miles. I m not sure I would want to do it again, at least squeezed into that amount of time, but I m glad I did it, and I m doubly glad I did it with my Sisters. I m already thinking about where we can go next year! Everyone should have a road trip in their future! Things I will always remember from this trip: A friendly meter maid in San Rafael who took the time to get out of her little car and try to find us rather than give us tickets First view of the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge Smelling the orange blossoms as we rode up the otherwise boring I-5 Dodging mud chunks that fell off tractors on the back roads to Soledad Mission Some Harley dudes falling in behind us and riding with us for miles before we turned off for lunch Riding through the green, green wine country in the early morning chill on the way to Sonoma Lunch at Taco Mafia in San Miguel the place looked kind of sketchy but a local couple at the mission recommended it and we had the BEST Mexican lunch there before we continued on our way, stuffed and refreshed. 17

18 Stayin Alive (cont d) The stunning scenery through Hunter Liggett military reservation on the way to Mission San Antonia de Padua I camped at Hunter Liggett in 1981 courtesy of Uncle Sam it s a lot prettier now than I remember but then again, this time I was there by choice. Don t change lanes or merge or make a turn without checking to see if it is safe. Just because the lead merged or turned left at a stop sign doesn t mean it s safe for you to do so. You may be riding in a group, but your # 1 concern is to ride safely yourself. Your #2 concern is not to do anything that will endanger another rider in the group. Remember, you can catch up at some point. You don t have to GO just because the rider ahead of you does. Road Trips & Safety Coming off a 1300-mile road trip weekend, I can see that the reason our group rode together fairly well was because we were familiar with group riding and generally had the same approach to safety. I asked some of my fellow travelers to list what safety tips they found especially applicable during the ride: Maintain situational awareness. Keep a mental vision of what s ahead of the lead. Check your rear view mirrors regularly so you spot that car coming up on your right like a bat out of hell and aren t surprised when he cuts over next to you instead of waiting to get past you before changing lanes. Be aware of your blind spot on a bike, you shouldn t have one. Keep that head turning and those eyes moving. Carry a set of basic tools with you. I didn t. No room. At a minimum, take a Leatherman or some multi-purpose tool that can at least get you down the road to where you can acquire the tool you need. We were fortunate and didn t have any breakdowns. However, the wind was so strong going over the Grapevine that while we were stopped for gas, it blew Lori s bike over, and it took a while to find something we could use to tighten up her mirror that was knocked loose. Stay together make sure you re not too far ahead of or behind the next rider. You can lose group integrity (and lose sight of the rest of the group) when someone lags and a car gets in between bikes. Practice U-turns. You never know when you re going to have to make about 20 of them on the same day! Don t forget to plan that road trip and challenge yourself. You have the tools, the resources, and the Sisterhood to help you make it a reality! Sandy 18

19 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: How to secure the crash scene How to assess the situation How and when to move the injured How to safe the motorcycle How to communicate effectively with 911 Ways to gather important information for EMS personnel Full face helmet removal - when and how Rescue breathing (this is not the same as CPR) Controlling external bleeding Assessing and treating shock How to immobilize the spine WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE: Basic ASM patch Certificate of completion Reference material: A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist When: Saturday September 15 Time: 9:00-5:00 Location: TBD Fee: $100 pp Enroll and pay at: asm.html Discount code: WOW Credit Card or This class is taught by Wings of Safety, a branch of Road Guardians, which is the largest motorcycle trauma training organization in the world. The class is taught by medical professionals who ride their own bikes and is CLOSED except to LOCAL members at this time. A minimum of 15 people must be registered for the class to proceed. The class is scheduled on the 3rd Saturday of September, the day of our regular chapter meeting and ride, to encourage as many as possible to attend. 19

20 MEMBERS ATTENDING: 13 GUESTS: 0 # RIDING 11 WHAT YOU MISSED CHAPTER MEETING SATURDAY, APRIL 21 NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Accident Scene Management class overview (see page 19) Ride California update As of today, 74 registrants (now 84) Chaparral will put WITW logo on electronic billboard along I-215 the day we have lunch there There will be a Ride Central board featuring all the rides Additional T-shirts can be ordered at the event Patches will also be available for sale Ride today to Peggy Sue s Diner in Barstow via Route 66 upcoming birthdays patty may 5 vicki may 19 20

21 L.O.C.A.L. OFFICERS Ladies of Chrome and Leather Chapter (L.O.C.A.L.) is the Riverside, California area chapter of Women in the Wind (WITW), an international organization for women motorcyclists. WITW was founded in Toledo, Ohio in 1979 and has grown to over 100 chapters with members in the USA, Canada, UK, and Portugal. L.O.C.A.L. Chapter was founded in 1999 by Dee Norman and currently has over 40 members. Our Purpose Is To: Unite women motorcyclists with friends of common interest Promote a positive image to the public of women on motorcycles Help educate our members on motorcycle safety and maintenance P PRESIDENT: Karen Scott VICE PRESIDENT: Shelley Beetler SECRETARY: Karin Whitehead TREASURER: Cathie Siglow We re on Facebook! ROAD CAPTAIN: Vicki Goizueta SAFETY OFFICER: Sandy Wietecha Contact us: WITWLOCAL@gmail.com ASST. S.O. (Maintenance) Trish Carlson NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Sandy Wietecha LAST LOOK REGISTER ASAP FOR ACCIDENT SCENE MANAGEMENT CLASS SEPTEMBER 15 WEBMISTRESS: Dee Norman L.O.C.A.L. FOUNDER: Dee Norman 21