Daughters of the Road x Wide Open Brew COLLABORATION!

“We are the wildflowers who grow roots from adversity, lifting ourselves from the cracks of the foundation around us. We extend ourselves to the life and light in all situations. We cultivate growth no matter the opposition, and build up strength in our sisters. We are the Daughters of the Road.”

The Daughters Of The Road and Wide Open Brew Coffee Co.. collaboration was born from a common desire to fuel our community. We want to share a cup of coffee, conversation, and the road with you.

Daughters of the Road and Wide Open Brew are inviting YOU for just that! In Sturgis, SD on August 7th, we will meet to share the new coffee, hear your stories, and take a guided ride by Lady Lassen and Brandi Moya through Vanocker Canyon that will finish at Big Mama’s in Nemo!

Pre-Register for the Launch and Ride on August 7th by purchasing the Daughters of the Road Bundle, available NOW!

CLICK HERE FOR PACKAGE!!!

*If you will not be present for the Sturgis ride, not to worry! We will begin to ship orders after the ride.

We can’t wait to continue the mission with you.

https://wideopenbrew.com

http://www.daughtersoftheroad.com/

Anna Kaia

Some people endure circumstances in their lives that grace them with a vast understanding of the world that surpasses the minutiae of the day-to-day. Anna Kaia, at the young age of 24, bursts at the seams with an insatiable thirst for cultivating a life fulfilled. Driven face to face with her own mortality, Anna blossomed to take on her next chapter of life as a rider and a burgeoning physical therapist.

With a humble and shy nature blanketing her personality, Anna exudes an ethereal spirit that makes one wonder about the gold that she infuses in her daily life. From climbing rocks to dancing with fire, or washing herself in the tides of the Gulf, she surrounds herself with the elements of the world. It is only natural that she craves to discover its treasures through the intimate lens that only two-wheels possesses.

The stars aligned when Anna’s father went against the pleas of his wife and purchased his first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson Wide Glide, two years ago. Her childlike wonder manifested alongside her father’s until she decided that it was time to take reins herself.

We all have circumstances in our lives that are meant to teach us a valuable lesson in whatever shape or form necessary. It is our reactions to the inevitable that have the potential to develop us into a more-aware and fruitful being. These fruits, even if born from adversity, can be tended to in order to grow and nurture societies.

I was at a beachside restaurant in my hometown chatting with Anna when I inevitably asked about her motorcycle beginnings. With a light and honest heart, she showed me a scar that scaled behind her ear. She described to me her ultimate circumstance that allowed her own fruits to grow.

Last year, a fresh resident to Atlanta, Anna had dreams of pursuing her new career of public relations and advertising. A disruption occurred in her daily life as she began to experience sudden bursts of pain throughout her head. Bouts of seizure-like symptoms began to take over, causing simple activities such as eating or talking to become nearly impossible.

She was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, better-known as the “suicide disease”. I dug deep into the research when I got back home. Unfortunately, the research is limited, as so few people suffer from this rare disease. Essentially, pain is rooted from the trigeminal nerve beginning behind the ear on either side of the face and spreads across the cheeks, jaw, lips, and nose. The pain inflicted can occur from just the slightest touch, making normal activities debilitating. The pain is cited by patients to be the worst pain one can experience, surpassing limb amputation and childbirth. Being a rare disease with a typical onset after age 50, the inexplicable nature of its manifestation within a vibrant 23 year-old girl was enough to cause for alarm.

The experimental surgery promised slim chances of success, and a probable outcome of paralysis, brain damage, or continuation of the same symptoms. Anna faced the daunting fact that her way of living was unbearable and proceeded with the surgery, even against her mother’s pleas to just take medicine for the pain and go about living life “normally”.

The very same day that she scheduled her brain surgery, she bought a vintage KZ550 and decided that would be her prize to keep her going through the tough road ahead. She spent her time in the hospital daydreaming about how she would rebuild it and modify it.

“I distinctly remember my nurses in the ICU catching me sneaking on my phone at 2 am trying to order motorcycle parts on eBay. The anticipation of getting to learn how to work on that bike and actually getting to ride it after my surgery was the main driving force that got me through the post-surgery agony.”

After she was released from the hospital, the first thing she did was visit her motorcycle.

“My mortality kind of smacked me in the face and I realized that if I really wanted to do something, I needed to go ahead and do it because my time might be limited,” she reflected. Three months after recovery, as soon as her staples had been removed from her head, she threw on her helmet and went on the first liberating ride of her life.

The shift in her paradigm of living allowed a liberation from social stigmas. It allowed her to shed everything that ever held her back and she is now working with a guidance and purpose each and every day. As I chatted with her over coffee a few months later, her bright and infectious energy still shines past those scars and stories.

A typical day in her life today includes going to school to become a Physical Therapist (inspired through her recovery process). She aims to energize and motivate people who have gone through similar traumas, and guide them to regain their functions to pursue everything of which they’ve dreamed. Outside of school, she is adamant about learning the intricacies of her motorcycle to keep it on the road and to boost her self-sufficiency.

When asked to leave a parting piece of advice with DOTR, she responded with this, “My advice is to never be afraid to do something simply because of fear of the unknown or because of social stigmas like ‘girls aren't tough enough to handle a motorcycle.’ If you've always wanted to learn how to ride or to build a bike, then don't waste any more time and just go do it, because you never know when your circumstances might change or how long you'll have to pursue your dreams. It sounds cliche but life changes in an instant, so you gotta take advantage of the present moment.”

What I feel all of us can learn from Anna’s story is how to prioritize what little time we are given on this earth. We owe it to ourselves to seize each opportunity to pursue what best and most vividly colors our personal happiness.

We would like to thank Anna for spending some time to share her story with us all and for having the courage to persevere through everything thrown at her.

To follow her journey, follow @anna_kaia on Instagram!

 

Marianna Taylor of Motorcycle Mechanics Institute

Marianne taylor in north carolina with her harley davidson motorcycle

Marianne taylor in north carolina with her harley davidson motorcycle

In a wave of blue and black shirts that flooded the hallways of my school, I was among the less than 10% of women who had chosen to make a career in the motorcycle industry by attending a mechanics institute. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 women made up 26.7% of jobs in the motor vehicles and equipment manufacturing industry. A mere 7.3% of these women worked in automotive repair and maintenance.

When I walked into one of my last courses of the Harley-Davidson technician program I was met with an outstanding and inspirational representation of the latter statistic.

Today, yielding a special place in Daughters of the Road’s span of influences, we are sharing the story of Marianne Taylor: the one and only female instructor currently teaching at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Florida.

Marianne Taylor has worked for several dealerships as a technician (mechanic) over the years. She began turning wrenches at a Saturn dealership, then devoted 14 years working with Harley-Davidson Motor Company. She has taught motorcycle safety courses for 17 consecutive years, automotive courses in vocational schools, and today she teaches motorcycle mechanics courses at a leading technical school.

As a young girl, Marianne’s internal compass aligned with the world of gears, grease, and the intricacies of the machine. Initially, choosing a career as an automotive technician resonated with her because it allowed her to gain a skill that she knew she could take anywhere in the world, find work, and make a living wage. What transpired was a transformative journey, one that allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the intricacies of both man and machine.

Because of the existence of many barriers to entry as a woman in the automobile industry decades ago, the rejections seemed to outweigh the opportunities. In 1993, she was given a chance by a service manager at a Saturn dealership to prove herself. Among the roughly 200 other technicians who serviced every vehicle from Saturn, GM, Pontiac, and Cadillac, she was the only female to occupy a lift in the facility. After about a year, her co-workers began to accept her. “It was challenging to say the least,” she recounted.

With a strong fortitude and an encouraging demeanor when I attended her class, I couldn’t help but imagine what sequence of events molded such a figure, and what interested me moreso were the potential lessons that could be imparted upon me. I was moved by the advice that she so graciously shared with us, and committed to memory the wise words that have already aided me.

A guiding principle that kept her head held high through challenges is a personal commitment that is burned into the fiber of her being: the firm belief that the first step to doing anything takes the strong investment in knowing that you are indeed capable.


“When I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle, there wasn’t anyone in my life that supported my decision. Not family, not friends. I learned about the motorcycle safety course, enrolled in it, got my license and had my first bike before I shared with my father what I had done. When I told him, I saw him cry for the second time in my life. It was decision that I made on my own, for myself. It turned into a hobby first, then a passion and a profession,” Marianne stated in her interview.

The newfound and intentional discovery of motorcycles marked a significant shift in her life. She one day faced a grave ride to work, during which one of her customers cut her off in a car and nearly caused a potentially fatal accident. From then on, Marianne vowed to serve motorcyclists both in keeping their bikes on the road and keeping their own lives on the road.

The years she’s spent serving as a motorcycle safety instructor has undoubtedly changed the lives of countless riders.

We asked if there was anything that she noticed different pertaining to women in their participation of the riders’ course, and she responded with a poignant memory.

When instructing a rider’s course one morning, she noticed a woman struggling in one of the first exercises. The woman stated aloud, “I just can’t do this!” Marianne in her empowering and sincere manner responded, “Well, if you truly believe that, then you probably can’t. But you are a strong, bright, and capable woman. I believe you CAN. Try to take that voice in your head and turn it around. Use it to focus on what you need to do to succeed, rather than beating yourself up.”

Resonating with this story, I reflected upon my own journey through both learning how to ride and to wrench on motorcycles. I realized that throughout each, my biggest enemy was my own voice inside of my head. Learning to transform that energy into constructive problem-solving and committed focus shifted the game that I play with myself.

A common tendency for women is to expect immediate perfection. Many of us have been bred through many microaggressions to believe that if we are not producing excellent results to begin with that there is something wrong with us, or that the activity, whatever it may be, isn’t for us. However, the true payoff of learning and thriving lies both within its practice and inevitable failures.

“Be patient with the process” is a statement Marianne reiterated throughout the interview.

Patience fosters the new generations of motorcycle mechanics that Marianne has a hand in developing every three week rotation. She frequently teaches the classes that require complete disassembly and reassembly of various Harley engines and transmissions, and those that delve into the evolving technologies of the motor company.

Since she transitioned into teaching motorcycle mechanics, I am positive that many students will testify to the aptitude she has for teaching, and the genuine quest she has for her students to succeed: no question will go without a thoughtful answer, and no judgement ever will be passed in her presence.

I am comforted in the fact that out of the 7.3% of women devoting their lives to the industry, many motorcycle mechanics and riders to come will have the opportunity to learn under Ms. Marianne Taylor’s influence and together we will increase the statistic.

Furthermore, we hope that her message can be spread even further through other DOTRs that may find interest in motorcycles, whether it be learning to ride or to wrench. With an honest and unapologetic integrity throughout her work, she stands as a testament to the fundamental values upon which DOTR was founded.