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2009-08-05 15:09:37
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Back from Italy, WIMA al Mare! We had a great week with 333 WIMA members in Lignano, 80km east from Venetia.
19 July
I enjoyed solo ride for three days before rally and visited Lecco, MotoGuzzi museum and Bologna, then headed toward Lignano. Highways in Italy (Autostrada) have low walls and picture-book scenery and sky goes on forever. When I got closer to the rally site, I found a member holding a sign “WIMA” to guide us. Buon giorno! After my arrival, members arrived one after another and they made their one-week homes (tents, of course!) and relaxing in a holiday atmosphere. This rally seems like to be developed with the theme of Mafia. Hmm…Interesting.
20 July
We thought we are just ride to the sea all together, but actually it was a parade! Everybody in town cheered for us by waving their hands. People at a long beach were all looking back to the road side instead of the sea! Opening party was held at night and 5 out of 9 Japanese members made La Famiglia Geisha (Maria, Gina, Sophia, Vanessa, Santa Lucia) and joined the game to be continued throughout the rally. Clans were dressed up appropriately and points were given for each famiglia. There occurred a surprise to Sophia! She suddenly disappeared from the stage and kidnapped! That’s way we were in 4 in the picture below. She was back safe later but it was really a funny happening!
21 July
Rode to a port to get a ferry to Venice! Venice was filled with tourists and we were one of them; we caught a gondola and just enjoyed sightseeing. We saw many WIMA members from the gondola and they amused by our shrewdness because we were on the gondola within 5 minutes after our arrival to Venice. Ha ha! On the return ferry, I (Gina) was called to taste white powder. Aughh!!! There were 3 kinds of powders in bags and I had to guess what they are. For me, it tasted like powder sugar, wash powder, and chalk! I missed the chance to know the answers and still don’t know what I tasted.
22 July
Pool-day! La Famiglia Geisha had to go through tough and fun trials; we tried to shoot targets with a water gun from back seat of a motorcycle, read passport from a guy lying bottom of a swimming pool, stop bombing game, being a sexy actress, and more! In the afternoon, some went out for touring and others relaxed at the swimming pool or enjoy drinking.
23 July
Rally in the mountain! Team Japan plus 1 German hit the road. We rode through some small towns and got to Slovenia! After we crossed border, atmosphere of towns and scenery have changed. The sky, mountains, rivers, and buildings were all so beautiful! European people know the way to enjoy in nature better than Japanese do and many brought their bathing suit to swim, or they swan even in naked. It’s only natural! I felt refreshed after a rest in cold river water. By the way, La Famiglia Geisha left a message for Orga team in a leather bag with a wine bottle in it. Did anyone find it?!
24 July
After touring, swimming, drinking or napping, in the evening, we had Prosecco-aperitif at the pool with surprise! We found a helicopter hovering overhead and we were just waving our hands. After few times of circling of a helicopter, all of sudden shower of roses came down from the sky! It was amazing view and wonderful aroma!! And the shower came down more than once! I suppose it will be first and last experience for me. I can have a lot and various excitements in WIMA rally! Finally, we had a farewell party in the evening. We thank Orga team for your time and efforts!
During the rally period, we enjoyed riding, funny activities, great meals and drinks and chatting every day and night. And to our pleasure, there were so many members interested in 2010 Japan Rally and most of them seriously planning their trip already! We are also interested in the rally to be held in Holland. We hope many of you can join Japan Rally and Holland Rally in 2010. See you in Japan first next year!
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2009-06-04 19:58:03
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I joined the 12th Love the Earth event held in Niigata prefecture to clean up the beach!
I know that riding motorcycle is obviously not environmentally-friendly but I like motorcycles and can’t help riding them.
Then…
Wouldn’t it better if I can make it up to the damaged environment? It’s maybe a feeling of compensation. I may not be able to offset the balance between harms and benefits but better than only harms:-)
In the beautiful morning after heavy rain at dawn, while we were setting up WIMA booth thinking of suntan that I may get later today, riders arrived one after another. They all don’t care about the rain and got here! How cool!
After registration, we start cleaning up the beach.
The beach was littered with garbage.
I myself picked up a lot of trash. Gotcha!
Participants enjoyed picking up trash like playing a game. The beach became so clean in 2 hours!
So many interesting (?!) waste we found. Watching the mountain of garbage made me sad.
After we cleaned up the beach, we enjoyed some events on stage. Of course, our PR of 2010 Rally was one of them! Many women were seemed to be interested in our rally.
What impressed me most was the smile of participants; solo riders, group riders, riders with his/her family, all of them took part in beach cleanup with a happy smile on their face. I felt good to see them.
I hope the mind of Love the Earth spread to many more people!
...Report by Luc...
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2009-05-08 21:00:29
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Surprise! We had a chance to do PR of WIMA 2010 Japan Rally at MotoGP!
This was realized again thanks to the kind support of CRET Co., Ltd. and we handed out our flyers in their booth.
Unfortunately, it was storm in the morning, but became clear in the afternoon. I felt visitors’ responses, both from men (!) and women, were quite good even though it was within limited time. Thank you all!
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2009-05-07 21:51:55
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We started counting down to the rally and volunteers stayed the 2010 rally area during the same period as the rally being scheduled.
<365 days to rally>
I rode from Osaka, more than 400 km west from the venue, and as I approached to Shizuoka prefecture, gorgeous Mt. Fuji came into my sight! It was an eye-grabbing view and I couldn’t help but screaming on my bike “SUGOI!! (Amazing!!) ” After I got the site we had briefing with local police and other people from supporting institutions.
Today’s Fuji
<364 days to rally>
My destination today was Atami and I bet participants will enjoy deep Japan on this course. In Atami you can enjoy nostalgic atmosphere of Japanese town and historical Japanese inn (now exhibited as historical building) named Kiunkaku where famous writers and business leaders stayed in the past including Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai. But most of all, people can have a chance to see a stage of Geisha girls! Would you like to know how it was? You should check it for yourself!
Kiunkaku&Geisha girls
I also tried one of a group touring course. A rebuilt village called Iyashino-sato. People were so relaxed there.
On the road&Iyashino-sato
<363 days to rally>
Bravo!!! It’s Yabusame festival. It’s just inexplicably exciting! Just take a look at pictures below and I hope to enjoy it with many riders from all over the world.
Classy woman on horseback
Today’s Fuji
<362 days to rally>
I visited a classic motorcycles’ museum “Mochiya”. They exhibit about 160 motorcycles. So cool… I love classic bikes!
Indian&BMW
Today’s Fuji
After that, I rode our quiz rally route. Many beautiful sights were included in the route.
Sengen Taisha shrine&Taisekiji temple
A good place for a rest
<361 days to rally>
Today’s purpose is to check our parade route. It was exciting just imagine we will have many women riders here one year later!
We’ll have a parade here!
<360 days to rally>
Finally we checked the WIMA village. Here’s a message from village staff (guys on the pickup truck in a picture below); “We are looking forward to see you next year!” They are so kind and funny. Please meet us and meet them in Japan in 2010!
Village staff&Today’s Fuji and cottage
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2009-05-06 11:24:55
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Our biannual meeting was held in Shizuoka prefecture for 2 days in April. It was good to meet new and old member again from various parts of Japan. The accommodation we stayed was a small facility ran by a town and we all had a little trouble finding the place. Much to the relief of a person who organize this meeting, however, member arrived one after another smiling and saying “It was hard to get here!” That’s WIMA!
WIMA Japan’s semiannual meeting is usually being held in west and east Japan, but both will be held in Shizuoka prefecture up until 2010 International Rally for preparation. Next meeting will be 3-4 October, 2009 in the same region.
See you then! MATANE!
