Thumper's Final Ride....The Ride

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

We had a great group of rider's friday for the ride down through the Tennessee,North Carolina and Georgia mountains. Friday was hot and we took a break along the Hiwassee River in Tennessee.





A couple riders with us Brad and his Dad Al from Michigan had never seen The Field Of The Woods in North Carolina so we made a quick stop for them to check it out ( A cool place to see ).





If you folks have never rode Hwy 60 in north Georgia its a must do if you love nice long hammer down sweeps and tight curves. Another break in the shade this time along the Toccoa River in Georgia.




The friday night wake they had for Paul in Roswell,Georgia was very nice and my camera was in my room   I'm hoping someone else will post some pictures.
" Thumpers Final Ride " was saturday I did'nt count the bikes but I'm guessing somewhere around 25 / 30 bikes and a few cars as well. The cars did'nt effect the ride they stayed in the back and played catch-up all day as we had a blast runnin' the mountain twisties with Duffy leading the way on Paul's bike draggin' the pegs just like Paul would have wanted it.

Not sure who paided for the t-shirts but it was a cool touch to the ride.



First stop to spread Paul was on Blood Mountain the folks in the North Georgia Motorcycle Club call this mountain " Paul's Mountain " as he loved ridin' the awesome twisties this part of US 129 has to offer.



Before leaving this stop we let Paul ride with me this contained Paul's heart and mind and I let it rip down the mountain with Paul smiling all the way.Duffy cut the  bag and yelled GO. I told the folks just before that I can hear Paul now " With all these bike's here I get stuck ridin' bitch with Smokin'joe "    I had Paul with me here thru ( 3 ) states Georgia,North Carolina and Tennessee.



The over-look on The Dragon ( we cut the bag three times and Paul just wanted to keep on ridin' ) .


Next time you are standing on this spot ....Remember this picture. ( I've been here a hundred times over the years it will never be the same to me ) .





" The Money Shot " .....I'm going to miss you my friend.

[Crazyhorse]

Thanks for the post Joe.

[Kindred Spirit]

I sure hate we missed this!  Thanks for the pictures Joe.
Blessings,
Kendall and Nikki

[Fritz The Cat]

His spirit will live on in God's country.

[BamaDrifter64]

Leave it up to Paul to hang around to the very end of a ride...I've seen him do it more than once!   

Dave

[T-Bird]

It was great taking part in Thumpers last ride. I got to see and ride with old friends from the VRCC, and meet new friends from the North Georgia Riders Group.  The memorial at the Irish Pub on friday night was a first for me, it was informal with food and spirits and friends giving a few words about Paul. I have decided to have one for myself when the time comes....maybe a few trial runs before that!  

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Glad the ride was a success.

[old2soon]

Never knew this brother but he sounds like he was a hell of a guy. Sounds like a very nifty final ride.  I hope i'm half a lucky when the time comes. R I P Paul.  RIDE SAFE.

[donaldcc]

  Thanks for sharing!  Nice to see such support for a fallen rider. 

[MacDragon]

Very nice farewell... He will always be remembered as a kindred spirit.   We did the same for my brother 3 years ago July... We spread his ashes under a covered bridge in the middle of the woods of Connecticut.  Now I ride his Valk with him along with me every day. 
Paul and Mac have now met and are riding together, I'm sure.

RIP Paul... You left your mark.

[hubcapsc]

I came over the hill for the ride up "Paul" mountain...



-Mike

[..]

T-shirt didn't fit me but it fitted my bike



More photos here

http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa197/britman45_photo/Bike%20Thumpers%20last%20ride/?albumview=slideshow

[Duffy]

We did our best to send Paul off how he would want us to, with lots of help from many NGAMC and VRCC members. My personal thanks to all of you.  

Just got home about 4, got bikes to wash.

Great weather today though. Y'all should have stayed in Robbinsville last night and rode the Cherohalla Skyway with us today. It was good.

Larry dropped off some pictures (and veggies!) this afternoon so I will get those posted soon. Thanks Larry!

Most important, thanks Greg and Latrelle for everything you did for Paul this weekend and over the years! 

Not from yesterday.  

[JimmyG]

Great report, thanks. Wish I would have known him.

[gabby]

     Thanks for posting the wonderful pictures and I wish that I had met him . I can only hope that when my time comes,
I will have enough friends to remember all the fun times that I have shared wind with. This was by far the best tribute that I have ever seen for such a wonderful person who made a big difference in so many lives.  R I P Thumper.

Gabby

[Ramjet]

Great ride; great turnout; great group of people; great tribute.  Could not have been better; will remember Thumper when I ride the Dragon and Paul's mountain (Blood Mountain).

Thanks to those who put it together and those who attended.

[Stormrider65]

Godspeed Thumper.    I did not know you, but will remember you when I do get to ride the Dragon.  Great report.  I have already told my wife to give half of my ashes to a biker and the other half to a trucker.  Each one going the opposite way and to spread them whenever they like.  This a great group of people here.  I have rode with many groups in the past, but never have I been associated with a better bunch of riders like I have been here.  God bless all of you.

Walt

[eric in md]

very nicely done ... glad i was part of it .. paul would have been proud...   god speed buddy ..   you will be missed ...   

[98 T]

Thank you for sharing. I wish I could have been there.  A meaningful send off for one of the good guys by a great group of stand-up guys. 

Godspeed Thumper!

[Skinhead]

Joe thanks for posting this.

I wish I could have made the ride.  It is a tribute to the man that Thumper was that you all would give him this send off.  Well done by all.

[BradValk48237]

Great Ride, Thanks to Duffy and Joe for a great weekend and a great reason to hit "God's Country"

Glad we Could Represent some of the "Northerners" and had a great Ride..

Here's the Group at Deals Gap.......


Was a trip of Reptiles..... Rode the "Sidewinder" (60. I think it was called that), the "Dragon"(129), the "Rattler"(208), finished today on the "Snake"(421)........ Think we have slayed all them critters!

Headin' out from Bristol tomorrow to run 16 thru Virginia and WV up to some where in OH.... where ever we end up...

Once again... thanks to all for a great time and a great tribute to a guy I wished I had ridden with... When he was not "Half in the bag" on the Dragon..... he must have been a great guy to have all you riders and friends there to honor him..... Sorry I missed him...... but he has allowed me to meet many new friends just by his name and presence......

Hope to see you all again of these days soon..... You' all gotta show me some new reptiles to slay.....

Brad

[Disco]

You guys are great.  What a wonderful tribute.  Wish I had met Paul and had been with you this weekend.  cursed gnats.

[fon1961]

awesome tribute by the folks that he loved to ride with, very cool 

[3fan4life]

Headed out Saturday morning for Deals Gap to meet up with the others, to take part in Thumper's Final Ride.

I made it there in good time and was actually early so I had plenty of time to just watch the comings and goings at the store.


It started raining just a little while before the "gang" arrived.


   


I didn't get a count but it was an impressive number of bikes that rolled into the parking lot at the gap.








After some food and fellowship the gang headed across The Dragon to the overlook to say a final goodbye.

 





Smokin' Joe spread some of Thumper's ashes on The Dragon



As a couple of bikes passed by it occurred to me that in a way a part of him would now, always be "riding" the dragon.




Thumper's ashes were spread at the overlook.



A few words were said and Daniel Meyer's poem was read.




Friends and Family gathered for one last photo and scattered to the winds just before the sky opened up.





I wish that I had been fortunate to have known Thumper well.

I only met him once but I know that he was a great guy.

I have nothing but the greatest admiration for him and how well he fought the fight.

He showed all of us how to live, and how to face death.

I know from what others have said that he was a man of faith and because of that I know that he is now with others from the VRCC that were also taken from us way too soon.

Who knows, maybe they are together enjoying a ride greater than any of us can imagine.


In the meantime his earthly remains were placed somewhere that he loved to be.

And a more beautiful place is indeed hard to find.



In the future if you find yourself riding the Dragon, stop at the overlook, take a break and enjoy the view.

And while you're there take a minute to remember Thumper and the lessons that he taught us.

I know that I will.................................

     

It has been said that it is what we do with the dash between the years that counts.

While his years may have been few, he definitely made sure that the "dash" mattered.  

Vaya con Dios, Thumper.






I have more pictures from Thumper's last ride on Photobucket @:

http://photobucket.com/Thumpers_Final_Ride

I know that there are some of Thumper's family and friends who don't visit the board that would like to have some of them.

If any of you are in contact with them, please share the photobucket link with them.  

[HayHauler]

Awesome tribute guys.  I never met Thumper, but felt I knew him through all of the ride reports and pictures that Joe and others have posted.  

Thanks for the report.  
RIP Thumper.

Hay
Jimmyt

[robin]

You guys are what friends are all about!!!
I'm sure Paul was with ya'll and loved every minute of it.

[Ice]

To all, thanks for sharing, we wished we could have been there. Great pictures.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Very VERY nice! Thanks.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Thanks everyone for the comments and pictures .....That was a ride I'll never forget.

[BigAl]

Truly a man on a mission.

Joe you are a good man.

Thanks for taking Paul aka Thumper home.

He was my friend and more, he was a real man.

Never complained about his lot in life.

I will miss him.

[fudgie]

You guys are awesome. 

[VALKIFIED]

What the members did here is a great tribute to this man I never met but wish I had. The people that I have met since becoming a Valkyrie owner are of the highest caliber and hope to know you all on a more personel level going forward. Taking Thumper on his last ride and spreading his ashes on his roads brought tears to my eyes and tugs on my heart.

[houstone]

Wow.  Well done, and thanks for sharing.

[RainMaker]

Should I be fortunate enough to find myself on that road again, I'll be sure to stop and say "hi" to Paul.

RainMaker

[Mr Whiskey]

Sure glad I got to make this ride!
First chance I get, I'll see if I got any worthwhile pic's.
God Bless Thumper, he's free an in the wind now.
May we all be so lucky someday!
Peace, Whiskey.