When I got the call from Marty on Sunday night, my heart sank. To lose a guy like Jason is just a thought I had not ever had. I know its dumb but it just never crossed my mind. Now it's a reality and it just drags on me.
The first time I met Jason was my first EOM in 2009 at Johnson City. I was riding with FUBAR (Don) his wife, Mr.Twisty (Mike) and his wife, Jim Wells (Don't remember his forum handle) and his wife, another guy on a 2006 AE, Justin maybe, and Alex, the European guy who put like 200k on his FJR before taking it to Japan with him. We had left Tellico Plains and were taking a route to Johnson City.
We were somewhere at an intersection in the mountains, when Dom and Jason came down the hill. We stopped and talked and everyone introduced me. Dom and Jason invited me to take off with them but I was having trouble keeping pace with the current group. Don told me they'd ride fast and I decided I didn't want to be the guy they had to wait for all day. Haha! I talked with Jason a few times that trip. His daughter who is older than my oldest was super into softball and my oldest had just started playing.
We would talk on and off after that but I think it was his friendship with Oface (Marty) that had us talking every couple weeks. Then, I went to Red Lodge with Jason and Marty two years ago. That was an epic trip and we had a blast. I have great friends and he is definitely one of them. I met Sonya that trip and really like her. Her and Jason were just made for each other.
We took some good pictures:
Not sure why he wanted to lick me. I know I'm handsome, but damn! We were in Montrose and this was our last dinner together.
These are not in order. Lol. This was at Kevin's, right after we left Red Lodge. Jason needed a new rear tire. The shop we got it from was a story all by itself! Haha! Kevin has nice stuff and was nice enough to let us use it!
All that hard work made us tired!! It was cold and rainy, so we spent a day just hiding in Kevin's huge garage, watching TV and messing around. The naps were a nice break.
The trips with Kevin were fun too!
This is outside of Red Lodge at some gorge we rode to. If I remember right, Jason stepped over the fence to take a picture. It was a STEEP drop maybe 500ft. Sonya was gonna have his ass. Haha!
Jason helping Marty, doing what he did best!
And finally, I can't skip this one. Someone took thos pic of Jason at EOM, I think. He shared it with us, and I couldn't help myself. I made a meme, just to give him Hell. We never posted it anywhere, but screw it. I know he missed Marty and me, because we missed him. Now, I REALLY miss him.
The last time I saw Jason was last year when he rode through here and he stopped to meet for breakfast. It was great to see him and I was sad that I wasn't going with him. He ate with my middle daughter Sophia and me. He was a big man with a big heart and it makes me sad, knowing all the people who love him who will miss him.
He is gone, way too soon.