It's almost been a year... Thumper's last ride

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Paul ( Thumper ) has crossed my mind many times over this last year he put up a 8 year fight with cancer and I still feel when the doctor told him he had 4 months to live thats when he stopped living and started dying.... After the doctor told him this it was within a few day of 4 months he died 
Ride On My Friend... Rest In Peace









We scattered his ashes across the mountains of north Georgia , western North Carolina and east Tennessee the places that Paul loved to ride.










Paul on left with Mike ( hupcap ) on The Blue Ridge Parkway.




Paul on left with Smokinjoe at Maggie Valley , North Carolina






RIDE ON MY FRIEND ....

[Willow]

He's crossed my mind also, Joe, several times.  It's hard to believe it's been almost a year.

I grieve your loss of your friend, Joe.  He was a real fighter.  I can't say that I know whether I ever met Thumper face to face, but from what I viewed of him in writing, the world was a better place for his being hear.

Ride on, Thumper. Ride on.

[Jess Tolbirt]

RIP Paul

[PAVALKER]

Wow.... pretty moving.  I mourn your loss and appreciate you keeping your friends memories alive and sharing.

That was a fitting ceremony.....

[Duffy]

I am with you Joe. 

Chris and I stopped by Blood Mountain and the rock where we spread some of his ashes last weekend.



We plan to ride to the Dragon this weekend and stop by the overlook.


Paul used to get Chris and I out on the bikes most weekends. We have noticed our riding miles are down this year. Some of that is the rain, but I think a big part is Paul not calling and convincing us to go ride instead of whatever our wives had in mind. 

And the North Georgia Motorcycle Club sure misses him leading rides. It's funny, I used to get a little irritated by him always wanting to lead or be second, now I wish he was here to lead the rides. 

His brother Greg, who organized Thumper's Last Ride also passed, earlier this year. I like to think they are riding the never ending twisties together somewhere. We miss them both.

I think this was Paul's last Fall Color ride, 2011 at Philips Motel:


Here he is on 7/7/12, the last time he piloted his valk, Charlene:

[Oss]

thanks for posting that Joe

Did only meet Paul once or twice, last time at Maggie Valley

Seems some good folks are gone just way too soon

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Wow.... pretty moving.  I mourn your loss and appreciate you keeping your friends memories alive and sharing.

That was a fitting ceremony.....

We went for a ride one day and when we stopped at the overlook on The Dragon he told me the cancer was going to win and he would be gone. He said he wanted his ashes scattered across some of his favorite roads. I sat there while he told me this speechless... I told him I'd do it if the ashes wasn't gooey and I could throw a handful at Killboy when we rode by... He just smiled and said " Only you would say that Joe "  

[Duffy]

Here is his brother Greg (left) at the overlook. Cancer got him too, passing on 6.9.13:


And here is Joe spreading Paul's ashes on the roads he loved:


I think Paul would have been happy with the send off we gave him.

[The Anvil]

I didn't know him, but that was a pretty awesome way to send him off.

[rainman]

That is funny in a sad way. Was going threw some of my pictures the other day and ran across a picture of paul.  I only meet him a couple of times talked shorty with him.  You know something when you retire you start seeing people you know passing younger than you and makes you stop and look.  I know as for me I thank God every day that I am still alive and the health that I got not the best but still doing what I love.

[T-Bird]

Thanks for posting Joe. I think about Paul often too. I have that picture of him waving goodbye on the wall in my garage. I thought about him the other day when they said on the radio it had been one year since the record heat day in Knoxville @ 107 degrees, and Paul rode with us on that day.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Joe, I think about Paul quite often and saved that last shot of him ridin away. Most excellent remembrance.

[Stanley Steamer]

I think about Paul quiet often......miss him!......

[Daniel Meyer]

 

[Mr Whiskey]

Always give Thumper a shout out when we run the Dragon!
Peace, Whiskey.

[98 T]

I never got to meet  Paul, but I thought that picture of him riding off into the mist looked so good, I made a copy of it and have it framed in 8 x 10 on my desk at home.




I followed the posts of him skydiving and other stuff on his bucket list. From all I read, Paul finished life his way with class an dignity.

I look at it often to remind me of how short life is. It reminds me that life is better with friends, it also reminds of friends I've lost,  and that I should try each day to be a little better than I was yesterday.

RIP Paul.

[Duffy]

Always give Thumper a shout out when we run the Dragon!
Peace, Whiskey.

 

Yep, I blow the horn and talk to him in my helmet every time we go over Blood Mtn, which is often. 

A couple more pics:

[old2soon]

Another BRO I never met broke bread with or shared wind with. R I P Paul.

[eric in md]

    great memories   thanks paul ...   rip buddy