Memorial Ride For Bill

For those who don't know the story... Bill died as the result of injuries sustained in an accident July 27th. He had planned a ride with his NC XJers for August 8th, unfortunately we had his memorial that day. In honor & memory of Bill his group of buds rescheduled the ride and completed it Saturday 9-5. Due to life I couldn't attend so i rode here in florida a solo pegs down memorial ride in honor of Bill.

I was not the only solo rider, as I had response from Maxers who rode as well. attached is my note to my brother rider in NC. However it applies to all of you who have supported me and Bills family. Thanks.

You can view pics of Bill's NC buds and their ride at the attached link.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... rt=75.html

This group, this forum and Bill's riding companions are the closest I will get to riding with my brother, thanks for everything. To ALL who are participating in this ride, THANK YOU... Unfortunately the economy has kicked us in the can, again, with another reduction in hours leaving us in a really poopy position. Bottom line... I can't afford to make this run. I so wanted to ride with you folks, especially since this was Bill's last one he organized. I may not be there, but I will be riding in memory of Bill. I never got a chance to ride with Bill. We both had bikes when the other didn't. However, we did start talking about taking some rides and I had a list of rides here in Florida I wanted us to complete and we discussed some in NC. I want you to know that I will be on the road at 7:30 to have pancake breakfast with my son & the Christian Motorcycle Assoc. and then dropping the litte man off and hitting the road to check some of the rides off the list and burn a couple of tanks of gas. Please take pics as I will do the same. I'd like to propose making this an annual event. I hope to see you when I deliver the last leg of the relay and we can share the road, riding together.

God Bless and enjoy the ride,


Thanks so much.... I REALLY wanted to be there. It was difficult not being able to be a part of this. However, I did leave out here for a panckake breakfast with CMA and my son. After dropping him off I ran out to Ozelo a beautifal 60 mile round trip to the gulf thru twisties surrounded by water in old fl country. I sat and watched the fisherman come in and others fishing from the banks (another passion on the list that Bill and i shared) I'll post pics later. From there I rolled 70 miles of long sweeping turns and sstraights out to the beach (it was a short stay) out of no where rain was looming and i headed for shelter. Got the gear on & it let loose. found a church (an episcipal church, we grew up in one) to sit at and kicked back to wait it out with a good cigar. It was nice texting my niece & nephew when the sherrif pulled up and the fun began... Do you (asked this first?) have a job, where do you live, what type of bike, year, ID and the clincher.. why are you here (it was raining buckets and lightening was striking everywhere). I looked at him and said is that a serious question? and finally a chuckle. apparntly the pipes set the alarm off (was revving the engine when I pulled up) So all was in order and I sat the rain out relaxing, remembering my brother, our lives growing up, the man he had become, saddened by the times we will not share and finnally...laughing how Bill was getting his diggs in on little brother with a biker baptism (Bill was a devote Baptist) and a sherrif shakedown (Bill was instrumental in getting my back on the the right path in life.) So the whole day was just perfect. Thank again XJers you folks are wasome

 

Rest In Peace, Bill. Keeping you and your familiy in my thoughts and prayers.

 

I'll post some pics when I can...

 

I never knew Bill, I'm very new to this forum, but I have read a lot of his post and marvel at the knowledge this man was able to share.
I will keep Bill and his family in my prayers.
I am planing a ride up to Traverse City Michigan with a buddy of mine, its our annual camping trip, I will ride with pegs down and think of Bill along the way.
I'm sure to take pics so I'll post them when we get back.
Bob

 

Pics of the Ozello Trail run... just beautiful ride. I'll post the run to the beach later. I must admit, people come from all over to ride these roads and I have these and many more in my back yard. If I could snowbird between here and Deals Gap I would be in heaven!! Still I am truly Blessed.

This is the sign my folks used when we camped as a family.


Max (still to be named) and "The Flying Dutchstar" (Zach likes pirates)


I like my bike


I Really like my bike


OK, I LOVE my bike!!




I met these folks at the CMA breakfast... looks like they had the same idea





A nice way to spend a day


Probably one of the best rigs for these waters. Mom almost sunk the whole rig truck, trailer and boat in the gulf. Mom said "I couldn't reach the pedals, I'm too short. I told them" We all laughed once the rig was safe on dry ground!!


A shady place to rest


A dry place to wait out the rain


Rain is finally letting up

 

Thanks for the pics Dave. Looks like an awesome ride. I'm really new here but have been reading the many posts about Bill (haven't gotten to the ones by him yet but will). I didn't know him at all but still feel a deep sadness from his passing. My thoughts are with you and your family.

 

Dave, looks like a good ride!

is your bike..... PINK???
:lol:

 

LOL LOL, No it is MAGENTA

At the price I bought her for I overlooked the color, which I intend to resolve. (irid copper or deep red) Any any hoot I'm secure enough in my manhood to ride her since when any one gives me poo I just twist the throttle and that tends to shut them up. (the previous owner was a bull dog ex statey from nj and current dod home land security guy I'm sure his side arm kept the chatter down)

Sometimes I like it (the wife does :roll: ) and I get some compliments and other times it just toastes my oats... new paint $500 + so when I paint her I want to make sure its what I want. Probably won't happen till next winter or the one after that when I hope to do a frame off restore and bore her out to a 1500, lower her 2" stretch her 3-5" powder coat all the aluminum and slap a NOS on her. Till then I'll just have to put up with the wise @$$ comments from the peanut gallery when I stop and they finally catch up to me. :mrgreen:

 

magenta.. pink... looks the same in the pics!

do you have the pink matching helmet, too?

I jest, but I am actually quite envious of your bike. very nice looking piece of equipment!

 

Matching helmet.... no :cry:

Thong.... yes!!!

I bet that visual ruined your day!! :mrgreen:

 

it made me laugh pretty hard! but, we need proof of this thong.

you will have to post a pic of you wearing it while riding around your neighborhood. just be sure to post signs warning the children..
:lol:

 

Ohhh helmet... beware of what you ask for...

 

This thread is quickly going downhill, let me add to the degeneration....
I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!

 

Dave,
you cant turn away from a triple-dog dare!

 

I need to be careful now I don't want to dishonor my brother, but he had a great sense of humor and would probably be laughing. So I'll put this to bed now...

I ran this past the wife and she says, NO,

I'd stretch it out too much....

After all, I never said it was mine LOL :mrgreen:

And yes this thread has digressed rather quickly 8O
but a TRIPLE-DOG- DARE!!! Hmmmm :lol:

OK, I'll take the dare if you'll race me for pinks... pink slips that is Your Maxim vs my Vmax.... :wink:

 

you start in second and give me 3 lengths and you have a deal!
:lol:

 

Hmmmm, OK, I'll give you 3.5 legnths & I get NOS

 

have to use the bottle?
you arent scared of a little 700, are ya??
:lol:

 

Nice Max Dave, I have always wanted one. Can't seem to find one that is affordable. Hope you can make it to NC some day so we can ride together.

 

but he has to do it in a thong
:lol:

 

I only like girls in thongs.

 

this isnt about you


this is for the betterment of our community here at XJBikes... who am I kidding, this is for pure laughter!

 

mlew, I'm happy that you feel comfortable enough to share your quirky choice of clothing :mrgreen:

 

Scared... no... I thought I had to run down the track and back... to your straight run. I just didn't want to waste too much time on this, I'm a busy man.

Ok Helmet...

3.5 lengths no NOS and I get all gears. 8)

but lets make sure we are clear on the stakes...

We are racing for pink slips right....

your choice... :mrgreen:

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

absolutely hilarious!

 

Those who would like to view pics of NC XJers riding Sept. 5th in memory of Bill visit this thread. They are a great group and had a great turn out and ride:

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... rt=75.html

For those who are dropping in on the thread and wondering how it digressed you have to go back to the beginning. The thread and others as well as the members of this forum have been a source of healing from the loss of Bill for me. The many sincere thoughts and words have been wonderful. Just as important to me has been the great laughs which have allowed me to enjoy times of joy when they are not easy to find. Especially when I cruise the forums, run across Bill's posts and track the card relay. Bill had a great joy and sense of humor, though I'm a little more down the moral scale than Bill I know he would be laughing with us.

Thanks to the site admin and moderators for allowing the diversion from the core focus of motorcycles and XJ in particular.

I'm thinking we might have potential for a charity ride... RIDE FOR PINKS SLIPS

Helmet...
You didn't choose your "pink slip" and since my tastes lean more towards "magenta" or dark pink as you'll call it, you get the Baby "GIRL PINK!!"

 

Dave, I will gladly wear the girl pink. it brings out my eyes... wait... crap

the irony of your color is that the color I wanted for mine was a dark magenta.
after seeing yours, I am glad I went with Garnett RED
:lol:

 

LOL I know I thought the same... and low and behold the bike I bought is PINK My wife likes it I've gotten compliments from biker dudes and a cop (Hmmmm perhaps ex village people groupies). Most everything I''ve owned in the past has been a garnett Red. I am leaning though towards an irid (dusty flake) copper, accented with gun metal and black striping and the aluminum powder coated black. The rims however I'm thinking chrome when I lower & stretch her. I'm thinking of giving my baby some back with a nice phatty tire. She's not a twisty girl, but a straight on hard hitter.

THIS GUY HAS THE RIGHT IDEA




This is the closest I've seen to the color scheme I have in mind.



I'd like to get a rear end to look like this 8O



Oops I meant this....