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There go the water works again. That is awesome Tyler.

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Thanks, Tyler, for taking Jason with you on your trip. What a beautiful sunset, and I’m certain our dear friend loved it!

Thank you, Tyler, for sharing that and finding such a fitting place. My portion of this mission is also complete. I've shared that with Reba and she has passed it along to her siblings. I've not found the words for more than that yet.

I’ve never been a fan of funerals. Long ago, I’d prefer to remember the deceased as they were living. I gave my wife explicit instructions for NO ceremony.

Now I know that the gathering is not for me, but for them and I’ve since retracted my previous instructions completely. It’s for her and them - do whatever you feel necessary.

I’m not sure how much of the afterlife I buy. I’m still working through that. I’m certainly not casting stones - I respect anyone’s right to their beliefs.

But the idea of a part of me resting in different place on this beautiful planet is unquestionably fascinating.

35.362932, -82.992185

Here is my contribution. I believe there is one more installment, but it is left to the participants to share. It’s taken me some time to put that day into words; for that, I apologize. The 16 digits above, when arranged and correctly oriented to this planet we call home, it is the location that I chose to fulfill one of the final wishes of and to say ‘until next time” to our dear friend Jason– Jwilly. This took place on the Tuesday morning of my ride home.

Jwilly -

So here it is, my friend – little did I know all those years ago when an off handed conversation about ‘when it all comes to an end” included a commitment to triple digits on the BRP, which would be relayed to your daughter, who in turn would say to me, “dad said you’d know what to do”.

I did, whether I liked it or not.

The BRP just after dawn on the morning of June 14th presented optimal conditions for the task at hand. There was no mid- afternoon haze from the heat, no crowded turnouts, just crisp views for miles that make you feel so small in the grand scheme of it all. That morning, you were with me. Instead of the back seat, you’re in a pocket over my heart, where you’ll always be for each of us. You coached me along, suggesting just a little more here, a little more there, soaking in the song of the bike spinning just shy of the limiter – the ultimate orchestra and ballet we seek with each twist of the throttle. What a glorious morning to share the road with you my friend.

I circled back to the Richland Balsam Overlook. 6,053. More digits – these represent the elevation of that particular location. The highest point on the BRP and thus the place on this earth that morning that put me the closest to you. I know, you’re going to give me crap for missing the first entrance, but I’ll remind you of the ballet, and the delicate balance that finds lean angle, throttle and brake wrestling for their portion of traction the tires and road will allow. You remember Potts Mountain, right? Yeah, thought so. The GPS validated what I already knew – some things you can just feel.

So this is the spot – I’ll be back to check in. Right there, just beyond the side walk.

Love you buddy.

Wayne






I won’t share just how long it took me to get back in the saddle an going. But once rolling, I wanted to be home. Maybe an adult beverage will coax details out of me about an uncomfortable conversation with a blue light special on NC215. Garmin said the LZ was 611 miles north when I hit Hot Springs, NC. So that’s what happened – I went home. Rolled into the garage sometime after 11p that evening.

"Life has a way of writing your stories for you."

Goodbye Carolina - Marcus King band

Dang it, who knew I was so allergic to dust.

Wayne, just know that your post was extremely heart felt, which is surely the way it was written. Tough for me to wrap my head about having a friend as great as jwilly was to you guys, and equally tough to wrap my head around how great a set of friends jwilly has. Pretty incredible.

Beautiful post Wayne.

Indeed, one installment does remain. And I’m losing sleep over it. Kind of a lot. Go figure.

I want to hear about the blue light special.

^^^^^
<bittersweet>

DANG IT!...Got me tearing up again. Thank-you Wayne for the report...and thank-you Lumberg for the Jason photo.

Dang.

Damn, Wayne, well done.

Oddly, I smiled reading your post of your ride with Jason. Somehow I felt I could hear Jason saying to you “You want to move over, and let grandma drive this?”, or “ Hell yes, now we’re talking!” as you were riding through those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
That overlook is always a must stop for Marie and I, and from now on we will call it ‘Jason’s Overlook’ thanks to your dedication and promise to our friend. When you released him, to fly into that beautiful vista of blue hazed mountains, I’m certain he said “Thanks Brother, I love you too.”

Thank you, Wayne, for sharing this with us. We know it was a very personal moment, and one you’ll remember and cherish for a lifetime. You’re a good man.

Exactly. and "you don't suck as bad as I remember..."

LKLD wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:44 am Somehow I felt I could hear Jason saying to you “You want to move over, and let grandma drive this?”, or “ Hell yes, now we’re talking!” as you were riding

I imagine him saying, "dude, you gonna play with yourself all day or are we going to ride?"...

Due to the statute of limitations, the blue light special conversation will need to be in person. The bicyclist were adamant about jail time apparently.

I know you guys will do it right and proudly.

Wayne

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 8:22 am Beautiful post Wayne.

Indeed, one installment does remain. And I’m losing sleep over it. Kind of a lot. Go figure.

I want to hear about the blue light special.

On May 21st, as we were mounting up in Clayton GA and ready to head east on Warwoman..Jwilly humbly squawked into the SENA, "I hope you don't mind riding behind some slow, shitty riding". I laughed.

Didn't mind it a bit. I would ride with that guy anywhere! It was a privilege on that day.

extrememarine wrote: ↑Tue Jun 28, 2022 10:10 pm ...the ballet, and the delicate balance that finds lean angle, throttle and brake wrestling for their portion of traction the tires and road will allow...

Absolutely brilliant. If we ever get a "motto", this has to be woven into it.

Your post was most beautifully written, Wayne. I could literally feel what you wrote. Right on, man.

Festus wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:42 am ... Tough for me to wrap my head about having a friend as great as jwilly was to you guys, and equally tough to wrap my head around how great a set of friends jwilly has...

Not anymore, my brother. We are all here - you have friends like that now.

For better or for worse.

Hppants wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:23 pm Not anymore, my brother. We are all here - you have friends like that now.

For better or for worse.

We are all part of the GREAT FJR Family.

By the way Wayne...thanks for the most excellent post.

El Toro Joe wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:44 pm

Hppants wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:23 pm Not anymore, my brother. We are all here - you have friends like that now.

For better or for worse.

We are all part of the GREAT FJR Family...

...EVEN if we act like the Three Stooges many times.

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:15 pm

El Toro Joe wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:44 pm

Hppants wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:23 pm Not anymore, my brother. We are all here - you have friends like that now.

For better or for worse.

We are all part of the GREAT FJR Family...

...EVEN if we act like the Three Stooges many times.

And SOMEone has to be "that" uncle, eh, Wheatey?

I had not visited the Forum for awhile because of my surgery and the first thing I saw when I logged on was the thread at the top of the page. My heart sank as I knew we lost someone here. Man that hurts in so many ways to see that. I never met him but he really seemed like a great wonderful fun guy, family man, and a friend to so many. I am praying for him and his family.

I did not know of the Ashokan Farewell. But I do now.

I had not fully appreciated the beauty of the Turkey Creek Overlook, on the Cherohala Skyway. But I do now.

Rumor has it, that a certain shy-but-accomplished violinist, played an aching farewell today. Under blue skies, at that very location.

And that, forevermore, a visit to the Turkey Creek Overlook might feel, just a bit, like a visit with jwilly.

For good reason.

Hug someone you love. Have a sip of whisky (as was allegedly done at the overlook today). And ride. Just ride.



https://www.dropbox.com/s/pusffagmrfum ... .MOV?raw=1

Well done, Gentlemen, well done.

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:42 pm I did not know of the Ashokan Farewell. But I do now.

I had not fully appreciated the beauty of the Turkey Creek Overlook, on the Cherohala Skyway. But I do now.

Rumor has it, that a certain shy-but-accomplished violinist, played an aching farewell today. Under blue skies, at that very location.

And that, forevermore, a visit to the Turkey Creek Overlook might feel, just a bit, like a visit with jwilly.

For good reason.

Hug someone you love. Have a sip of whisky (as was allegedly done at the overlook today). And ride. Just ride.