Has it really been three years?

From the FjrForum..

..and my tribute to Tim while on the road, returning from NERDS, Stowe, VT to see Dad in Salem, Oregon.

<click pix for full size / resolution>

Found a small bottle of Jack at the local store, asked a stranger to take a pix of me saluting my bud who passed on. He literally dropoped his suitcases and said 'Fuck Yes!'.

I ran Tim's top case from the Wabs for this trip - knowing the date I would be on the road. It just seemed right. So many times on this ride I've reached back, touched the case, and hoped Tim was enjoying the ride too. Kind of sad moments, but it's OK.

I miss my buddy.

Tim was and IS very special to many of us, me included. I'm so glad to have known him, ridden with him, had a few drinks and dinners with him. I hope Tim's raising the roof now too..

My recollections of Tim's Celebration of Life at the Hondarosa. It's been, what, 3 years now, so Oct 2008, IIRC. 

At left, my bud and neighbor BBQ'd for all us.

I'll only call out once so you are on your own after that -

Highlander, MCML, me, Gupster 

GunMD at left.

Umm, Beer! 

Highlander prepares for the night.

Jasper, a dog in da hood, takes a sniff.

I was going sooo fast!

Skyway, aka Ian. It was nice that peeps did not screw with him though he did with them via an aux tank deal gone bad... today was about Tim, and I appreicated the respect given.

Patti's brother, at left.

Mrs. Fairlaner, Tim's bio brother Chris, Mrs and Mr Barabus.

Fairlaner, Barabus, Jdog

Toecutter, MadMike, Skyway.

Patti's brother, Highlander.

Sherri Knight's new hubbie, Mrs. Jdog, Fairlaner, Mrs. Fairlaner, Mrs. Barabus.

James Dean lives in Fairlaner, I swear.

Fjr peeps are good humans.

Audi drivers, on the other hand..

Preparing the sign..

This stuff is not easy.. burying good friends.

Scott takes pix.. 

Toecutter, Steve, MadMike, Patti, ??, Mr. Sherri Knight (Jeff?)

Patti, dear sweet Patti. She died about one year later. Very sad. 

Mr. and Mrs Jdog.

Well, that's about it. Even after several, 3 years, it's very difficult to post this thread. I have Wabs, Tim's DL650, and ride her very often. Each time I ride I think of Tim, and Patti too. 

Count  your blessings while you are alive I guess is the lesson learned here.

Continuing on one man's life journey - d

Permalink Submitted by dcarver on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 19:36.

On conference call with Richard and Chris, wishing Tim a happy birthday!

Fjrforum link

 

Note - all pix are clickable.

Tims sign. 4 years later.

A brothers love.

Wabs - Tim's DL650 I purchased from Patti after Tim's death.
 

Joseph, paying respects at Tim's tree. Perhaps wondering what could have been.

Valerie and Joseph, chillin on a Friday. We're still waiting for Fairlaner and Chris to arrive. 

Discussing things.

Where are Richard and Chris? Shouldn't they be here by now?

Ruh-Roh Ollie, an offroad excursion with an on-road car...

That ain't gonna buff out.. jus seyin'

Gravel in the bead... Still held pressure though, so all was and is good... but still plenty to worry about when 250 miles frome home..

BBQ fired, up, ready to party! And Harley D Dawg approves! 

The next morning. When is breakfast served, anyway?

Me and the not-so-EZ EzUp!

Shauna has done a GREAT job with fixin the ol' Hondarosa up..

Since the Audi was already, uh, dirty, Fairlaner decides to have some fun..

Then, it's time to get to serious ass-whuppins at that horseshoe pit..

Even in competition, always help your bud out.. 

Yep, it's ALL good!

So much food and drink.. We are veryt fortunate. Good friends, we're still healthy.. and Riding MotoBikes.

Highlander made it too! Love that guy.. always with great humor and mischevious sparkle in the eye.

My sweetie.

Richard, going for more off-road expereince. That Audi is simply amazing. The hill? No problem. 

Here's some video of Fairlaner

Fairlaner hillclimbing from dcarver220b on Vimeo.

Steve, 03silverbullet, showed up too! He has Tim's old FJR, it only seemed right to take some pix of the two bikes together in memory of Tim. Thanks Steve for showing up!  

More pix. 

Probably the best shot of these two motobikes together. Steve now has over 200k on the FJR, bought it with 68k IIRC, from Patti. 

Dos motobike amigos. 

Chris, always on the spot, gets a few pix of the bikes too.

I was wrong, THIS is my favorite pix of the two bikes.

Shauna and Valerie did great all weekend long - they worked really hard to make it all happen, and it was REALLY funny when Valerie put RUB on Richards meat. <Steak that is!> 
Now then, this pix? Shauna said Valerie would be really pissed I posted it but said I HAD too!
So Valerie, it's all Shauna's fault, OK? 

Not sure what's going on with this pix either...  

Ahh, this pix is SOOO much better! Cute couple you two! 

Now for the next foto victim.. Chris Bates.  

Chris reminds me of another fine man, who was a marine. God bless those that defend us. 

Chris, truly a pleasure to know you. Know that your brother Tim was VERY proud of you.  

Chow time. My shirt is from the Rueben Run 2012 at FJRay's place!  

What a bunch of ham bones. Check out this pix.. then look at the next one. 

Ham BONES everyone!  

The best woman I've every known. 

Nice nips, Valerie!  

Wow, another day to live and have fun!  

Steve, BlueStreek, packs the tent. This is the last day of the bash.  

Chris and Joseph are still waking.. pussy lightweights..  

Richard, doing gravel removal from the tire bead... 

Chris, flashing the TWN salute! Breakfast at the Loading Chute, Creston, CA. 

Then, it's over. Highlander and Bluestreek were the only motobikers at this event. Oh, Steve, 03SilverBullett too. You guys rock!  

Permalink Submitted by CAJW on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 12:47.
DC, Thanks for posting for those who couldn't make the trek to the Hondarosa.  Good to see faces and camaraderie on display in Tim's remeberance.  One thing missing here is a link to the video of the MX track assualt by Sir R's Audi..........
<p>Brain dead for now, can&#39;t think of anything witty enough to grace this space.</p>

Permalink Submitted by CAJW on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 12:47.
DC, Thanks for posting for those who couldn't make the trek to the Hondarosa.  Good to see faces and camaraderie on display in Tim's remeberance.  One thing missing here is a link to the video of the MX track assualt by Sir R's Audi..........
<p>Brain dead for now, can&#39;t think of anything witty enough to grace this space.</p>

Permalink Submitted by CAJW on Sun, 11/25/2012 - 12:47.
DC, Thanks for posting for those who couldn't make the trek to the Hondarosa.  Good to see faces and camaraderie on display in Tim's remeberance.  One thing missing here is a link to the video of the MX track assualt by Sir R's Audi..........
<p>Brain dead for now, can&#39;t think of anything witty enough to grace this space.</p>

Hard to believe, but today... would have been Tim's 55th birthday...

Happy 55th birthday, Timster! Miss yah buddy...

Hard to believe, but today... would have been Tim's 55th birthday...

Happy 55th birthday, Timster! Miss yah buddy...

Tim Bates
TwoWheelNut

5th DeathAversiary
(I think the Timster would have liked that new word used above, he had a great sense of humor)

Tim's tree is doing fine. Check it out.
That's Wabs, Tim's DL650, on the right.

Funny story and weirdness continues surrounding Tim and his bikes. When I bought Wabs from Patti, his widow, Wabs ran for all of 2 miles then crapped out and died. Blown fuel pump fuse. When Ignacio went to ride Tim's FJR, it cooked the clutch. Tonight, right before riding to the tree, Wabs would not turn over. Dead. Nothing. Lots of lights and battery power, no starter motor. Neutral? Check. Kill switch to ON? Check. Kickstand up? Check. WTFO?

Loose connection at clutch lever interlock.
I tell yah, the ghost of TWN is very much a force to be reckoned with.

Chris, Tim's brother, wanted this hat to remain, in wind, rain, sun, heat and cold. I am very surprised at how well that hat is holding up.

Fading sunlight, fading lives for some of us still living. At least we are still in fading stage. Enjoy every day, peeps. 
 

Magic.

A close-up of the sign. All the work we did to put a UV protective clear layer over the top was a good investment. 

Due to recent deaths in our immediate family, and some healing that needs to happen in hearts very close to me, there will be no TWN HondarosaBash this October. Next October, though? Watch the fuck out and Katie bar the door cause it is going to RAWK. 

Oh, 

Hugs n' Kisses

Just home from work, a cold yet somehow very satisfying ride. Night, Christmas lights, FJR, bright lights. Looking forward to the first shot o' the best, tonight JD in memory of my and our dear friend Tim Bates.

..and I wear that same jacket in each and every winter day.
 

Happy Birthday Bud!

dcarver

So, Christmas 2013, and my post count creeps up to the magical 11,031 mark that was Tim's last post.

It reminds me of what I already know-

There is always a 'last time'.

And as we age, our personal 'last times' draw nigh, the fences draw tighter, our world grows smaller.

Last times are random, without pattern, mostly unknown.

Some are chronic, eroding slowly over time.

Some are acute, that precise moment in time when all changes.

The last time to see your son before being killed, heroically,  in war. Axeman.

The last time you see the love of your life walk away. OrangevaleFJR.

The last time you can ride your motobike. Uncle Dutch.

The last time your mind processes a cognitive thought. My Mom.

The last time your heart beats and the last time you take a breath.

I never thought the last time I would ride with Tim would be at NAFO, in Golden, CO.

I barely thought to say 'have a great ride to Alaska, Tim'.

The last time.

The last time is why we (I) need to seize every precious moment of life and squeeze the living shit out of it for maximum enjoyment, appreciation, and love of life and then share it as much as possible.

So then, why all this mushy shit about a guy named Tim?

Well, he was just a nice guy.

Unassuming.

Generous.

A good human.

I like good humans.

Strive to be a good human.

Timster, hope the rides in Heaven are great bud!

..have you given Andrew (OrangevaleFJR) a good old-fashioned JimmieKick yet?

11,031.

We all have our 'Last Times'.

Maximize your 'Now Times' while you can - Your 'Last Time' draws nigh.

..you just don't know it.

RIP Tim Bates.

Hugs n' Kisses

Now then, I'm riding to work tomorrow, and I'm taking the long way in, which means it will be a 2 hour ride filled with curves, high and low speed corners, and deer infested tree lines. That's the way I decide to live and ride.

How about you?

Walked away Is it really crashing if you don't fall down?--
I wouldn't change a fucking thing; I've lived hard, played hard, and I ain't done yet. I've paid some severe penalties along the way, but the rewards have been so much greater; even if for just have participating in the game of life with utmost abandon. It's not who rides the furthest in a day, but rather in a lifetime. CBA member #1, IBA #31845 and very proud of both.

Remembering Tim on His Birthday

From my little corner of the iberSpace world.

I sure do miss that mutha Phucker.

Celebrating Tim Bates and Walter Carver

7 years ago... We lost Tim. 1 year ago last April, my Dad. Time flys by.

'What have you accomplished?' my Dad asked on his death bed.
  'Not as much as you' I replied.
      Then  realizing the true question -
'Everything is done, Dad. All is good. You can go now, if you want too.'

Dad smiled.

Sometimes, the fun is in the process. Like the following pix..

msDcarver, holding Wabs up from falling down. Wabs (Weestrom with ABS brakes = Wabs) was Tim's old bike.

Some phun stuff here!

I have no idea what she's reaching for..

Set the camera on 'Creative' and see what happens!

Evidently, 10 seconds is insufficient time to walk from the camera to the pose spot.. and that ball is really the dark side of the moon...

Alomost a good shot.. but some doofus is holding the whiskey glass weird...

Finally, the money shot!

Happy birthday Dad, and Tim, we really miss you buddy. 

..and so it goes, the evolution of life.

Ride on.

2016-08-22 Tim's 8th year gone

Very hard to fathom 8 years gone.

A variety of pictures showing the lack of ability we have to take a good pix. Somehow, though, Tim would like it.

Humans, check! Dog, Check! Tree? Not so much check.

Humans, check. Dog, check. Cat, check. Tree?

Hey, we tried!

I like this pix, water faucet and all..

Getting better..

This one for Tim and Jerry Garcia.. wow man....

Finally, the best of the lot.. RIP Tim Bates, we miss you.

8 years. Damn.

Well, it appears most have forgotten or don't want to remember or whatever. 2008-08-22.

No phone calls, just texts saying words to effect 'I'm busy'.. Sad.

I remember you Tim, we all do. 

BTW, your DL650 is close to 100k miles now..

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