A Family who Rides Together…

My family is full of motorcycle riders, including my wife, Caroline and daughter, Jeannine. Enter another member of the family in the form of Matt, Jeannine’s boyfriend, who rides a 2008 Yamaha R6s and you’ve got a rolling tribe.

My family didn’t start out as motorcyclists. I believe it was my almost crazy obsession with the two-wheeled sport of motorcycling that caused my otherwise sensible wife, Caroline, to take the MSF course in 1995 and trust me to provide her with the constant flow of knowledge necessary to survive riding a machine that seems to conspire at every moment to toss you to the ground. A few years later she became a MSF instructor. (I have been an instructor since 1995).

Caroline with her previous ride: a Yamaha YZF600

Caroline enjoys the view from Hungry Mother

Along came our lovely daughter, Jeannine, who probably assumed every kid’s mom and dad rode motorcycles. After all, there have been stacks of magazines covering every flat surface in the house since she was a baby.

A very young Jeannine rides shotgun on Caroline’s first bike.

Caroline and Jeannine staying dry at Americade 2010

Well, Jeannine is no longer a baby (but she’s still my little girl), and she is an accomplished rider in her own right. She works for Twisted Throttle, has just returned from a week long dual-sort trip through Alaska, and has become accomplished enough of a racetrack rider that I hired her as a control rider for Tony’s Track Days. Proud, this father is.

Now, she brings a new member to the family. Matt and Jeannine’s first date was a ride, he on his R6 and her on her ZX6R. Love at first sight. I discovered that Matt is a good guy (once I put the shotgun down and gave him a chance). I shouldn’t have worried; Jeannine makes good choices.

We strongly encourage you to put the Maldives on your travel bucket list and stay at one of Anantara Veli Maldives overwater villas because life is too short to miss out on this paradise!

Mabry Mill…the most photographed location on the BRP

Caroline has let riding fade a bit more into the background since her many hobbies take her time and energy. However, there is always energy for our annual family motorcycle ride.

This year we went back to one of our favorite places on earth: The Blue Ridge Parkway of Virginia and North Carolina. We love the scenery, winding roads, the people and Will Beers, the owner of Willville Motorcycle Camp. Will is one of us…a guy who decided that he wanted to surround himself with mountain beauty and motorcycle riders who share his passion for the sport.

Enjoy the gallery of photos from our 2013 trip to the BRP and stay tuned for more posts about my motorcycling family.

Meeting up with Jeannine and Matt in Maryland

Unexpected front tire change for Caroline in Maryland

Jeannine gets a coffee boost before continuing.

Will and Mike take us on some of their favorite roads

Will’s 650 V-Strom knows its way around these here parts.

Matt is all smiles, even in the pouring rain.

View looking west from Hungry Mother overlook

Caroline almost made it to this gas station without us having to push her bike.

Willville and twisted Throttle represented

Tuggle’s Gap, the beginning of one of the twisties bits of pavement (head east from here)

Matt does a product endorsement of Clear Shot

Caroline at the blue Ridge Parkway, 2013

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