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How this all got started Bill, Joe and I decided to forgo the business-as-usual plane ride down to the AWWA national convention in 2005. Instead we would head out on our bikes, one BMW, one Harley, and one Honda, for one of the most scenic rides in the country, down the Washington, Oregon, and California coast from Seattle to San Francisco. And what a trip it was! |
While
at the convention, a couple caught me wearing one of my (yes I have several) Harley
shirts from the Low Country Harley Davidson Dealership in South Carolina.
“Hey Harley guy, hey Harley guy” they called out, as I walked away from
the coffee shop in the hotel. Because I had not yet actually had my morning
coffee yet (a necessity for us Seattle folks) it took me a while to figure
out they were talking to me. As it turns out these folks were from North
Carolina and had just purchased their bikes from the same dealership who’s
shirt I was wearing. How is that for a coincidence? We had a great conversation and I jokingly asked them why they didn’t ride to the conference as well.
After a bit we both parted ways with me heading up to the room to change
for the ride home and they to the airport. Little did I know the seed had planted with that brief encounter. (By the way I can’t remember
the name of those folks, if you are reading this, email me at Khowe@woodinvillewater.com and I will add your real names to this story). |
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Joe traveled back by himself
early, and Bill and I alone hooked up for the ride home. Nearing the end
of our journey back we stopped for the night in Salem, Oregon. After having
a few beverages of choice at the end of what was a long day, I looked
over to Bill and said, “next year is San Antonio, are you up for it?”
He clearly had had as many “diet Cokes” as I had and he readily agreed.
A month or so later my thoughts went back to the conversation with that
couple from North Carolina. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be great
if folks like that knew our route and could have joined us somewhere along
the way. I called bill. “How about if we post our ride route to San Antonio
on some website for people to see, and maybe some others would join in”?
Bill thought it was a fine idea, and he quipped jokingly (I think), that
we could form our own AWWA Motorcycle committee, as they seemed to have
a committee for most everything else! And then one day it hit me. Why
don’t we organize a ride from several parts of the country and folks from
all over could join in. Wow, what would that be like heading into San
Antonio! When we added the part about each rider getting donations for
$1 per mile for Water For People the idea really took hold. We knew it
was something that we had to do. The rest is both history, and the future,
with another incredible ride to come next June. Ride on. Ken |