| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
about the first thing i do every morning is catch up on BADWEB. the first thing i read this morning was that Gordon Buhle was dead. i was a mess for a while - still am - and after composing myself and posting a photo of Gordon and a link to his web site, i needed to ride. i needed to feel wind, and talk to the voices of the road. Denise and i just got back, about a 90-mile round trip to Paloma Meadow up on Sherman Pass. it's cool up there, literally, and quiet. and a little bit closer to Heaven. we sat for a long time, cried some more, and talked a little. Gordon was the kindest man i've ever known. he did things to help me and my family back in the days when i was trying (desperately) to make a living being Ferris Bueller that were nothing short of heroic. or, to use another word, kind. if he were still here i doubt i could ever repay all my debts to him. he didn't care much about that, he said. he told me more than once that he was just pleased that we were still friends. Gordon always had a way of making me feel better as a person, and i'm pretty sure he had that same influence on everyone he met. Gordon was a sharp cookie, meticulous and detail-oriented, and LOVED farkling on his Buells. the small stuff fascinated him. how to tune-up a VOES, for example. early on i asked him to do a monthly column in Sport Bike USA called "Buell by Buhle." he loved doing the column, and we all loved reading his words and learning from his persistent curiosity and wisdom. i asked him during the Four-Play ride in '03 how work was going. "Hah! I'm retired!" sharp as he was he'd invested wisely over the years (he worked for Oracle, and i'm pretty sure had "done well" ), and at the ripe old age of not even 50, he was footloose and fancy free. his house, probably paid for about 25 years ago, was spotless, everything with a purpose and everything in its place. i spent the night there just once, and it was an enjoyable, mellow evening, even tho i was there basically to talk about a business venture we were considering partnering on. man, was i out-gunned when it came to the ciperhin' stuff. Gordon was always calm and cheerful on the outside, but his mind was a super-computer, and i struggled mightily to keep up. we never did hook up as business partners, but as i mentioned earlier, Gordon provided some badly needed help to me several times over the years when i was about to go under for the third time, and for that i will always be intensely grateful. Denise and i talked to Gordon at Laguna this year, and he was as cheerful and upbeat as ever, stoked about the restoration he was doing on his brother Chris' XLCR. Gordon LOVED doing stuff like that. he was a classic, careful rider. i never EVER saw him do anything risky or foolish on a motorcycle, and i've probably ridden with him more than most anyone around. he LOVED to ride. he came all the way up from California when i did Blue Groove/Northwest in '97, and that kind of passion for riding has always impressed me. the last time i rode with him was Four-Play and SPLASH in 2003. happy and go-lucky, he was, thrilled to be part of the adventure, as was i to have him along. by pure dumb luck i ran into him and Chris up on Mount Rainier well after the SPLASH gig had wrapped up, and we had an enjoyable ride from Paradise Lodge down past Longmire and all the way to Elbe. Gordon was a prince, without a doubt. no one who met him didn't adore him, and many, many people who never had the privilege of meeting him in person still considered him friend, whether the friendship existed by phone or e-mail or seeing his occasional post on BADWEB or SacBORG. after we cried a bit this morning at Paloma Meadow i broke out my Nikon and did what Gordon would have done - take photographs. my work pales to his - he had a keen eye in everything he did - but by the time we climbed into our 'Stiches and fired up the bike, i knew we'd done a good thing. it's still hard to talk about him without welling up with tears, but riding in his memory this morning, taking some photos in his name, and typing these words has been good for my soul. Gordon was a VERY good man, a friend to all, and an example to live by. i can't believe he's gone. ride in peace, Gordon. i will not forget. Jerry Haughton/Ferris Bueller 8-11-05  on the way up Sherman Pass. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this little guy kept me company for awhile after we got to Paloma Meadow. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 looking south across a portion of Paloma Meadow. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 'go to the light' this scene seemed to be saying as i photographed it. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 the yellow flower head is about the size of a pencil eraser. the camera struggled to get a focus lock, even after four or five attempts. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 we sat for a good half hour less than a hundred feet from a small stream slipping quietly thru the meadow and didn't even know it was there, hidden as it is in the tall grass and wildflowers. this watering hole was a perfect little universe for about a bazillion tadpoles, quiet and still, with just enough water flowing thru to keep it fresh and oxygenated. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 every time i tried to put him back in the water he'd climb back up in my hand. i kept him moist while i grabbed several photos, hoping the camera would get a good focus lock. the little Nikon pretty much nailed this one. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 my camera was almost in the water for this pic. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 i chased this guy for several minutes, but he was a little publicity shy and this is the only photo i got. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 had to do it. the first rain will wash it away, and we'll be left with only memories. that's Paloma Meadow in the background. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 looking northeast from Sherman Pass, 9200 feet. Paloma Meadow is out there, somewhere. Gordon, you were a good man, and this seemed like an honorable way to pay our respects. somehow, someway, somewhere, i hope we all get to ride with you again. ride in peace, my friend. i will not forget. FB (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 11, 2005) | ||
| Dustykat |
Damn you Jerry, now I've lost it.. | ||
| Sleez |
tears here as well... | ||
| Rex |
Good job. REX A lot of good memories we all share, huh? | ||
| Rex |
I think Curt is putting together a memorial ride for him.. Woz has talked with his brother, and he wanted some sort of a memorial out here with his buell friends. More to come. rex | ||
| Slaughter |
! | ||
| Rokoneer |
Incredible, Jerry. Emotional, descriptive, and heartfelt. Thanks. | ||
| Jima4media |
Thanks Jerry, That was really nice. Gordon would have liked it, and he would have wanted to ride up there with you and taken some of his own pictures. Life is too short folks, lets enjoy each other while we are here. Jim |
