Route from Wenatchee

Here it is!!!!! Thank you Biird for putting this together!!

Here is a link to the map:

http://tinyurl.com/3a8e2v4

Leaving July 3: From Wenatchee via hwy 2 across Washington to Superior. 302 mi – about 5 hours 10 mins

Highlights:

We would have time to spend at Cruisers in Couer d'Alene and make it an easy, full first day.

Leaving July 4: From Superior to West Yellowstone.  359 mi – about 6 hours 9 mins

If we got on the road early, we could do this and the breaks would be restful. imo.

Highlights:

Pintler Loop, a gorgeous road. Very very pretty and a famous Montana ride.

http://www.onesidedmatchups.com/pintler.html

Lewis and Clark Caverns (this may be something that takes more time than group votes for, but it is very neat and memorable.)

http://montanakids.com/things_to_see_and_do/state_parks/lewis_and_clark.htm

http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/visit/parkSiteDetail.html?id=281895

Ennis, MT has a great silver jewelry shop, Benji's and it is very cheap.

Earthquake Lake

Grizzly Bear museum in West for those interested

Eagles' Store for homemade fudge/chocolate shakes (the thing to do there)

Leaving July 5: From West Yellowstone to Cody.  178 mi – about 4 hours 17 mins (without side trip up Beartooth)

West Yellowstone thru park, lots of stops, go near Beartooth hwy, 

http://www.codywyomingnet.com/attractions/beartooth_highway.php

opt to go to summit or over of Beartooth if group wants, if not go directly to famous Chief Joseph Scenic byway to Cody. 

http://www.codywyomingnet.com/attractions/chief_joseph_scenic_highway.php

Getting to Cody allows some rest before Shell, and an early start to Shell if wanted. 

Leaving July 6 : From Cody to Shell.  68.2 mi – about 1 hour 13 mins

Cody has famous Buffalo Bill Museum, which houses five museums. I've been there and you could spend HOURS there. It is nothing short of amazing.

http://www.bbhc.org/museums/index.cfm   for a list of those museums.

If anyone wants to slip down to Thermopolis (1.25 hour) to soak in the famous hot waters of the Star Plunge, then they can easily do it. (world's largest mineral hot springs) Has big pools and slide

http://www.thermopolis.com/WebPage33.aspx

Leaving July 7: Shell to Cheyenne.  404 mi – about 6 hours 21 mins

We won't mess around, just get on the road.

Letter from Shell Wyoming

Just recieved this letter this morning. I think Shell Wyoming ROCKS!!!!!





Hi Flo,

I am writing to you on behalf of Al Martin at the Antler Inn.  We started discussing some things for advertising and getting the word out to a larger area and Al felt that getting a hold of you to make sure we go about this the right way in notifying papers and other businesses is best.  The nearby town's of Basin and Greybull are already getting excited for the party on July 6th.   But we would like to make the turnout as big as possible for you and your riders.

Some of our thoughts are contacting the Harley dealerships in Billings and Red Lodge.  Also we are planning to contact the papers in Cody, Billings and Sheridan about the upcoming event.  So my question to you would be the proper wording of the notifications.  Such as, I read that this is called the Conga III and it is a fundraising ride for breast cancer awareness.  Also, is there a place to go on FB (Conga III group?) that has the itenirary of the ride so that other local riders can join the "Conga line"?

Al also wanted to let you know that he has already scheduled a DJ for music as well as a beer wagon and a BBQ wagon for the food.  Al is also preparing to put up some kind of an auction or silent auction of donated items to also help raise more funds.  Any more ideas you may have will be very helpfull as everyone here in Shell is onboard, ready to help and of course party.

Best regards,

Fund-raising

With just over a month to go before the ride starts,  The Women Who Ride Conga III RIDE FOR BREAST CANCER, has already reached half their goal in fund raising. We have raised over $7,000.00 and our goal is $14.000.
The Conga III ride will be meeting in Cheyenne, Wyomming July 7-10/10


No one is more excited than me other than possibly my traveling partner and BC survivor Judy Snaith aka Fancypants. We have been working very hard the last few months at fundraising,and gathering our pink things, decorating our bikes and organizing the trip.


We made  little packages of Breast Cancer Items to give as token gifts when someone donates. We have been going to local establishments with these packets and coming home with a few hundred dollars. When time permits we go around to local businesses to ask for donations for some of our up coming events. There are a couple show and shines and barbecues to help raise funds.


We had a  Womens Weekend put on by 1st Officer Ruth Edwards of SCRC 394 brought in a whopping $1,000.00.
FACEBOOK has been an incredible networking tool. The friends and businesses all over USA and Canada have been donating items to the Conga BC Fund to auction off. Most of these are people we have not  met .
We have purchased other items like biker brooches, gloves, to sell with all proceeds going to the fund. Many facebook friends have mailed me items to auction off. I am over whelmed at the generosity of people I have never met before but are just following the story on facebook.


So far we have 50 confirmed riders mostly from the USA. Confirmed means they have paid $25 and receive  Conga III patch and the remainder goes to Breast Cancer. Some of us will be on the road for a full month. Some will only be riding a short ways or come out to say hello.


There are a couple Show and Shines Planned and the Grand Finale one on Aug 14, after everyone is home safe and sound. Jenn Geeson has worked very hard at planning these special event. She has organized one for this weekend in Mill Bay. Later we will have our photographer Mike Goodman take some professional shots out side of the unique false fronted buildings in Mill Bay and along the water. 


It is  only 40 days now before we hit the road, we are all getting pretty excited..Judy Snaith aka Fancypants is a Breast Cancer survivor so this trip means so much to her. She will be on the whole trip me, which will be a month. The only deadline we have is to be in Cheyenne on time. After Cheyenne we will be on the road for another 3 weeks fund raising.


Suggestions for those that have never done the Conga and fund raised on the road before. We are carrying token gifts to give to people to say thanks. If someone gives us $5 then we give a magnet or a pin to say thankyou. I found out from last year that it is  pretty easy to ask for money when you stop for gas or  food. Especially if you are all pinked out and someone smiles at you. My line is always..."Would you care to make a small donation to our cause??" Mostly everyone gives at least a dollar and it is surprising how many give a 20 dollar bill and say save the magnet for the next person.


If you make it fun and how could it not be when even the guys are in pink. Wilbur my brother, makes us lots of money with his pink hair. Even if you don't have a token gift to give, just a big thank you will work too.
I think we should have a little competition to see which Conga Line can raise the most money on the way to Cheyenne.

Cruisers Bar in Post Falls Idaho

Sheri, thank you for your willingness to “host” our Conga III lady riders on 4^th of July weekend.  We  plan to arrive in mid-afternoon on Saturday the 3^rd of July.  

We had such a great time at your establishment last year and are looking forward to doing it again!!

Thankyou Mill Bay Movie Gallery Mike Goodman Rory from M & M Meats

We everything is set. we have the location: outside of the Movie Gallery in Timmie's plaza, we have 150 burgers and 80 dogs at wholesale from M and M meats in Duncan, we have buns for all courtesy of Mir's boss in Victoria at Save on Foods. Personally we have BBQ and Tables to bring to set up on.


We are having a barbecue in Duncan this Sunday at Movie Gallery in Mill Bay

After that we will be having a  a photo shoot by our photographer Mike Goodman.Thank you to Doug at the Movie Gallery in Mill Bay
Rory from M & M Meats in Duncan
and Dave at Save On Foods Westside Village for all of their donations in making this a success!
We are hoping to raise a little dough for the Conga Cause once again. 
Oh, and thanks to the Dragon for organizing it!!

Looking Back

When I bought my first Harley Davidson from Ride Like a Pro in Hudson, Florida. Hudson is kitty corner across the continent from Vancouver Island where I live. Almost 6,000 miles if you go the scenic route. The original plan when I bought my Harley was to have it shipped. I was off in Mexico for the winter. As time got near I started thinking how cool it would be if I flew to Florida and met the Palladinos and all the girls on the Women Who Ride Forum that I had connected with since I became a new rider. All I had to do is mention that to my internet women friends and the enabling began. I had only been riding 2 years.

The camaraderie of bikers is truly amazing. These women from the forums both in Florida and Vancouver Island encouraged and enabled me. They quickly jumped in to offer there homes, fed me, rode with me, passed me along, like a baton, to get me home safely. I was literally treated like the Queen!!

The Palladinos took me into their home and put me through the RLAP course. Although I still had a long way to go, they felt I could handle the bike, hell I could even pick it up, thank goodness. I dropped my new bike five times over the 3 week trek home.  

Hence the name of the ride became the Conga dancing me across the continent doing the Conga only on Motorcycles. Each time I was passed on to the next group of riders, it was so hard to say good by. It was like we had know each other forever. I would wonder if the next group would be as nice as the last. Many asked me if I was scared. I can never once say I was scared from the people. I was worried maybe that I wouldn't live up to their expectations. Okay there was a few SCAREY times on the highway, like going through Death Valley in major wind and sand storms, dropping my bike do to weather and not being used to it,and of course tired, but an exhilarating tiredness. At times I didn't want to get on my new bike, and missed my old.

At the last minute, I decided to do it for a cause. Friends were paying me so much a state that I hit. Needless to say, I snagged the corners of a few extra with my new found friends. I raised $1,700 for Cancer in memory of my motorcycle instructor, Rod Wiseman.

It truly was an amazing trip and if I had died some where along the road, it would have all been worth it. Memories from the first Conga still dance through my head daily. I never rode one single mile alone. What a Conga Line!!

It has made me want to pay it forward in the biker community since the moment I arrived home. My life changed tremendously. I put my faith in humanity, I was an alone Canadian Rider, but never alone for moment. I love to help out a fellow biker in anyway that I can, from offering a bed, to meeting a new rider on the island of sharing what the Ride Like a Pro has taught me.
And so began the Congas...

Conga II started out to be a Reunion. I was going to fly there, visit and ride with the people that had treated me so kind....Get all those women together again talking about it and before long it's a full blown Conga Line, from Sea to Shining Sea!! We raised $12,000.00 for Breast Cancer. I met some of the most amazing people along the way that will be life long friends. Apparently again, I inspired some folk along the way.. One of our spirit riders who if fighting a different type of Cancer will be riding in the Conga III this year and she only got to riding after meeting the Conga line near the end of the trip in Wenatchee, WA Another life long friend. Most of them are.

Conga III was being discussed a few short months after the Conga II ended in June /09. Many gals from the forums had been Spirit Riders for the last two. The Congas got themselves quit a name and we had Spirit Riders all over the world. I would blog it at the end of every day and post lots of videos and clips of the adventures good or bad. I would come home to gifts and letters of how I had inspired so many women even their husbands. People were saying .... Where's Flo this morning. We hit the news in 4 states and raised $12,000.00

We are well underway, with rooms booked for a MIM (meet in the middle) in Cheyenne, Wyoming July 8,9 10/10!! We have already raised $5,000.00 between the Canadians and American sisters we have gotten to know over the internet.

It is all kind of scaring to me now!! It is growing in leaps and bounds and I am by no means an organizer of anything. It totally amazes me how many are coming and I freak that when we arrive there won't be enough to do.. I am so ready to let some one take it over. It has now become another dream, to have it continue annually not just for me but so many. I tried to convince the Women that someone else do it this year as my pocket book says I am crazy. They decided if if Flo wasn't going to be there, there would be no Conga... I am a committed Conga Chick asking for help. Not that I am not getting help, there is help all over the place. People are donating web sites, donations, advice, doing letters, but heck it almost seems I need staff!! lol

So in Cheyenne
It starts out as just a place to meet, and greet. Getting these Women Who Ride to actually meet in person that we have been talking to for years. Of course for a good cause which is for Breast Cancer as a lot of the gals are survivors or are fighting it. The problem that has happened as it grows.. is I don't know what the hell I am doing and need help.. but I just keep on keeping on, and going with the flow.

So if you think you would like to go with Flo and do the Conga III.

Start your own little Conga Line from where ever you live and grab your friends and start organizing now... Spread the word!! It sneaks up on you fast.
We will be arriving in Cheyenne, Wyoming July 8, 9, 10. Ride as far as you can or become a Spirit Rider. Help us in any way, by organizing, fund raising, donating items...
WHAT EVER... WE NEED YOU!!
These are memories that will last a life time. Not only does it make me proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and doing that first Conga... Against ALL ODDS I might add! If you knew me like my family and closest friend anyway. It was HUGE for me. I met the most amazing ladies and their partners, saw some of the most incredible roads. I still pinch myself from time to time when I say out loud...I RODE ACROSS AMERICA TWICE! Mostly with internet friends. I want others to experience that, and they are going to. To say that I had something to do with that makes me proud once again, that I did make a difference.
FloWWR Conga III
Donation Site

Pretty Cool letter I recieve this morning!

Flo,

I came across you through your Women Who Ride Rock facebook page. You and
Doc are doing such awesome work and just wanted to share my current project
with you because it would mean so much to have your support.

As a female motorcycle rider I'm tired of hearing "women don't ride
motorcycles", so I started The Visibility Project to share the stories of
women who don't just sit around and watch the boys have fun.

This summer I'm traveling all over compiling footage for a feature length,
action packed documentary. I'm filming women motorcycle riders,
skateboarders, musicians, entrepreneurs, film makers, you name it... if it's
a story worth telling, I want to tell it.

I'm reaching out to like-minded people to make connections, collaborations,
and to help gain exposure for the project.

Please have a look at my website:
http://www.starkravingmadeleine.com

and our latest promo video (motorcycle riding!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaAtqWpHL-U

If it sounds like a project you can support, please share it in any way you
can.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. I'm always looking for interesting
women to film, as well as connecting with companies interested in supporting
the project.

Hopefully our paths will cross this summer! Please keep me informed about
the July ride as I'd love to find the resources to film such a positive and
energetic event! Keep up the good work!

Madeleine

Stark Raving Madeleinehttp://www.starkravingmadeleine.com
info@starkravingmadeleine.com

Help us fight back against a culture that says girls are accessories, that
says over 30 is too old, that perpetuates the myth of girls watch: boys do.

KEN "IRON MAN" KOSIOREK THE BAJA TURTLE

I woke up early this morning with pink my mind and the first posting I see is this on my profile page is a message from  Ken Kosiorkek  is this..............

 will be there to ride July 6-10 for you CONGA III Riders

Pink'Sta Leads with The Pink Hummer, Baja Turtle Picks up the Rear on my Bike

I will bring the San Diego riders from San Diego Harley Davidson up the 15 and the 210.

Will will go slow enough so anyone can stop to get gas/rest and then catch us.

Law Enforcement an...d Military and TRUCKERS are encouraged to ride with us

I am having a hard time believing it but am so damned  excited I want to yell it out. I am sure they would hear me all the way down in CA. This is huge and boy if people didn't know what he Conga was before, they sure will now.  Conga Convoy from California.. holy  how totally frickin cool is this??

I remember when I just started talking to Julie and Ken, it started over the Pink Hummer, the first time I saw it I visualized it leading the pack of bikes. Now usually a monstrosity of  machine like that would tail gun.. I visualized because it was pink and beautiful and so is the driver.. I visualized up front. We would certainly going to make a statement and know cage would mess with us because we had the biggest prettiest cage protecting us. Any way that was MY DREAM!!

As i am finding out lately dreams do come true, but it is like Ken told me when I  started talking with him about it.. Dream it, visualize it, want it...make it happen... Now I have to say these other words Ken said to me that make me smile... Get your staff together...delegate.. cover her costs, and she will come!!

I told him.. I am my own staff, I have friends helping me for sure, but costs.. those come out of my pocket and I am a starving barber in Campbell River. Now I thought at that time, well that is the end of that let it go Flo!!

Sir Ken the Iron Man who fly by in is un busy moments and continue to say stuff, like visualize..want it.. make it happen...

Julie would pop in and say different things like if when I posted about hitting the CR Radio station.. "Don't forget us Peons Flo"...lol Me being honored that either would take the time to talk to me.

Ken would fly by again and say something to the sort of i see Flo cutting hair on the go some where raising money for Breast Cancer.. Dang if I didn't go buy a pink cutting cape and going to pack my clippers and scizzors on the road to help raise funds.

He then posts funny stuff, like...CALLING ALL TRUCKER IT THINK WE GOT US A CONVOY.. Lol... so I go and add abunch for truckers to my FB.. . I typed in truckers.. long haulers, and got a few coming back saying do I know you??

Any way I have just finished my first cup of coffee this morning after getting my thoughts past my first post on Facebook...

THE PINK HUMMER AND THE IRON MAN ARE DOING THE CONGA!!! OMFG!!

LOOK OUT CANCER WILL TREMBLE WHEN IT HEARS THE CONGA COMING!!!!

PINK HUMMER GETTING READY TO CONGA

I hope I am not getting my over enthusiastic self by posting this.. Things are looking pretty good, that it might happen the the Pink Hummer, Julie and the gang from Baja 500 could be joining the Conga Line from California. Tomorrow we should find out for sure!! She is waiting to see if her big sponsor comes through. At least she has her gloves and ready to rumble if we get the go ahead!!
What a freeking honor that would be not to mention, the attention she would atrack to  get the awareness out there!! Can't wait to meet these peopl!!

Womens Weekend Ukulet SCRC 394

Here is Dr. Ruth and Fancypants. Dr. from 394 SCRC put the weekend together. All proceeds from the raffles were being donated to the Conga Ride for Breast Cancer. Miss Fancypants in the pink is my friend, and survivor and her and I have had so much fun getting ready to do the whole Conga for a month on the road to raise awareness and money for the Breast Canceer. Ruthie is first office of SCRC  394, she had told us earlier the money was going to the Conga, so we got together all our pinky blingy things.

As we were out doing  our scavenger hunt for the weekend we stopped in at the co-op and of course asked for a donation for our Womens weekend fundraiser. Here they are the clerks told us to go shopping and spend $50.00 We also stopped at the liquor store and thought what the heck, we are finding it is easy to ask where ever you go. Especially in pink. We got another 3 tshirts.

All in all from just the Womens Weekend we raised well over $600.00. Later we went to the bar for dinner. Fancy and I walked around with our BC Magnets and collected another $200.. Not one table turned us down, it was amazing!!

On our way home we stopped for the closing of the Frontiersman Pub in Coombs. Just before we left, we walked around and collected another $200.00 in a very short time. So it was a very eventful weekend of fundraising and fun.. $1,000.00 and lots of laugh