Today was a thoughtful kind of day. I took a walk up into the woods above the house (it's deer season here), lovely morning, and saw a lot of nothing. But while walking back, I thought it would be a great day for a ride into the Coast Range to see how Rich's stone is getting on.
I've had his coffee cup in my cupboard for three years now since Rich died, rarely use it, and it occurred to me that I should just take it up and set it by his stone in the woods. Rich LOVED coffee, and used to razz me about my preference of tea. For those of you reading this anew, my best riding buddy Rich had his last ride on the road that runs up Mary's Peak in western Oregon. His beloved Judi placed a stone at the spot where we found him.
I put the cup by the shoes and hung out with him awhile. I don't know where the shoes came from, other friends and family members tend to stop by and leave things, too. The little wooden cross we began with is still lying there, and I noticed some words we'd scrawled on it still legible. In August, Didit and Jfviffer came up to visit with me, which meant something to Tony as he had met and ridden with Rich at the '06 PNW meet, just two weeks before we lost him.
Rich's stone
I go back every now and again, and it always amazes me how much things change at that spot in the trees. Two years ago, the massive spruce just below snapped in the wind and crashed down just missing the site. It's now a great thing to stand on and listen to the silence and watch the colors change as the light pours through the trees. Though it was sunny, the winding road up the mountainside was well-lubed with wet pine needles and green moss.
I rode my late father-in-law's GoldWing up to the mountain. Darrel loved that bike, almost as much as his BMW GS that he rode everywhere. He died last April quite suddenly. He was preparing for his second ride to Alaska on the Beemer. Jalene and I inherited the Wing, along with the camp-trailer that it pulls. What a ride it is when you want to cruise in comfort and see the sights. Darrel and Rich would have gotten on brilliantly - both equally quirky and absolutely nuts about motorcycles. Both of them were taken from us without warning, and both of them I miss terribly.
Still life - GoldWing with coffee cup
I always have nice conversations with Rich about the ride up there. When I told him I rode the GoldWing up to see him, I heard some crap about how old I'm getting. I let him know that Colorado was a great trip, and about some other things going on in life. He wants me to bring him something to put in the cup next time I'm up there. I guess that was a little rude of me.
So now rides to Mary's Peak will include a thermos of hot coffee. Doesn't have to be good, Rich seemed to like any kind of gut-burning swill.
And while reviewing this thread while writing, I found where Baileyrock expressed a desire to come see the place. Well, Kevin, you get yourself healed up and make it to Oregon and we'll go for a little ride. BTW, buddy, though I didn't get to say it in CO, the words you and all the others posted when I was laid up a year ago were worth millions, and I know we all think of you every day right now, especially when we're on the bike. Heal well!
Forest view, memorial stone at lower left