Met several US and Canadian friends through the Forum and even got to ride with some of them, both stateside and in Europe.
As a rule, if I know I'm traveling to a place where one or more board members live, I PM them in advance to see if we can meet and kill a few beers.
And I'm pleased to say it worked in reverse, too, with Forum friends visiting Italy. Always got to meet great people this way.
There's been just one notable disappointment with a non-US member (who'll forever remain unnamed) who seemed to get all hot and bothered that
I'd want to drink some warm beer with him in his hometown :****: (get the clue, Sherlock?).
Stef