A good friend of close to 40 years, whom I have ridden many a long mile with, recently found out he has lung cancer. Doctors have given him 2 years tops. Surgery is out of the question, as it would not help. So, Bob has a bucket list. On his list is going to an historic mining town called "Barkerville". (Google it; it is quite the bit of B.C. pioneer history) Anyway, for various reasons, every time we have gotten together and planned to ride to Barkerville, (it is a road to ride; 50 miles of twisty, mountainous highway) something has prevented us from making that ride. As he is quite weak, but still loves to ride, I am planning to load both my bike and trike up, pick him up, drive to Quesnel, which is about 50 miles from Barkerville. With Bob on the trike, and a slow easy ride, we will complete this one item from his bucket list. Wish us luck.
You're a great friend, 49. God bless you guys, and have a great trip!!!
Best of luck and hope it does not rain.
I have ridden and driven that road into Barkerville from both directions and it is one awesome route, have fun and be safe......
Great plan! Good luck! Bob has a real friend.
Hope he has plenty of time to check off his goals at a leisurely pace
49 that sure is a great friendly gesture 8) Wish the world was filled with many more of this kind but we all know the days of living in a perfect world is far fetched :-\ Man I hope you guys have a fantastic trip and enjoy the time spent together .
49, you honor your friend greatly! Your's is the kind of friendship that we could all hope to have!
well done, it's good that you can help one of his last wishes to come true, I hope you both have a great ride..
John.
If it is not too late how about a vid of the ride into Barkerville, and remember take your pan with you just in case you get time to look for the big one.
Quote from: CDNRatMan on June 20, 2014, 14:16:44 PM
and remember take your pan with you just in case you get time to look for the big one.
;D
Talked to him last night. He wants to wait until his chemo is over; it is leaving him pretty weak. Rest assured there will be many pics and some vids of this ride when it takes place. I am going to try to make a dvd of some of our toy-run parties and "last ride of the season" parties, as well as pics from some of our other adventures. I expect I will be hollering "HELP!! when it comes to this; most of the vids are on VHS.
Quote from: 49Reo on June 21, 2014, 00:32:46 AM
I expect I will be hollering "HELP!! when it comes to this; most of the vids are on VHS.
There is no problem as long as you have a VHS player and a DVD recorder..
you put a tape in the vhs player connect the RF out lead to the RF in lead on the DVD recorder..press play on the vhs player and tune a spare TV channel into the dvd recorder untill you see the vhs tape on the tv then store it, The DVD sees the vhs player as a normal TV channel and will record it...you can test that it is done right by changing the TV channel on the DVD so that the picture vanishes and back again so that it comes back on.
John.
Thanks, John. Much appreciated.
Not only do you give bikers a good name, you're the kind of person that gives "friends" a good name. That's pretty special.
49, great of you to do that. The story hits very close to home with a dear friend being told quite abruptly by the docs he has cancer all through his body and they aren't going to even attempt to treat. The docs said they would give him any and all pain meds he wanted just to make his remaining months as comfortable as possible.
Boy, DC, that is bad. Talk about a rough break. Thoughts and prayers for both of you.
Went and spent some time with Bob this weekend. He's pretty weak, has lost 2 1/2 inches in height in the last year. The tumor is between the left lung and the lining of the lung cavity. When it was discovered, it had collapsed the left lung, and pushed the heart and lung so far to the right it had partially collapsed the right lung as well. The tumor was leaking fluid in to the chest cavity which was causing the lung collapse. They drained 6 liters out then put in a drain with a pump on it, and got another 2 liters of fluid. that is almost 20 pounds of fluid in there! He is pretty weak, but in good spirits. Wants me to help him remove the box from his pickup, mount one of those self-loaders for motorcycles, then build a deck behind that. Then extend the frame on his 5th wheel holiday trailer so he can pull the trailer with the bike on the front. Then after lunch, we'll.... :D
He thinks he will be too weak to do the bike trip this fall; time will tell.
And btw, everybody, thanks for the words of encouragement; I have no words to say how humbling your comments are. I never thought of it in that context; it is just how I am.
49, I hope if I get sick like that, I would have a friend like you around to help me out. God bless you, and I'll keep Bob in my prayers, and you.
OH trust me if I lived a wee bit closer and you were sick I would be there all day to help you out.......trust me......
Quote from: CDNRatMan on June 30, 2014, 01:49:10 AM
OH trust me if I lived a wee bit closer and you were sick I would be there all day to help you out.......trust me......
....oh I trust you all right......you bet.....sure.....
Quote from: greenbarn on June 29, 2014, 22:33:17 PM
49, I hope if I get sick like that, I would have a friend like you around to help me out. God bless you, and I'll keep Bob in my prayers, and you.
Thanks, GB
49 that comment was for GB ......you I would ride across Canada if you asked me to, to help you, you are one of them unsung American Heros we hear so much about.....
Quote from: CDNRatMan on June 30, 2014, 10:20:52 AM
49 that comment was for GB ......you I would ride across Canada if you asked me to, to help you, you are one of them unsung American Heros we hear so much about.....
:o
Quote from: CDNRatMan on June 30, 2014, 01:49:10 AM
OH trust me if I lived a wee bit closer and you were sick I would be there all day to help you out.......trust me......
What are you talking about, you both live in Canada..that little bit at the top of America..
John.
Yes we both live in Canada, that wonderful fantastic land at the top of the Americas.........the place the UK lost....lol......
Well, folks, I started this thread last year, in the hopes that Bob would get well enough to make the ride. Sadly, every checkup he had after a round of chemo was worse than the last; today, he asked his daughter, whom he was staying with and being cared for, to move him to a hospice. His days are very numbered; the longed for ride now out of reach. That being said,our goal shall still be realized; we will "ride" together when it is all over. I will request permission from his daughter, Angela, to take his ashes on my Drifter, to Barkerville, and back. We WILL make the ride together; I promised him we would go, and go we will.
I ask those of you who do, please pray for him, that his last days are peaceful, and that he comes to know our Lord before he passes. He has never been interested, so I have always respected his decision on this; (but not agreed with it). Pray for his family, as well; they too need spiritual comfort.
And I want to thank all of you here for the support you all showed last year when this "Odyssey" began. It means more than you know.
Best regards,
49
Fred, so very very sorry to hear the bad news. It's hard watching a friend get sick, but even harder watching him not get better. I will keep Bob and his family, and you as well in my prayers.
49 know well were you are and how you feel, had a really good friend who so wanted to go to the Biker Reunion and do the freedom Ride, but she never did and I had promised her that this year we would do it, but she passed away in the early fall, so her sister gave me her favorite medallion, and it is now on the Drifter and she is going on all my rides with me this summer.
Way to go, Ratman. Well played.
49,
Quote from: greenbarn on June 04, 2015, 21:22:48 PMI will keep Bob and his family, and you as well in my prayers.
Ditto!
I regret to say that Bob passed away on June 07. His passing was a a blessing, as he was suffering unimaginable pain. The cancer had spread from his lungs to his rib cage, skull, spine, liver.
My prayers to his family.
I came across this thread by accident and it really hit home.
You are an incredible friend and both were lucky to have known each other.
He will be in our prayers...
So you have pain now; but I will see you again,
and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take
your joy from you.
John 16.22
Sorry to hear of his pain and passing. One does not really know what to say in these situations.
Yeah, there's not a lot can be said, but glad for him the sufferings over.
Condolences on your loss of a good friend.
Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. It has meant a lot to me. His funeral was yesterday; the core group from many years ago were all there; the ravages of time were apparent, and was good to see them and rehash old times; lots of reminisce, stories told, Bob was well remembered. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
Of the 3 in the attached pic, Bob is in the center. This was taken on the way to Whitehorse, Yukon in 2008. Bill on the left, Jim on the right, me at the camera. Sadly, Bill also passed away in 2012. ....and time marches on....
It's nice that you have the pictures and especially the memories. I'll keep you and Bob's family in my prayers.