Letter from Eileen

Flo,
When you posted on the WWR forum that you had decided to buy Donna's Road King, I was thinking how neat that was. Then all of the pondering about getting it shipped, and the glimmer of an idea ~ How about flying to Florida & riding it home?
Then as you thought more & more seriously about doing it, but wondering if you could do that long trek through a whole different country by yourself. Donna & others saying that if you were serious about it, help would happen, you wouldn't be alone through much if any of your trek, that the forum members would help you. And then one day you posted that you were going to do it!

I had never ridden more than a few hundred miles in a day, but when you decided to go for it, I thought "If she can ride across the USA to get home to Canada, surely I can help her get out of Florida & escort her up to Georgia! And maybe after Flo heads further north we (husband & I) can head west & catch Alabama too" So you inspired me to sign up for that leg of the journey.

Then my oops, and my cast, and no riding while I heal ... One of the first thoughts to cross my mind as I was standing beside my bike, ice on wrist was... "Oh no! It can't be fractured, I need to ride with Flo in 4 weeks!" But it was. And so I didn't get to go. I was so disappointed.I did get to meet you before you left for your journey though, and see you riding your new Queen at the RLAP course.

When I first got to the RLAP lot, I was standing near Hippie John when Motorman came up to him. MM asked "who is that, is it Flo?" and when John said yes, Motorman said "She's doing Great!, look at her doing that figure eight!" Then we watched as you headed over to "the intersection" and did those 4 u-turns over & over again, with total concentration, looking like a pro. Later that day, I heard MM say how proud he was of your riding, and he sure had reason to be. You were on a bike you'd only seen for the first time a few days before, and were putting her through her paces with finesse.

You earned that Ride Like a Pro shirt for sure! And you were gracious enough to give me a Conga bracelet even though I didn't ride with you, and now it will be on my bike to remind me of you & the Conga.

Well Flo, what an adventure you had, and we all got to share in it to some degree. I had a hard time going to bed until I knew you were safely stopped each night, and each morning I checked the computer first thing to see if you'd posted any messages or any new entries on your blog.
When you were in Death Valley & hot, worn out, disheartened, I wished I could fly out & help in some way. When you were having fun times, I was wishing I was there too, meeting the other WWR members, and enjoying the great rides & company.
The home stretch, that last few days when you were with your fellow Canadians, then your brothers surprising you, were a great joy to all of us. And we got to see you being interviewed, what a grand finale to the adventure! (Even if the weather was miserable, you all came through like the champs you are)You've been an inspiration to me, to challenge myself, to not limit myself by my fears of doing something new, to be positive in looking at new horizons.

I'm sure I'm not the only one.If you come back down next year to catch Alabama & fill in that blank spot, I'd love to do it with you!
Eileen
This is a pic of Eileen and I. I will never forget, after riding around in the parking lot while the Palladinos were packing stuff up and giving out certificates. I asked Motorman, if he would mind I I just went and practised by myself. He had a big grin on his face...said..well you bet Flo, go over there and practis those spots where the tennis balls were.
I didn't look back!! I was afraid too.
Motorman says... look where you want to go.. head, eyes , friction. I guess everyone was watching me and I didn't know it. I was consintrating pretty hard, and didn't look up untill, I felt I was doing good and almost done practising.

By that time, Doc was yelling and snapping pictures. Go Flo, Go Flo!! Whoo hooo!! Snapping pics like a fool..lmao

I saw this woman walk up to me and say... Hi Flo..I am Eileen., I had talked to Eileen enough times on the forum of WWR, and felt I knew her. She was a huge supporter and was going to ride the Conga. Had a little oops, and it could happen.
Big hugs,, and laughs.. and hugs..and told me I was doing great!!

She told me I was riding great and said......Just so you know Flo....I personally heard Motorman say.... He was really proud of you!! I told Eileen, wow.. that is great...and I will take it second hand...No problem..
That was my intention to make that man proud of me!! Of course Doc too.
When I looked up at MM,...and he said....Flo you're makin me Misty eyed.. It was all worth it!!!
I never got to ride with Eileen but she came out and that was important to meet some of my WWR SISTAS... I remember how bad she wanted to ride too.
Later she came by to the Palladinos for a barbeque and meet and greet. Thanks Eileen. I do hope to ride with you one day... Especially Alabama for the Conga reunion.