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You never know when it's over so...
Last Post 12/01/2022 04:41 PM by Dale Dale. 9 Replies.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/20/2022 06:10 PM |
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...so go ride, enjoy life, tell those around you how much they mean to you. Drink in life's adventures.
One of my buddies retired half dozen years ago or so at about age 56. He and his wife made some smart investments but they aren't flush by any stretch but had enough of the grind and wanted to travel and enjoy life.
Traveled three months in Europe, rode from Colorado all through the Rockies and on to the Pacific Northwest, and several other wildly adventurous trips on their tandem. He told me the bike and gear weighed 130 pounds the Colorado-PNW trip.
His wife was in for a dime/ in for a dollar on all those trips and more. This summer the did a month in Europe hiking around Mont Blanc and some in northern Italy. He said they hiked 150 miles that month.
Nobody would say he was fast in a racing sense, zero sprint but it didn't matter, he never raced and paying to ride his bike went against his frugal nature but he was like a diesel tractor, he could go forever regardless or the road or terrain.
This years stats: 6,600 miles with 378,000' of climbing.
His real passion was gravel riding and bike camping and I got roped into a couple of them. He'd load is Salas Cutthroat down with tent and gear and set off for some state park or other destination and end up with a big old grin on his face the whole time.
Saturday there was a group gravel ride east of town. I missed it as I was out of town with grandkid birthday celebrations but it looked like a solid group was going to ride.
Typical Missouri gravel roads- steep, remote, scenic.
He was with the lead group of four or five. When they hit the top my buddy wasn't with them. but as we all know, on a climb the field splits apart and they knew he'd either catch up or ride with the next group... or may not, maybe he'd just ride in no mans land in between and he'd be fine with that.
Several minutes later the next group found him being attended to by EMT's right in the middle of the road. Likely his SPOT device summoned help when he hit the ground. The took him to the hospital but in all likelyhood he was dead when he hit the ground.
His wife said he wouldn't want any sorrow or sad downer service but wanted his funeral to be a happy occasion and a celebration.
So while I'm shocked and will miss my riding buddy I'll reflect fondly on the hundreds of fun miles we spent together traversing some of the worst but most scenic roads in Arkansas and Missouri. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/20/2022 08:09 PM |
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| Sorry for your loss Dale. Too early. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 11/20/2022 08:12 PM |
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Dale, I carry a piece of paper sealed in scotch taped plastic that says:
Emergency Responders
If I should die as a result of this bicycle accident, however traumatic it may have been, I want you to know I died at peace. I have lived a good life, I would like to have lived longer, but I also knew for years that with the miles I ride every year, the odds were that my life would end on a ride. Those rides have been my love and spiritual focus for many years. This happens to be the ride I did not come home from. It is not a tragedy.
Please copy this and pass it on to all involved.
Thank you,
Ben
I spent a year as a TIP volunteer, going to the scene of deaths (usually) where someone else is deeply affected by what just happened Emergency responders can call their dispatchers and request a TIP volunteer. Dispatcher calls ours and the volunteer on duty is then instructed to go to this address; that the scene looks like this.
The volunteer(s) immediately check in with the emergency crew and get told who to help. (We are deeply appreciated because what we do is on top of their duties but they are fully aware how traumatic this can be. That they no longer have to do this is a blessing for them. We get to see professionals who do and see this every day and get to see them with their guard down a little. We also get to see people and their loved ones who are prepared for this death thing and people who completely are not; that it is seen and felt by those professionals and affects them deeply.
As a volunteer, I went to calls of families in complete dysfunction; so much that there was nothing we could do, ones who were totally prepared and sent us home in 15 minutes because they didn't need us and situations in between where that was a person or two we could help a lot. (And by help, I mean simply being with that person as a calm presence while they felt their emotions.)
My first call was on Christmas morning. A 40 yo sibling and favorite uncle was found dead in bed by his 7 yo niece who loved him. Thankfully a long time volunteer got there first. That extended family was in complete denial regarding that sibling's past drinking and use of heart medicine that absolutely could not be used with any alcohol (and obviously a lot of other stuff they weren't going to tell us). We finally left because there was zero we could do. Went to a nearby Denny's, got coffee and unwound. I knew there was an Alano Club's Christmas dinner happening, went and sat with sober alcoholics. Just felt right. Went to one of their meetings. And almost fell apart when we circled up to close, then had a moment of silence for those who were not going to make it though the day.
Dale, do you remember the fellow from the VN days who lived in Washington state and who started riding fairly late in life after a heart attack? Passed like your friend coming home from a ride. His wife came on and thanked us. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/20/2022 10:57 PM |
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| Sorry for your loss, Dale….I’m sure you will all celebrate his life well, even if there is a tear or two. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/21/2022 07:46 AM |
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Thanks everyone
Dale, do you remember the fellow from the VN days who lived in Washington state and who started riding fairly late in life after a heart attack? Passed like your friend coming home from a ride. His wife came on and thanked us.
Vaguely. It's a lot better way to go than many who languish between life and death for days, weeks, or longer. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 11/21/2022 08:42 AM |
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Ugh, sorry to hear that, Dale. Condolences. Such a loss but like Ben said so eloquently, he was out enjoying life. But 56?? That's just tragic.
Reading Ben's note again brings a tear to my eye because I've known many riders over the years that have passed on while riding from any number of things (including a train which still baffles me.) I don't want to end my years holed up in nursing home. Take me out while riding up a mountain. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 11/21/2022 11:04 AM |
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Sorry for your loss, Dale.
Thanks for the reminder to "live" a life.
Heading out now.
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jookey
Posts:197
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| 11/30/2022 07:11 AM |
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| Sorry to hear about that. I was doing a charity ride for first responders this summer as a marshall. One of the marshalls had to stop. Thank goodness this ride was loaded with first responders (as he was) and an ambulance was in the caravan. He survived a heart attack (barely). Makes you enjoy each day. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/01/2022 04:09 PM |
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Davide Rebellin has left the chat....
Damn. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 12/01/2022 04:41 PM |
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| Shocked to know that even the pros are susceptible. Sad to have learned that. |
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| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
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