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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 09:13 pm: | 
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at this point i should note that as incredible as it seems, Dave Barr lives nearby, at the other end of Isabella Lake, about 20 minutes from the ThunderDome.
and yet in all my travels here in the Kern River Valley, over the course of seven or eight years, we had never crossed paths. how odd.
Alex, some truth here: i thought about calling Mr. Barr, introducing myself, and inviting him to join us for our little dinner get-together at Cheryl's Diner up in Kernville when you passed thru last year on the RANE ride, but i was afraid.
i'm shy, for one. for two, all i knew of the man was what i knew from reading his book, and i was terrified that if i DID make contact with him i wouldn't "live up to" my expectations of HIS expectations.
sad, perhaps even pathetic, but painfully true, my friend.
in the end i did not make the call, and for not having the courage to face my fears, thus robbing you the opportunity to meet an incredible human being and motorcyclist as you took the most incredible and important ride of YOUR life, well, for that i'm truly sorry. |
Prior
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:10 pm: |
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Ferris,
No apologies needed, my journey was epic in it's own right and meeting Mr. Barr will entail another journey of epic proportions.
We can't do everything at one shot, we'll run out of reasons to get together and ride under some of the most far fetched trips that have come together. The way, I see it, things come together the way they do, just like meeting Dick and Barbara German before day break in Topeka a few weeks ago after trying so hard to connect with them last summer. And emails going back and forth about the Field of Dreams which happened way before expected. I'll meet Mr. Barr, who knows when the 'Bolt will be packed and headed out to the 'Dome again. Might be sooner than we all think. Besides, I've GOT to read the book first...
Thanks for the memories from the trip last summer (I do hate that ••••••• gas pump, and will for the rest of my life) and your friendship and brotherhood ever since we met up at the base of Angeles Crest Parkway.
That said... Can't wait to ride again next summer! On with the FBRAT pics!
Tell D hey!
Alex |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:21 pm: |
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thank you Alex, your words are exactly what i needed to hear.
i'll start the Saturday 9/10 FBRAT thread just as quick as i can, maybe even tomorrow, but first i've got a few more things to say about today's ride.
thanks again, my friend. 
Dave Barr, continued: so imagine our surprise then, when this past February 9th, a Harley-Davidson Sportster came chugging up our driveway and Mr. Dave Barr himself climbed off and said hello!
my friend Jim Bantz - JB2 to everyone here - put Dave up to this, knowing from me that he lived nearby, and knowing that i'd prolly NEVER screw up the courage to make contact on my own.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 18, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 10:47 pm: |
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it was INCREDIBLE meeting Dave, finally talking to him after all these years, and extra special because of the circumstances:
JB2 is not nearly the wussy that i am, and decided to do something about my lack of social fortitude. after several phone calls back and forth between Indiana and California he and Dave had become fast friends, so JB2 purchased his new book Riding the Ice for me and asked Dave if might consider hand-delivering to the big chicken-•••• at the other end of the lake!
Dave cheerfully obliged, and his unexpected visit that February afternoon was a gift of major proportions.
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 11:11 pm: |
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Dave said something that afternoon that i'll carry with me the rest of my life.
i had gone on and on about what a treat it was to finally meet him (those who know me know that i can get a little excitable at times...), and at one point i told Dave what an extreme honor it was to speak with him and shake his hand.
"Well Jerry, I've heard a lot about YOU," he said, "and the honor is all mine."
it was an incredibly classy thing to say, and should give anyone who hasn't yet had the good fortune to meet him just a little glimpse into who and what he is.
and when FBRAT began coming together enough to start inking a few details, i called our new friend and asked if he and his family would like to be involved.
by now you know the answer.
THANK YOU Dave and Susan and Luke Barr!
i'm gonna call it a night here, i think, and put this day's ride to bed. yet again, FBRAT had been epic right from the opening bell, and any day spent on the road is a good day.
this day had been a VERY good day.
thank you to everyone who joined us for today's festivities, your enthusiasm and friendship is most appreciated.
the 'Dome rocked into the night, spirits high, with four more days of FBRAT still to go!
ride, Sally, ride. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 11:14 pm: |
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mileage today: 2829.0 start, 3265.0 end, 436.0 total |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 11:26 pm: |
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ps: Mr. Barr just recently presented me with yet another gift:
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 18, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 11:31 pm: |
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this very unique copy of FUELL is a neat addition to my collection:
thanks Dave.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on October 18, 2005) |
Pdxs3t
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 12:07 am: |
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Cool stuff! |
Unibear12r
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 12:27 am: |
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I knew you'd get a kick out of the first page of that article Jerry! Mr Barr beat me to it. He gets Fuell! That's even better! Great guy and a pleasure to meet. |
Dino
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
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try as i might, however, i couldn't frame the photo to get rid of the tanker truck in the background
Jerry - I never knew you to be so bashful. Why didn't you just ask the nice man to move the truck. I found him to be most cooperative.
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 07:55 pm: |
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damn, shoulda asked him to move the frikkin' light poles, too... |
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