Monday, March 11, 2013

Follow our Southern Tier Cross-Country Tour

It was a stormy start to this year's Southern Tier tour, but that didn't stop our 30 women from dipping their tires into the Pacific Ocean at San Diego last Friday. You can follow their 3000-mile trek across the United States to the Atlantic Ocean by reading some of their blogs listed below.
 
Dolly Craft
Gail Devitt
Nancy Innes
Barbara Kautz
Evelyn Kaye
Julie Martin
Judith Rozelle
Pat Rush
Carla Souza
May Toms 
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 10:45 AM 4 comments

Friday, February 15, 2013

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.
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 4:05 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, February 06, 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!
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 5:14 PM 12 comments

Friday, November 09, 2012

Our 2013 Guide Schedule is Set

If you're wondering if your favorite WomanTours leader is guiding your choice tour, look below. If she isn't, don't worry. We're sure you'll love who is on the schedule. Go ahead and sign up for the tour. You may just end up with a new favorite!

Carol Wilder
Southern Tier Cross-Country - March/April







Cy Pugh
Hawaii: Big Island for Beginners - January
Hawaii: Circling the Big Island - January
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks - June
Around Lake Superior - July
Finger Lakes Wine Country - August
Niagara Falls Pathways - August


Denise Purdue


Jen Thompson




 
Kelly Attridge

Kimberly Masters



Laurie Colllins

Linda Baldwin








Linda Gryczan

Sun Valley - July
Pennsylvania Dutch Country - October
Maryland Eastern Shore - October
Arizona Thanksgiving Holiday - November



Lynne Brach


Michigan Grand Traverse - August





Michelle Green

Bhutan -October



Michelle Slusher
Florida Gulf Coast - February
Louisiana Biking the Bayou - March
Bhutan - April
Maryland Eastern Shore - October
Arizona Thanksgiving Holiday - November


Patty Jackson
Florida Gulf Coast - February


Sid Moffat
Hawaii: Big Island for Beginners - January
Hawaii: Circling the Big Island - January
Texas Hill Country - April
Cape May - September

Posted by Jackie Marchand at 1:12 PM 2 comments

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Name our Cover Girl for a Free Decal

Do you know the name of our cover girl this year? Our new 2013 tour catalog is at the printer and should arrive in your mailbox soon. Send us an email with the correct name of our cover girl by November 10, and we'll send you a free WomanTours decal.


If you can't wait for our catalog to arrive at your doorstep, email us and we'll send you a digital pdf that you can open immediately on your desktop or iPad. (Then you'll surely figure out who's on this year's cover.)

Better yet - click here to see our full schedule online!
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 10:50 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Ode to Patty Jackson

We are womantours
Feisty strong and true
We bike the world in unison
With our trusty crew

Up hills and down hills
Nothing phases us
No one says 'I've had enough
I'd rather get the bus'

Hillside, forest, coast and town
We are of some renown
'It's womantours!' People cheer
'Declare a holiday. Have a beer.
Have you ever seen the like
All those women on their bikes'.

Now listen close while I do tell
Of how we all do so well
Pedaling hard down the land
From Canadian border to Ventura sand

We do not have to search for grub
Or make a dash to the pub
For Patty's here. Hurray! Hurray!
Mixing and stirring all the way
Making us delicious meals
So we can triumph on those wheels.

What a chef! What a cook!
Dutch oven champion in everyone's book
Pasta, salad, meat and rice.
Brownies too! Oh how nice!

Coleslaw, cobbler, crisps and cream
Patty the woman tours' culinary dream.
How we love to taste your wares
Which banish all those weary cares.

So Patty. Fare the well. Adieu.
We will miss you. Boo hoo! Boo hoo!
Thank you for your talents rare
Your smiling face and all your care.
We'll think of you along the way.
All our love is what we say.

by Sheila Ruckley
Angus, UK
Pacific Coast Tour 2012
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 7:54 AM 1 comments

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Pacific Coast Tour Blogs


Our epic Pacific Coast tour starts next Tuesday. If you'd like to follow the 33 women cycle more than 1500 miles down the Pacific Coast from Bellingham, WA to Ventura, CA, take a look at these blogs:


Angela Gonzales
Kathy Kirby 
Carol Moehrke
Rita Rowe
Liz Siaba 


In addition, Sheila Ruckley will be using the tour to fund raise in support of the relief and treatment of dementia.

Wish all of them good luck as they head south next week!
Posted by Jackie Marchand at 7:23 PM 1 comments
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