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Prior
| Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 06:54 am: |
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Love the John Deere shots! Jim told me about them, wonder if we'll see them in a future calendar? Found an A down here for sale for real cheap, but I think Heather may get a little upset if that sits in the garage this winter instead of her Honda. |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 07:09 am: |
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Prior, thx, couldn't add the caption material earlier because BWB was "repaginating" or some such thing. Will try to get to it later. The thread on ADV is up-to-date. Mike, thx, and love your R-model Yammy. 250? Not gonna keep it?? www.hvccycle.com looks to be a great resource for keeping (or getting) one of these on the road. |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 09:59 pm: |
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Ernie had told me earlier in the day that Cindy wanted to see me while I was in town. I met Cindy for the first time back in late May. I had ridden up to Hartford City specifically for the opportunity to give her a hug and wish her well. We had a marvelous visit. Cindy was still fully independent and ambulatory at that time, and on the day I visited she was baby-sitting her granddaughter Chloe. As Cindy showed off her gorgeous yard and collection of plants and flowers, Chloe played with a garden hose on the lawn in the warm afternoon sun, laughing and giggling in spite of getting absolutely soaked. Birds sang, butterflies flitted from flower to flower, and Cindy, in spite of her advanced disease, seemed happy and at peace. Norman Rockwell would have felt right at home. I spent about an hour. I perhaps should have taken photos, but I didn't want chance marring the magic of the moment. I opted to leave my camera tucked away, and the multitude of colorful and heartwarming images that I have of Cindy and Chloe that afternoon are forever safely cached away in my mind. That was then and this is now. I was touched that Cindy wanted to see me again, and looking forward to the opportunity to give her another hug. JB2 and I slipped quietly away from the Rinker Farm and aimed our motors for town. |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 11:54 am: |
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I'm at a loss for words. Cindy, once a vibrant woman, mother and wife, is now but a faint whisper in the wind. I'm a medical transcriptionist by occupation, working from home, and my specialty is oncology. Cancer. Over the years I've listened in on thousands of unfortunate souls as they battle for their very lives. Often it's children, and often I've cried. But hearing of someone's pain and suffering and struggle through a set of headphones from afar is much different than seeing it right before you with your own eyes. I didn't visit long. Each breath for Cindy is a struggle, each word spoken with difficulty thru a harsh haze of weakness, fatigue, pain and medications. I want to respect her by being as kind as I can in my choice of words. Cindy, once ablaze with the searing spark of life, is now but the quietest whisper you've ever barely heard. I gave her a long, gentle hug. And said goodbye. |
Court
| Posted on Thursday, September 03, 2009 - 09:34 pm: |
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Hehehehe . . I recognize all the Buell boxes stacked up . . . very cool. I sent Cindy something today . . . to let her know that thousands of folks from many countires are with her in spirit. Well done to all of you who helped. This is my favorite part of motorcycling. |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 04:46 am: |
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Thank you Court. |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 04:58 am: |
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It had been a long day. After some visiting, beer, cigars and pizza back at the Bantz's, it was time to turn in, much closer to midnight than prudent considering we had a 4 a.m. wake-up call for Sunday morning. In a few hours we'd be on the road to Indianapolis to dine with a dignitary:
Mr. Dave Barr, outside the Motel 6 in south Indy, on his way to Washington, DC for the formal start of the Honor Run. It was a happy circumstance that his path and ours were close enough to cross this morning, and slogging thru the cold, dark and fog on the ride down from Hartford City was worth every minute and mile. And about the time I'd be looking for some sympathy for the conditions we rode in this morning to see Dave, he'd go off on another of his epic "around the world" stories and put it all into perspective for me. Dave was our neighbor when Denise and I still lived in Cali. He and his wife Susan are the real deal, and we're honored to call them friends. Hooking up with Dave in Indy for a few minutes this morning was a real treat. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:01 am: |
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photo by Kim Bantz L to r: JB2, John Coleman (New Zealand Army Warrant Officer, Ret.), Dave Barr, Fast Ferris, Bhuff, and Rob Bragg (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:03 am: |
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photo by JB2 Dave and Kim Bantz. Note Dave's apparent change in attitude from the previous pic to this one - hugging a pretty girl will do it every time. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:04 am: |
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photo by JB2 Rob Bragg and Dave (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:04 am: |
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photo by JB2 Brian Huffman and Dave (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:06 am: |
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photo by JB2 Dave and Ferris (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:07 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:08 am: |
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We didn't get to visit long. We mosied over to Denny's for breakfast, then told a few more tales back outside the Motel 6 (official sponsor of the Honor Run) and grabbed a few photos, then duty called us all. Great to see you again Dave, and nice to meet you John. Safe travels, gents. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 05:16 am: |
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This is the Honor Run, folks, going on as I type. This shot was lifted from the Honor Run website as the group rolled across Kansas headed for Denver, Colorado on Tuesday. Looks like they've picked up a few riders. Today is the final leg, from Mesquite, Nevada to Biggs Harley-Davidson in San Marcos, California, and tomorrow is the grand celebration at Oakley, including a concert by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. I'm proud that BadWeatherBikers has been a major player in the Honor Run. Thank you all for your support and contributions. www.TheHonorRun.com (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 04, 2009) |
Bluzm2
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 11:07 am: |
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Jerry, Once again you have humbled all of us with your photographs and surperb naration. You have a very special gift that allows the rest of us to follow along on your adventures. The ups and downs, eb and flow of feelings and emotions comes through LOUD and CLEAR with every story you share with the rest of us. Thankyou. Brad |
Jb2
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 11:34 am: |
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FB1, I just finished the RR on both boards. Unsurpassed presentation as always. We parted from Gentleman Jim yesterday morning in Mackinaw City, MI and hit Hartford City about 7:00pm. Great trip! Cold and clear, no traffic, awesome scenery, perfect riding. No rainsuits even! Still digesting it all. I will print out everything for Cindy to catch her up to date. My sister is here giving her 24/7 care(she's an RN). My Mom will be here to relieve her tomorrow(she's an RN too). Cindy's still hanging in there and even improving just a little. She is tough. JB2 |
Jb2
| Posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 - 11:44 am: |
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Wishing the best to Dave and the Honor Run. My plans to travel with the group got changed this spring but hooking up with Dave was just as cool. There was a slim chance at best that he and John might ride in Cindy's Ride but their schedule was just too tight. He caught me just as Kim and I were leaving and slipped me a twenty for her cause. Rob and Brian got to meet him for the first time that morning and both were instantly captured with the rough and honest vibe that is Dave Barr. Rob hooked up with Dave again riding one leg of the run leaving from Indy heading west last weekend when Brian and I were Mississippi River bound. JB2 |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2009 - 04:32 am: |
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Wow Brad, those are kind words indeed. Thank you very, very much. JB2, glad to hear you had a safe and enjoyable ride with Bhuff and Gentleman Jim - the "teaser" photos you sent me 'n D are spectacular. Thx for the update on Cindy. Props to your sister and Mom. Hi Cindy! |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 02:47 am: |
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I bet y'all can relate to this one. About ten minutes after parting ways with the gang back at Motel 6, I had a powerful urge. You'll recall my unconventional diet protocol yesterday on my way up to Hartford City. And last night, about the last thing I did before I turned in at the Bantz's was toss down about 34 pieces of pizza (34 or 38, somewhere right in there) along with, um, "plenty" of beer. This was on top of the late-ish BBQ at Rick Tucker's "The Woods." Well, woofing down a heaping helping of greasy Denny's this morning and then amping up for the 600-mile blast home and my system had had quite enough, thank you very much. As I said, it was a powerful urge, and not to be denied. The state of Indiana, in their divine wisdom, had unknowingly put in place a rescue plan for me. There was new freeway going in right next to mine, and regularly spaced throughout the project was just the thing I needed. Except they were all "over there" (on the other side of an imposing concrete barrier), and I was "over here" (clipping along at breakneck speed with all the other sleepy senior citizens of the slab this morning). Salvation came in the form of a well-timed exit, but not before I had to throw out the tail hook, catch the #1 wire, and hang a hard (and I mean HARD) right and curl back into the new construction zone, including a fairly loose gravel "wash" leading up to the new concrete just to make things even more interesting. No worries, I was on a mission. When in doubt, give it gas. This blue plastic box, tipped rather askew and the door barely able to be opened for the crushed rock and 4X4's piled against it, inside appeared all the world like it had never been used. Clean, fresh, and well stocked in the paper goods department, if you're catchin' my drift. I couldn't get the door all the way closed for the gravel, and it's the first time I've ever had a reclining seat in one of these deals, but plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is. Geez, I hope that isn't too much information.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 07, 2009) |
Prior
| Posted on Monday, September 07, 2009 - 11:55 am: |
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Practicing that 7 seconds to get out of the 'Stich, eh? Very cool you got to hang with Dave Barr a bit on this trip too- epic... |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 04:41 am: |
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About five seconds on this one, prolly some sorta world record...
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Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 05:23 am: |
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I took highway 52 out of Indiana and into Ohio, with one small exception so as to avoid Cincy. The initial portion of 52 along the north shore of the Ohio River was really sublime, my first time along here. The scud finally moved out and warm sun took its place, and the riding was scenic and refreshing (save for a wee bit of dawdling traffic and the occasional nuclear power plant harshing the vibe). Finally had to bail 52 at Huntington and cross the river into West Virginia and I-64 and get 'er done. Picked up a couple of nice rabbits on the down-run on I-77 and absolutely flew. One was a kid in a gorgeous new Mustang, kinda a "warm" silver in color with black stripes (it said "Boss 427" on the front fenders – is that for real???), and a trick set of alloys and big meats. The kid was young, but he was a good driver (drove his 'Stang like someone who might also have a Ducati at home in the garage...), and he set a torrid pace. He knew I was using him to break trail and flush out the radar, but he didn't seem to mind, and we gave each other a lot of courtesy and respect. It was funny - when we got to the two tunnels on I-77 coming into Virginia, both times he slipped into the right lane and slowed enough that I could come up on his left. He'd power down his window and pace me thru the tunnels. I reckon he was listening to the bike. Close to the end of the second tunnel I dropped down a gear and brought the revs up, making all kinds of racket, on and off the gas several times, just messing around. He was digging it, and so was I. By now we had quite the parade of folks playing hooligan games along with us. I assume they were enjoying the show, and also figger they were using the Mustang much the way I was, to vacuum out the inevitable radar. There are two danger zones where I-77 enters Virginia, from the north just before Wytheville and from the south right at Fancy Gap, where the Chippies (yeah, that's a California term, but I still use it out here) like to hide out and catch people in their unawares. Mustang Racer stayed behind me after we cleared the second tunnel, which was out of character, but I was pretty sure I knew why. I dialed down the steam a bit, looking for the trap. This caused the folks who'd been shadowing us to bunch-up, and one feller, in a high-zoot SUV of some sort, had been speed-poisoned pretty bad and apparently couldn't stand our new near-legal pace. He blew by us at I'm guessing 85-per or so...right past the Chippie. The SUV's brake lights came on, but much too late. And for reasons I still can't explain, there was no explosion of lights and siren. I'm guessing you've got to be REALLY bad (or unlucky) along here to get popped. The SUV driver dodged an expensive bullet that afternoon. I lost the Mustang somewhere near Wytheville. He got hung up in traffic, and may have exited for fuel. He had North Carolina plates, so I was half expecting him to catch up somewhere before I got to the Parkway. Fun stuff. By ignoring my camera today I'd made good time, even though I took the scenic route home. Six hundred miles came and went just like that, and I got home with plenty of daylight left to build a campfire, knock down some Fat Tire Ale with my sweetie, and do the cigars and BBQ thing. Life was good. And maybe that's the moral of this tale: Life IS good (and all too often fleeting). Live now, rest later. Here's to you, Cindy. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 12:11 pm: |
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(For the record, that plant is coal, not nuclear... ) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 06:20 pm: |
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They looked pretty nucular to me! (and there was more than one ) |
Jb2
| Posted on Sunday, September 20, 2009 - 10:22 pm: |
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Cindy's hour draws near. Kim and I left a short while ago after saying our good-byes to one of our closet friends. This afternoon while working in the garage I stuck a coupla Reckless Kelly CD's in the player. I've listened to these two for years but all of a sudden there was a song calling out to me. I hit replay several times and have been singing the song in my head as a prayer to Cindy. ----------------------------------- May Peace Find You Tonight ----------------------------------- May peace find you tonight Like a breeze through your window And sit by your light Let it warm by your fire And laugh with delight Like a heavenly choir May peace find you tonight You got your God And sister I got mine And I know he's out there somewhere He bails me out sometimes And I've always believed Though sometimes I question the truth But all the proof I need Is the love I found in you. May peace find you tonight Like a breeze through your window And sit by your light Let it warm by your fire And laugh with delight Like a heavenly choir May peace find you tonight May your soul reunite with the ones You lost long ago May a troublesome heart Be a feeling you'll never know May your spirit be free Like the wind on the wings of a dove May your heart know the way loud and clear Like a voice from above May peace find you tonight Like a breeze through your window And sit by your light Let it warm by your fire And laugh with delight Like a heavenly choir May peace find you tonight Reckless Kelly ------------------ We love you Cindy |
Jb2
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 05:38 am: |
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Cindy found her peace just a few minutes ago. Ride Hard, Ride Free my dear friend. Cindy Cameron Dubois (1960-2009) (Message edited by jb2 on September 21, 2009) |
Jerry_haughton
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 07:14 am: |
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Thank you, Jim. Ride in peace, Cindy. It was an honor to know you. FB |
Prior
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 09:26 am: |
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Thanks Jim. She's in a better place with a lot of our close friends. God bless, ride free. Alex |
Ulywife
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 10:12 am: |
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Ride in peace Cindy. FB & JB2 - Thank you for sharing Cindy's heartfelt story with us. |
Court
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 10:24 am: |
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Thanks to you guys for all you did . . and our hearts and prayers are with her family. Court |
F_skinner
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 10:59 am: |
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FB and JB2, Thank you for sharing this. RIP Cindy, prayers sent to the family and all who were touched by Cindy. Frank and Lynn |
Jb2
| Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 04:14 pm: |
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Name: Cindy DuBois Date: Feb 19, 1960 - Sep 21, 2009 Obituary: HARTFORD CITY – Cindy Lou DuBois, 49, died at 4:40 a.m. Monday, September 21, 2009 at her residence. She was born on February 19, 1960 in Hartford City to Robert “Bob” L. Cameron and Mary L. (Capper) Cameron. Her father precedes her in death on March 22, 1990. Cindy graduated from Blackford High School in 1978 She married Ernest “Ernie” Paul DuBois on October 11, 1997 in Gaston, Indiana. She was a member of the Hartford City Seventh Day Adventist Church. Cindy formerly waitresses at the Blackford Golf & Country Club for 24 + years and cashiered at Bil’s Foods. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, and riding the Harley. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and with her two black labs, Lacey and Casey. Cindy will be sadly missed by her husband, Ernest “Ernie” Paul DuBois of Hartford City; daughters, Christina M. (husband, Christopher) Wingo of Hartford City; Laura J. (husband, Sean) Price of Hartford City; Kellie A. Fry (friend, Ronald Wright) of Hartford City; step-son, Jeremy P. DuBois of Hartford City; grandchildren, Anjalee Wingo, Arianna South, Adonna Wingo, Adarius Wingo, Brenden Price, Chloe Rains and Khalil Wright; brothers, Dave W. Cameron of Hartford City; Tim R. Cameron of Hartford City; sisters, Rita (husband, David) Andrews of Dunkirk; Debbie Bullard of Hartford City; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lenn and Ellen DuBois of Hartford City; brother-in-law, Duane DuBois; sister-in-law, Claudia Ford; several nieces & nephews. Visitation for Cindy will be 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2009 and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Keplinger Funeral Home, 509 N. High St., Hartford City, IN Funeral service for Cindy will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Keplinger Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Hartford City Cemetery. Memorials: Memorials may be made to Cancer Support for Blackford County P.O. Box #327 Hartford City, IN 47348 or Cancer Services of East Central IN, Inc./Little Red Door 401 West Jackson Street Muncie, IN 47305. -------------------------------------------- Hey folks, I want to thank you all on behalf of the family for the kind words. Many of them gathered around their computers as Ferris hung the ride to read and see all the good karma that spilled out here. Cindy was able to read it too. She knew we were here. Please, if you send donations or flowers add Bad Weather Bikers to your inscription so they know. Flowers are being handled by Foister's Flowers(765-348-3892). Thanks, JB2 (Message edited by jb2 on September 21, 2009) |
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