Today was brought to you by the letter “B” (25/365)

15

January 25, 2015 – Today was about boats and bikes. Two trade shows, one day, lots of distance to cover. A motorcycle show in Abbotsford and a Boat Show in two locations in Vancouver – at BC Place and at Granville Island.

I am starting to question why we still go to these two shows though. The longer we have the boat and the bikes, the less reason we have to attend since we need very little, and what we do need, isn’t usually found at the shows anyway. The boat needs new hydraulic steering and possibly a fuel pick-up. The bike only needs some windscreen bolts for the new screen in the garage and I have to get those online.

I was in the market for a new helmet, and that purchase did happen today, although the specific helmet graphic style isn’t yet available in Canada, so it’s paid for and I’ll wait impatiently until sometime in March for it to materialize. And the dirt bike we were interested has been discontinued for 2015 🙁

But did anyone else see the new Polaris Slingshot!? What the heck! What a crazy vehicle, but it sure looks like fun.

But something really cool happened at the show as we were heading out. We walked by a booth promoting a motorcycle magazine, got a little past it, and a gentle tap landed on each of our shoulders. We turned and a very tall woman stood before us with the biggest smile on her face. She used to manage a store over on 4th Avenue and had moved on a couple of years ago. We’d always loved going in to chat with her – Claire.

She looked down at us and said she had been hoping we might show up at the show and that she would run into us. She told us that that we had been a major inspiration in a new business that she is planning on launching this fall. Our confusion must have been apparent, because she quickly explained.

When we had first come in to the store she managed, I was looking for some lightweight and breathable clothing to wear under my riding gear. It turned out that she rode and we connected quickly. We had talked at length about things that would be useful for riders and she always took the ideas away with the intention of letting the company know. But then she moved on, though we did have a chance to say goodbye and wish her well as she moved back to Vancouver Island.

And then there she was today. She is planning on creating a line of clothing specific to riders needs and was thrilled to let us know that we’d been a major component of her inspiration, and that she wants us to beta test her first items this fall.

How cool is that?

Isn’t it amazing the impacts people can have on others without even realizing it? I’d thought about her from time to time, and to run into her again was so fabulous. I’m so happy for her and her new direction, and hope her brainchild is successful. She’s planning that a year from now she will have some space at the motorcycle show and will launch her product line there.

I guess we’ll be attending next year’s Motorcycle Show after all!

The Boat Show was a lot less expensive to attend, and we only ran into one person we knew, though that was lovely as we hadn’t seen him in quite some time. But what a gorgeous day for it – sunny and +14C, couldn’t have asked for a better day to be on the docks wandering around beautiful boats.

A night out at a comedy club with friends Friday, then a night out at the theatre Saturday, and then two trade shows today, reconnecting with someone from the past and hearing her exciting news.

Busy weekend (another “B” !)