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The back roads of East Tennessee welcomed a special group of riders over the Labor Day weekend. About 75 members of Motor Maids Inc. spent the holiday in Townsend, riding through the countryside and enjoying the view from a bike.

The women come from all walks of life, all ages from mid-20s to mid-70s. For them, the bike is an equalizer, binding them together in a sisterhood of helmets and winding roads. They came from Ottawa, Canada, and from several of the United States, including Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Ohio, and of course, Tennessee. The women were based at Valley View Lodge, Townsend.

Skeets Roche, who lives in Townsend with her husband in the summers and in St. Augustine, Fla., in the winters, has been a member of the Motor Maids on and off since 1976. She currently rides a Harley-Davidson 2006 Softail Deluxe or a 2005 Sportster, but she's ridden almost any bike on the market in her 35 years on the road.

"Most of the time, we haven't a clue as to what someone does for a living because it isn't important," said Roche, 73. "The important thing is that we have a common interest and we enjoy it, we enjoy each other's company."

Motor Maids has about 1,200 members, living all over the United States and Canada. The women don't get to see each other very often, unless they happen to live in the same district, but they do attend an annual convention where they can catch up.

The Labor Day event was not an official national event sponsored by Motor Maids. Roche said several members simply wanted to get together and ride.

Roche joined Motor Maids first in 1976 in Florida but dropped out when the family moved to another state that didn't have an active membership. She rejoined in 1995 and has served as a national officer twice. Her daughter also has served two terms in national office.

Having a good time

Roche and several others who are familiar with East Tennessee's curvy roads led groups of no more than five on a variety of routes. The small groups were for riders' safety as well as to avoid clogging up holiday traffic.

The Dragon, the 11.1-mile section of U.S. 129 that runs from Tabcat Creek Bridge in Blount County to Deals's Gap just over the North Carolina line, was one of the routes. There are 318 curves in this short section through the mountains, rated by top motorcycle magazines as the No. 1 motorcycle ride in the United States.

"That seems to be the drawing card for this area," Roche said. Riders traveled from the Dragon to the Cherohala Skyway, to Tellico Plains then returned to Townsend. "That's about a 180-mile ride," Roche said. "We don't get out on the highways, we take the scenic roads." Riders less experienced on mountain roads had less strenuous rides, such as the loop from Foothills Parkway, down Four Mile Road and along Walland back roads. Along the way, the bikers stopped for lunch and to fill up with gas. "That makes a nice, easy ride, fun so they can enjoy the scenery."

Chartered in 1940

Motor Maids Inc. was started by Linda Dugeau in the 1930s.

"She rode motorcycles, and she thought there were bound to be other women who rode," Roche said. "So she met up with a lady named Dot Robinson, and they toured the country. Of course, back in the '30s, they didn't have highways, they had dirt roads. They went out to find women who rode motorcycles. They met up with 51 ladies, and they formed the Motor Maids, chartered in 1940. So we have been in active existence since 1940.

"Dot Robinson was our first president, she was president for 25 years and then voluntarily stepped down," Roche said. "She became known as the 'First Lady of Motorcycling.' She always wore pink -- she was a redhead -- she wore pink, and she always rode a pink Harley."

There are only two requirements to join Motor Maids.

"You're a woman, and you ride your own bike," Roche said. "Other than that, we don't care what kind of bike you ride, what you do for a living. We don't care if you're married, single, a grandmother or a teenager. You're all welcome because this is to promote motorcycling and safety."

Safety is key

Roche shared several safety tips.

"Even in states that do not have a helmet law, if we are riding in that state, we wear helmets," she said. In addition, she said to be aware of your surroundings, make yourself visible to the cars on the road, obey traffic laws and dress appropriately. "We promote all that," she said. "And then enjoy it and have a good time."

Roche said she most enjoys the friendships she has made through Motor Maids and the advantage of traveling throughout the country. "We have an annual convention every year. We go by time zones. One year it will be in the Eastern time zone, the next year in the Western, and the third year is our election of officers so it's always in a central location. That way, we see the entire United States."