by Ed & Linda Johnson, International Directors
Member Enhancement Program

 

Steven and I are from Rocket City, USA also known as Huntsville, Alabama. We reside in a community just outside of Huntsville called Meridianville. We've been happily married for 14 wonderful, blissful years and have a loveable 22 year old son, Zachary, along with 2 dogs, 2 birds and a cat. Our first date was an ATV ride in the mountains; it was obvious in the very beginning that we both enjoyed the great outdoors. One day in 2005, I discovered a new profound love, Gold Wings and Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA), through a friend at work. I twisted Steven's arm (well not really) to get a Gold Wing and immediately we joined GWRRA. We joined to deter ourselves from becoming couch potatoes and to also find new FRIENDS. We jumped right in and have not slowed down; our enthusiasm merely thrives. We really enjoy being a part of the GWRRA life so much so, it has literally become a way of life for us, and we infuse it into our lives daily. We savor every moment, and for what we've gained out of this experience, there's no way we could ever give back enough in return. In the meantime, as we try to give back, we hope that we can affect people in the most positive ways and do what we can to help others enjoy and experience GWRRA.

We both have 2006 Titanium Gold Wings; however, mine is a Trike. We have matching purple snakeskin Wing Bling and Steven has gotten used to buying two of everything that will fit both Wings. With the joy of riding and meeting new people, we did not realize we were going to have even more fun -- that is -- when we were announced as the 2008 Couple of the Year for our Chapter; then from there, serving as the 2009 Alabama District Couple of the Year, and following as 2009-2010 Region A's Couple of the Year. From our humble beginning as Chapter Couple, our journey began in the Couple of the Year Program. Respectively, we've served on Chapter, District and Region Team and encountered and enjoyed many aspects of the GWRRA life. Steven always says the more you participate, the more FUN you have. While we are having FUN, we try to keep focused on the SAFETY aspects of being Gold Wing riders. Proudly and safely riding as Level IV Master Tour Riders, we want to compel others to strive for safety and KNOWLEDGE. We are Leadership Training Program Instructors / Rider Education Seminar Presenters as well as ARC/TRC Rider Coaches. Naturally, I'm only a TRC Rider Coach but Steven is certified in both. We diligently encourage participation & embody the motto, Friends for FUN, Safety, and Knowledge. Gold Wing Road Riders Association is wonderful in the way that it offers so many great opportunities to learn and develop skills, not only mental, but physical skills for riding. Being part of the Couple of the Year Program, we realized there are other skills that we needed to hone. What better way to hone them, than to help others along the way, through our knowledge and experience. We are always more than willing to try to return the gift of mentoring that we received by slipping into the practice of becoming mentors to other Couples across the nation in the program. As I've always said, knowledge is no good unless you share it.

We have a passion for the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, but the one thing that is really near and dear to our hearts, is the Couple of the Year Program. It has been a major catalyst in our decisions to gain more skills and knowledge. The benefits are too many to list and it can go on and on. For each couple, they may get something different out of the program, but what is shared among all of the couples is the sense of pride, respect, camaraderie, and the love of other individuals not based on anything other than their shared pastime of riding motorcycles. We always say (like a good friend told us once), it's the motorcycle that brought us to GWRRA, but it's the people that keep us here. Steven and I have become closer now more than ever; not only are we best friends and marriage partners, but we are a TEAM. Our feelings for the Couple of the Year Program are that it is one of the key essentials that drives the enthusiasm in the Association. Couples start to promote enthusiasm in their Chapters, and it carries over throughout the Districts, Regions, and across the world. This is part of the excitement that makes Gold Wing Road Riders Association special. Steven and I are very proud and honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization and are fortunate to have been part of the Couple of the Year Program.  After serving in our roles and as the end neared, we were quite sad and emotional. In turn, we made a pact to continue mentoring wherever needed, and just do what we could to continue promoting it, as we love it so. Much to our surprise, when we were asked to be the International Couple of the Year Coordinators, we felt like we had just hit the jackpot!! So, now we have this task at hand, to continue assisting in the program, but from a different perspective. We intend to do the very best that we can to make it an enjoyable experience, a memorable experience, and most of all, an inspiring experience.

We feel that every couple is worthy of benefiting as much as possible from this opportunity and we hope that we can truly be an asset in promoting the Couple of the Year Program. 

July 6

At 8 a.m. I got out my Gold Wing Gold Book and called Carl Cromwell, who lives in Warren, Pennsylvania.  He said that it sounded like a fuel filter and that he would bring one and be right over.  He came over with a new filter and tools and had the cycle running again in about 20 minutes.  All he asked was for us to pay for the filter.  By 9:30 a.m. we are on the road again.  The rides yesterday, and this morning along the Allegheny River, were very nice.  By early afternoon, we had had enough and stopped at Keuka Lake just north of Bath, New York and went for a swim.  The water was colder than we like, but it felt good, and the kids loved it.  We traveled on to Seneca Falls, New York, before calling it a day.

July 7

Today we headed north and east toward our first main stop, at the sidecar rally in Burlington, Vermont.  The weather is hot and humid with above-average temps according to the people who live around this area.  By early afternoon we had had enough and stopped at Inlet, New York and went for a swim in the Fulton Chain Lakes.  The water was colder than the water yesterday, but clearer, and the kids loved it, like always.  After a couple of hours and feeling refreshed, we headed into the Adirondack Mountains and made it to Long Lake, New York, before finding a room for the night.  The room had no AC, but the breeze coming off the lake was cool and we slept just fine.

July 8

Off again, and we went through Lake Placid, but did not stop as it looked crowded.  Maybe we will stop the next time through and watch some of the training events that they hold there.  We did stop at the Ausable Chasm.  It is a very narrow gorge: we hiked to the bottom of the Gorge and then took a raft ride while the guide explained the rock formations.  The raft was very much needed after the hike.  We were then off to catch the ferry from Port Kent, New York to Burlington, Vermont, across Lake Champlain.  We arrived at the ferry, a little over an hour early, and the money guy said that we could park the cycles and go swimming at the beach if we liked.  We changed and went to the beach, but the water was numbing.  The kids went right on in, and Belinda and I got to our knees.  45 minutes later, Belinda took the plunge, but not me.  So we loaded the cycles on the ferry, and went on to the Essex Junction, Vermont fairground, to the rally.  We were too late to check in, but we checked out some other cycles and then went to the motel to do laundry and rest.