Win a Trip to the Outer Banks for Mother's Day!

WomanTours has an angel who has again made a substantial donation to help us keep "doing what we do."

In celebration of Mother's Day this spring, we have decided to use a portion of this money to offer a trip for two on our Outer Banks of North Carolina Tour May 4 - 10, 2013 for only $100 per person.

We're looking for one Mother/Daughter pair ... or perhaps someone who's been like a mother or daughter to you.  We all know how rewarding our tours can be and with that in mind, we are looking for women who may have suffered a recent loss, or overcome an obstacle in their lives, or who are in desperate need of a respite, and who would not otherwise be able to afford one of our tours.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, email or mail us why you feel you'd qualify in 200 words or less. The deadline for receiving all applicants is March 8, 2013 -  International Women's Day. We'll announce the lucky pair by March 22, 2013.

WomanTours is Moving on Up!

Since I bought WomanTours nearly 9 years ago, we've been running the main office out of my little house. We started upstairs in a spare bedroom and then moved downstairs and took over my living room. Then we started storing rental bicycles at my sister Jen's house, and parking one of the company's vans and trailers in a storage area across town.

During the height of the season, we found ourselves wasting a lot of time and causing a lot of aggravation as we drove across town from my house to Jen's house to the storage area. Meanwhile we were all working out of one room which made it hard when more than one of us was on the phone at the same time.

We proudly hosted many a tour for brunch out of my house as it rolled through town. We heard more than a few surprised comments as, "You mean that this is where it all gets done - in this one room?!"

All that ended this week. We found some beautiful office space with 4 separate rooms in a real office building. It has plenty of storage for all of our rental bikes, a big parking lot in the back for all of our vehicles, and it costs no more than what we were already paying in rent. Best of all, I get my house back!

However, it took a lot to get here! We made the decision to move in November. Kelly and Michelle started looking for space in December. Then we signed the lease in January.

Two weeks later, Kelly found a prototype of a bike rack online and Jen's husband Tom went to work designing and building 3 racks for the 40 rental bicycles on the east coast. (We keep another 40 out west.)

 

We spent all last week packing up my living room. Kelly said it best, "Where did all this s*&t come from?" The move was set for Friday, February 1, 2013.

In typical Rochester winter fashion, moving day was met with a snowstorm. It took us 90 minutes to make the 20 minute drive from Jen's house to the new office. Luckily we only had to do that once.

Two of Kelly's brothers graciously helped us move. With three vehicles, we made 4 trips back and forth from my house to the office. Then we had to decide where to put it all. By the end of Friday, we were too exhausted to think.

But on Monday, we were ready to work!

We'll keep our same mailing address for now, and our 800 number stays the same. Unfortunately, our local and fax numbers have changed to 585-424-2124 and 585-424-5544 respectively. Call or fax us anytime. And if you'd like to stop by, we're at 3495 Winton Place, Bldg E, Suite 245. But you may want to wait until spring!