It’s time for a public service announcement.  I just filled up my Harley Cross Bones’ gas tank (yet again) yesterday.  can you believe $10 bucks at $4.25 per gallon for premium?  I hate to date myself but I can remember when gas was 50 cents per gallon — and really that wasn’t THAT long ago.  Let’s all ride our scoots to work on Wednesday for Ride to Work Day.  Who’s going to join me?

On July 16th, riders from all over the world are encouraged to commute together for Ride to Work Day. The event is intended to showcase the number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians, to demonstrate that motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life, that motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities and that motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation. Simply put motorcycling is a social good. With the number of riders on the rise it is anticipated that this year will be the largest ever participation in Ride To Work Day. We all know that motorcycles and scooters generally consume fewer resources per mile than automobiles, so it makes sense that more commuters are turning to this form of transportation to save money. New owners are finding riding to be an economical, efficient and enjoyable way to get to work and around town. According to the United States Census Bureau and the Department of Transportation, over eighty million cars and light trucks are used for daily commuting on American roads, and about 200,000 motorcycles and scooters are a regular part of this mix. On Ride To Work Day, the practical side of riding will become more visible as a larger number of America’s 8,000,000 cycles are ridden to work. The program is international. Affiliated countries include Germany, Philippines, England, Germany, France, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others. Check out the web site at RideToWork.org for more information and new interactive forums on topics ranging from lane sharing to insurance and health care issues.    

Hello all — My publisher Mike Clapp and I just finished up our third issue together since I’ve been the editor.  I really think you’ll like this one, so check out the online version at MotorcycleRiderNews.com

What I’m excited about here in Denver is the upcoming charity event that I sponsor for Hope House of Colorado, a teenage parenting home in Arvada (where I live).  This biker event is Saturday, July 19, and the details are below.  I’d love for all of you to joing me as bikers unite for a good cause — last year we raised nearly $4,000!!!

 Here’s all the details:

4th Annual IN THE ZONE SPORTS BAR BIKER Poker Run
Saturday, July 19, 2008
TO Benefit Hope House of Colorado
$15 per person/$25 per couple 100% DONATED

CHECK IN 9:00 AM @ In The Zone Sports Bar & Grill, 15600 W. 44^th Avenue, Golden, CO 80401  (303) 279-3888

1st stop:                Rocky Flats Lounge                           Highway 93 
2nd stop:               Outlaw Saloon                                   Lyons, CO 
3rd stop:               Jerry D’s                                            Dacono, CO 
4th stop:                Jake’s Roadhouse                              Arvada, CO 
RETURN to In The Zone approximately 4:00-5:00 pm
LIVE MUSIC: Brethren Fast  

BEST POKER HAND wins

Silent Auction, Great Raffle Prizes and 50/50 Cash Raffle

Swap Meet 2 pm - ??  BOOTHS STILL AVAILABLE!!!

 For more information on the Run, the Swap Meet, or to make a donation,

 contact Diana Rowe at In The Zone Sports Bar, 303-279-3888

or email me at diana@dianarowe.com

that’s all for now — I promise to get back to the Dominican Republic post — really!

P.S. slow Internet connection here in DR — I’ll post and update when I get home.

The Caribbean caresses the white sand beaches, friendly and smiling people greet me, and time just stops here in Punta Cana. Hola, I’ve been in the Dominican Republic now since Thursday. It is my first trip here.

Barcelo Punta Cana is my choice of accommodations, an upscale all-inclusive on the Caribbean, just 30 minutes from the airport, 795 guest rooms, 7 bars (including one swim-up bar in pool), swimming pools. The hotel is a series of buildings arranged in a horseshoe facing the ocean. The usual list of activities are at the pool — water aerobics, water volleyball, water polo, drinking — anything to escape the heat of JUNE. This property event has a rock climbing wall and circus trapeze– both offering lessons.

Although it does remind me of Mexico, the main difference is the increased international mix of visitors: Europe (lots of UK and Russia), Latin America, Mexico, Canada, and of course United States. Lots of accentsand languages.

 What a tough flight here from Denver though !  I just can’t do red eyes like I used to – departing  Thursday DIA at 1 am, 4 hour layover in Atlanta, and then the blast of heat and humidity once we landed. The trip is definitely worth it, but it would’ve been nice o get here in 4 hours rather than an all day misadventure (and Atlanta doesn’t start serving alcohol until 9 am. Normally not an issue but when you’re traveling, really what else is there to do but have a red beer or bloody Mary to relax after being crammed into a plane?)

Howdy all — Just checking in on this cloudy Memorial Day in Denver. I scooted around Denver Saturday and Sunday, when it wasn’t so cloudy, discovering and re-discovering a couple of great patios. As the new editor of Denver’s print monthly mag: Motorcycle Rider News, I blogged about those discoveries there, so check out my blog here at MRN.com and here at my other blog.

Still have lots more to tell you about Scotland, but a fun one to talk about is — Traveling Jordan. Anyone that has kids may have heard about the traveling Flat Stanley book. If not, here’s a quick blurb: “In the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, Stanley is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. Since he is now flat, he can visit his friends by traveling in an envelope.”

Well, my best friend from my high school called me to ask if her son could send me his own version of Traveling Stanley to take on my trip to Scotland & England. Of course, I said yes! Afte returning from Scotland, we ended the trip with Traveling Jordan getting a view of a Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field.  What a fun school project — in fact, I think I had just as much fun!

 Made me wish my kids were still younger.  Oh wait, I have grandkids, so no need to relieve that pain….

Have a great weekend!

Diana

The flight is always the worst part of the journey, even more so when you’re flying across the pond to Scotland.  But I’m here, and I arrived to an overcast (typical) day in Edinburgh after an overnight flight through Newark then to Edinburgh. 

It’s been a whirlwind sort of trip, always heading to the next place with barely enough time to explore.  Sunday (April 27) we began our journey with tea, coffee, mimosas and pastries at Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral.  We were greeted by staff dressed in kilts — what a way to start the journey into Scotland. Checked in to this striking historic hotel, took a quick walkabout in downtown Edinburgh, near CityCentre.  Lunch at The Dome, drinks on board the Royal Yacht Brittannia. 

I knew I’d come home when our tour guide for the royal yacht, really more like a cruise ship, was named Viv Rowe, a grizzled little man retired from the Royal Navy, with a welcoming smile and the gift of gab — ah yes, I thought he must be a relative.

Dinner back at The Balmoral.   A “piper” serenaded us and played a wee bit of pipes, culminating in the haggis and hummus ceremony. While the vision of sheep’s intestines and other innards is a bit off-putting, I did give it a sample.  It tastes rather rich and spicy, and I much preferred the mashed potato part of the haggis “cake.” The traditional Scotch whisky was the perfect compliment, mostly to make you forget about what you were really eating.

I finally stumbled my way back to my room, partly due to not having slept for a day, and then perhaps a wee bit of the blame might be the Scotch whisky and wine…

 More soon!

Diana

Hello all — Whew! What a whirlwind sort of couple of weeks. I still have so much more to write about, but so little time.  I am back in Denver, where just two days ago it was 80+ degrees, and I scooted around on my Harley-Davidson Cross Bones enjoying the sun. Last night it started snowing, and this morning the ground is covered with snow — although not as much as was predicted.

 Arizona Bike Week — in short, I was a bit disappointed. It’s not Sturgis, not that I expected that, but the event’s location was really a fairgrounds-ish sort of spot, West World of Arizona, on the outskirts of Scottsdale off of the 101.  I love Sturgis and other rallies that incorporate the town into the event — without having to hop on your scoot each time to ride to the next place. 

Arizona Bike Week was so not that type of rally.  Don’t get me wrong — tons of riding to do here — Tons of bars and parties to visit (when you ride there): Buddy Stubbs H-D, Billet Bar, Dirty Dogg Saloon, The Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek, etc.   But traffic in Scottsdale is CRAZY, and few drivers look for motorcyclists (just my opinion). That meant in-town driving wasn’t very relaxing at all. 

 But once you get out of the Phoenix metro ara – WOW!  The scenery is an amazing contrast of desert, mountains, open highway — it’s beautiful!  I rolled just over 1K miles on my new H-D Cross Bones scooting around awe-inspiring scenery like Salt River Canyon, Galloping Goose, Florence, Payson, etc.

Would I go again?  Mmm, definitely the riding in Arizona is AWESOME, especially in April when snow can hit Denver on any given day.  Would I go specifically during bike week? Probably not — but don’t take my word for it.  Give AZ Bike Week a try yourself next year.

Wheels up, Diana

It’s not that I’ve NOT been traveling; it’s that I’ve been at work on multiple deadlines writing articles. Now I’m back and traveling in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. We trailered our motorcycles the 15 hours, 1250 miles or so here, so I could show off my new ride, my Harley Cross Bones during Arizona Bike Week.

 I just spent two days enjoying the iconic, boutique hotel The Canyon Suites at the Phoenician. Talk about being pampered!! 

A part of the bigger resort, The Phoenician, this intimate boutique hotel is also nestled against the Camelback Mountain with luxuriously appointed suites.  It features 20 guest rooms, 38 luxury suites and two Presidential suites, along with its own secluded “edgeless” pool and cabanas. You can walk to the spa and 27-holes of golf (or take a shuttle), but both are on property.

Plenty of restaurants, total of 8 including The Terrace, contemporary American steakfood and seafood and Windows on the Green, upscale dining with a Southwestern flair and the best margarita I’ve had in a long time!

For a couple wanting some “me” time, check out Dinner at Tee Box Eight, a private gourment dinner for two served under the stars at the highest point of the resort’s golf course or in the romantic seclusion of a Garden Retreat. 

The Canyon Suites are not only spacious, but cater to your every need. Services included with our room:

• Personal Canyon Ambassador with pre-arrival contact.
• Sterling silver coffee/tea delivery each morning to your room!!  All you do is pre-arrange a time and voila! a staffer delivers cute sterling silver coffee urns and newspaper(s) of your choice.
• Afternoon “wine tasting” facilitated by master sommelier Monday through Friday (I can’t believe I missed THIS!!).
• Daily personalized turndown service with chilled water delivery and therapuetic bath, upon request.
• Executive Chef’s seasonal welcome amenity (ours — an assortment of nuts and fruit).
• Complimentary valet parking.
• Complimentary health club access (FABULOUS facility!!).
• Canyon Pool right off the lobby, exclusive to this hotel.
• Twice daily maid service

The experience was over-the-top, and the staff were friendly and genuinely seemed to enjoy their job. I’d visit again, and I’ll try to update more highlights with pics, like the golf, spa and culinary experiences.

 in the meantime, we’re ready to jump on our scoots and get on down to the Arizona Bike Week festivities and put miles on the bikes.

Until next time, Diana

SHOES: Time to break out the golf shoes. 

Hello all, I’ve been on the road since yesterday (Saturday). I’m in Charleston, SC on Kiawah Island doing the golf thing The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Selected as the second-best golf resort in the U.S. in Travel + Leisure Golf’s “World’s Best Golf Resorts” reader survey, the resort offers five world-class courses for guests: Ocean Course by Pete Dye, Turtle Point by Jack Nicklaus, Osprey Point by Tom Fazio, Cougar Point by Gary Player, and Oak Point by Clyde Johnston.

Played golf today at Oak Point, tomorrow, we play the legendary Ocean Course.  We brought a super-size ziplock bag filled with 45 we-don’t-mind-if-we-lose-’em golf balls. We’re down to 36 after 18-holes at Oak Point (17 holes of water, 1 unique hole only because it doesn’t have water hazards!). 

 I am returning to Denver on Tuesday, and hoping for great weather to get back on my new Harley Cross Bones. ;)  Irony is when we departed on Saturday early morning, our flight was delayed because of SNOW in Atlanta. No, that is not a typo! A few flurries shut down the Atlanta airport.  Go figure ‘cuz in Denver it was almost nice enough to ride the Harley.

More when I get back, Diana

I’m sort of traveling this week, but staying close to home — downtown Denver for the upcoming 2008 Left Coast Crime Conference, an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans.  Some of you know (others might not) that I also write fiction — short stories published, novel-length completed waiting for a publisher (yada, yada, y’all know the story).  You can scout around my web site to see excerpts of my fiction writing, by the way. 

 For the LCC event, I volunteered to coordinate some of the pre-planning of the event at the Adams Mark/now Sheraton.  There was a fabulous write-up in Saturday’s Rocky Mountain News about the LCC event, and there was also an interview with Stephen White, author who is attending the event. Unfortunately I’m on deadline (as always), so will only be able to sporatically attend the event — but wow, does it look like a great line-up of published authors!!

I’m definitely a fan of mystery and romance, combining the two genres even more better. In fact, I used to devour books, reading at last one a day, before my own writing took off (if that’s what you call it…) 

One of my favorite thriller writers is Harlen Coben, and another is Janet Evanovich. I would hate to forget to mention my new best friend, CJ Lyons, and her new medical suspense, Lifelines! 

For local writers, I always look forward to reading the vampire detective series featuring Felix by Mario Acevedo. Mario just happens to be a great friend and funny guy in his own right! How can you not laugh out loud at titles like: The Undead Kuma Sutra, X-Rated Bloodsuckers & The Nymphos of Rocky Flats?  And let’s not forget my dear friend,  Jeanne Stein, a real sweetheart with a quietly wicked sense of humor and a real knack for creating sexy vampires that make you want to let them take a bit outta ya (No offense to Mario’s Felix character!).  Oh yeah, check out their ‘biting’ blog. You’ll laugh out loud!

Hopefully I’ll run into some of you down at the LCC convention — if not in the panels, perhaps at the bar?

Until next time, Diana

belatedly, here I am posting my visit to Foxwoods Resort Casino from February 23 - 25. Weather storms from Friday hinted at a crazy flight schedule Saturday morning, but the East coast straightened out all the delays (at least for me) by the time I left the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure for Connecticut.

 Here’s an excerpt from TravelinginHeels Blog, click on this link to read more about the Foxwoods Resort:

My first impression — HUGE! I mean super-sized big! About two years ago, I’d visited the nearby Mohegan Sun, an intimate tribal casino (that is also undergoing renovation and additions), but the Foxwoods is an impressive, huge complex, especially with its soon-to-debut addition: MGM Grand at Foxwoods.

I had no idea that Foxwoods is the largest casino in the world — with 340,000 square feet of gaming space in a complex that covers 4.7 million square feet. More than 40,000 guests visit Foxwoods each day, and since I visited on a weekend, I can assure you it was packed! Lots of locals from the surrounding eastern states. It has a great location, near Mystic in the rolling hills of southeastern Connecticut town of Mashantucket (less than 2 hours from Boston).

<SNIP More details on the Foxwoods accommodations and amenities)

And then the new development MGM Grand at Foxwoods, debuting in May:

• $700 million development project, scheduled to open mid-May.
  Adding nearly 2 million square feet of overall space, featuring significantly increased hotel, entertainment, restaurants and gaming venues as well as enhanced corporate retreat, meeting and convention resources.
• From my hard hat tour, I gathered that this is going to be a “hip” new place, appealing to a younger, sophisticated audience.

How do they propose to create this setting?

• Initimate weekend entertainment acts to rival Vegas the 4,000-seat Performing Arts Theater.
• Celebrity Chefs and Fine Dining — Alta Strada with acclaimed chef Michael Schlow, blending Italian flair with modern elegance and Tom Colicchio’s Crafsteak featuring extensive array of steak (YUM!) and seafood (double YUM!) with seasonal and local ingredients.
• I recall a reference to a Martini/vodka bar and perhaps a wine bar, plus a unique club atmosphere to bring in the night life.
• And Spa — 21,000 square foot luxury spa referencing “nature”
• Golf at Lake of Isles, same as Foxwoods

WOWZA! For those that are waiting a BIG experience, this is the place. Highlights of my visit to Foxwoods (besides the hard hat tour of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods – see note above):

On-site Saturday Dinner at Paragon (AAA Four-Diamond) with French and Asian influences — lobster bisque, oysters on half shell (FRESH!), excellent cut of filet and naughty chocolate dessert. Sunday evening dinner at the exclusive Southern Italian cuisine at Al Dente — lobster ravioli to die for!

After dinner drinks at Hard Rock Cafe, where it was jamming on a Saturday night, wall-to-wall people. Great fun! (The Club, their destination nightclub, was closed for renovations.)

Exploring the Foxwoods took hours, lots of shops, boutiques, and restaurants from California Pizza Kitchen to Panera Bread. My favorite “bar” stop was the Atrium near the Hard Rock Cafe across from the buffet, and a perfect place to people watch.

And yes, I did try my luck at the casino. The blackjack video game rocked! I played six hands at once at 25 cents a hand, and came out $20 ahead. (Of course, the next day I gave it back.) Good news is that even though I left my new Harley Cross Bones at home, the casino by the Atrium bar had a Harley on display to tease me about my missing the beautiful riding weather in Denver.

Until the next trip Diana