During the early 1980's, Mike and Jean moved to the Roanoke Valley, VA area. They worked and raised kids and generally didn't ride motorcycles again for almost twenty years. However, their love of Motorcycles just wouldn't seem to die. In about 2001, Jean's brother, who had bought several motorcycles including a 750cc and a Gold Wing, invited them for a long weekend of riding. That pretty much "did it" for both of them. They just HAD to have another bike! Jean "hated" the 750's seat and said she would NOT ride again until she could ride in the "Queen Seat" of a Gold Wing which BOTH of them had secretly always wanted since those "early days" in 1975 when the Gold Wing first came out! So….the "search" began!

Finally, we found a "gently used" 1989 1500cc Gold Wing owned by a GWRRA member in Salem, VA. After persuading him to part with it, he invited us to a GWRRA Chapter meeting in Salem, VA. In June of 2003, we joined the GWRRA with Chapter VA-X as our "Home Chapter"! It was a small, "intimate" group of "riding friends" that we gradually grew to like more and more. In October of 2003, at Rally in the Valley closing ceremonies, with the current Chapter Director due to step down as of December, we were "persuaded" to become Chapter Directors of VA-X for 2004. "It's easy," they all said, "You don't have to really do anything!" Hummphhh! Indeed!

During our tenure as Chapter Directors, from 2004 thru 2006, Chapter VA-X has "more than" doubled in size. It has become an "active" riding Chapter usually with 12 to 15 or more bikes and trikes riding on Chapter organized rides. Jean and I are very proud of our Chapter as they exemplify the spirit of the GWRRA motto, "Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge!" Thanks to an active and involved Chapter Educator, nearly every rider and co-rider "participates" in the Rider Education Levels program! We "believe" in and fully support the Rider Education program of the GWRRA and we "fully maintain" our current level three status as both a rider and co-rider!