Overdue Kudos to Only Woman Rider Winner of National Harley-Davidson Contest!

It’s been over a year since I judged Canada's National Harley-Davidson "Show & Shine Contest". I find winners are ageless. Once you win you're always termed "a winner"...so on that thought, I don't feel that badly, just slightly ashamed, about finally giving this overdue mention to the only female winner of the contest - Keeley Ward!

A while back I received an email from Keeley that stated - “You made particular mention that you were the ONLY female judge ...well I was the winner of the Sportster class and I was the ONLY female winner!!!”

So here a HUGE shout out and acknowledgement to Keeley! Good going! If you want a refresher about the contest here is the article on MOTORESS.

Suppose I was very busy with announcing the winners and honestly the name Keeley didn’t seem a typical woman’s name so no bells rung for me at the time.

As judges we were not informed of any details about the contestants which as you can imagine, makes good sense; -no preferential slants in our choices. We make our decisions without favourtism. And you know in my case I would have absolutely been influenced to the fact that Keeley's entry was female owned!
Keeley sent in her winning picture, shared with you here. She expresses that this photo was taken the day of the show where she was selected by Mackie Harley-Davidson in Ontario. She states there was no award trophy just a gift card and unfortunately hasn’t photos of when she later received her National Prize.

Keeley congrats to you yet again!

Keep an out for Keeley- she's (quote)- “a real estate agent by day! and biker by night!!! LOL”.
Thanks Keeley for setting things straight!

Edelweiss/ MOTORESS Womens Motorcycle Tour a Fantastic Ride!

Everywhere we went, bystanders and other riders exclaimed with surprise - “all women riders!?” Folks couldn’t believe that the fourteen motorcycles (fifteen including tour guide) pulling into tank stations and roadside stops were piloted entirely by women! We were an admired spectacle to local communities visited during the recently completed Edelweiss Alps and Lakes women’s only tour with MOTORESS!

Sauerkraut, Apfelstrudel, Chiemsee- King Ludwig’s castle, Salzburg truffles- beer gardens, full moon evenings on roof top terraces, historic spots and so much more. All of this accented days filled with superbly ridden roads through German and Austrian picturesque countrysides! We were a group of women who really hadn’t met each other prior to this holiday. Canadians plus one American, Diane from Miami!

Each day started with a typical European breakfast buffet followed by a riders meeting discussing our route and its high points through the area’s we’d visit. For me and as host of the tour, it was a pleasure to observe first hand the enthusiasm of women that had not yet explored EU roads or mountain hair-pins, characteristic of Alpine roads!

We were not without challenges as is often the case when travelling-particularly more so by motorcycle. Kate’s Ducati Monster stopped working so she rode the rest of the day on the BMW with me. I sure enjoyed having her as a passenger! —her laughter and fun loving spirit so infectious. She kept her helmet camera rolling so I’m sure she captured great footage! She ended up getting the BMW F650GS for the remainder of the tour and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Then the weather gave us days of damp downpour rain. And in Italy (while I was at hospital with our fallen rider) the group encountered not just thunderstorms but hail! But it was Laura who by exclaiming she’d rather be riding in the rain on these fantastic adventurous European roads than on a dry one in Canada; moved dampened attitudes to an appreciative light.

Yes the unfortunate mishap of one of our riders-second last day of the tour where she had a hair-pin encounter. It resulted in a couple of broken fingers. The hospital in Jossnitz performed surgery right away and with the support of the group she arrived back in Canada and looks to be on the road to riding again very soon!

We were a group of passionate motorcycle enthusiasts -women of ideas, abilities, resolve and determination- and yes camaraderie! We enjoyed supporting each other, sharing great roads, tales, laughs, tips and support. It was a fine experience, yes a fine one indeed!

We’ll be offering another womens only group next year-not sure where but will let you know when!

PS: greetings from The Netherlands!