TWN 2 years on.......

[Fairlaner]

Some of you may know some of you may not know but today August 22nd is the 2 year anniversary of the passing of Tim Bates (TWN).

Some of us just got back from the 60th birthday celebrations for one of Tim's friends (MCML) and are a bit worse for weare.

Those of you that know me know my thoughts on the TWN deal, my idea is that tomorrow 6pm PST we all raise a glass to Tim, the toast will be absent friends which will also include Andrew of course.

also I would like you all to post your favorite funny memories of THE NUT....... we all have them so post away.

As of this moment i have Tim's brother Chris, Don Carver, Silver penguin with there significant others on my deck so i am a little bit worse for ware. I will recheck this in the AM but in the mean time post away.......

R

 

[Panman]

6 PM PST I have a little Egale Rare left from Eureka courtsy of Hudson.

A toast to TWN. A shot headed home from Golden.

NAFO had been my first event and talked to Tim a few times, good guy.

 

[scubatech]

I remember TWN at NAFO signing folks in for the event,kickin' back having a bourbon on the rocks. Seemed like a great guy. He promoted these events like he had done it all his life!

 

[slapnpop]

Something I haven't shared on the forum before, and one of my strongest memories of Tim:

Just before WFO in '07, I had lost my job and had been unemployed for almost 3 months. I was living in Tennessee at the time, and having a hard time finding work. There just weren't any jobs available in the area. I had lots of free time, but no money.

Tim heard about my situation, and wanted me to come out to Utah since I wasn't busy. I told him there was no way I could make it happen. We had a long conversation, and he ended up convincing me to ride my bike across the country. The biggest risk was that instead of turning around and heading back east to TN after WFO, I would instead keep heading west to Portland Oregon where I would look for work.

It's been almost 3 years since then. I love my new job, and my new home. I have Tim to thank, in large part, for my new life. Every day when I go to work, or when I come home to my new (to me) house, I think of Tim and say a little thank you. Without Tim's encouragement, and outreach into the lives of people he's never met I wouldn't be where I am today.

There were a few others that helped me along the way, and you know who you are. You all hold a special place in my heart.

But for Tim, we raise the glass high. We utter words of profanity, and make obscene gestures to cameras at every opportunity. Most of all, we live on with the spirit of friendship that Tim held so close to his heart, and lived his life by.

 

[exskibum]

I only met Tim in person once -- June '07 Yosemite and Mammoth trip. He showed up from the south on his Wee-Strom, Andrew showed up a little later from the north; it's hard to believe they're both gone now. We sat through the longest wait for dinner ever Friday night, and got roaring drunk in the Highlanders' suite the next night in Mammoth. Like others, I'd had numerous PMs with him on topics off the board.

Tim had a truly unique combination of humor and perspective mixed with that dry F.U. exterior. If you didn't get it before, once you knew where he was coming from, his posts were often the funniest things on the board -- sometimes looked acerbic, but were typically insightful and downright funny. Behind it all was a kind and thoughtful soul. This board has never been the same since his passing, and I doubt that many would debate that.

Miss you, Baron von Posthoffen, and will be having something alcoholic at 6 pm** this evening in your honor.

11,031

** Fairlaner, please note that it's PDT here in California (not PST) this time of year. I suppose we're lucky you didn't call out GMT?

 

[madmike2]

Hmmmm...most of the "funny" memories are conversations and reading his posts. I have some great memories of riding and enjoying his company.

A scary group in Death Valley:

I remember that Tim had a bat in his room and Highlander and I helped him chase the creature out the door. I s'pose you had to be there!?!?

Memories:

The trip to WFO-Park City UT. Conversations at every stop and every evening.

The trip to NAFO-Golden CO. Meeting Joe (MCML) and Tim at Joe's condo in Crested Butte, the dinner, the ride to GOlden the next day and too many incidents to list.

Morrow Bay.

I miss you, Tim. You were a friend, encourager, mentor, host, gentleman and a great example for all of us.

 

[Patriot]

I'm infected with the Tim disease from all of you. Only joined the forum Dec '08.

But at any opportunity, I will affectionately make the TWN gesture to my friends with a wry smile on my face. Best seems to be with my CMA peeps.

I did so in honor of Tim riding the Dragon in front of one of the five commercial photographers Sat 11 days ago. I'm not at all sure which company that one was, but I'm determined to find those shots, purchase them, and post them up.

Cyberspace is a funny thing. I think of Andrew and Tim often because of their wonderful effect on ya'll.

<sigh>

 

[FJR_pig]

:drinks:

6 p.m. Will do.

ig_ball:

 

[beemerdons]

:drinks:
6 p.m. Will do.

ig_ball:

+1, Gunny! Thank you Richard for posting this. I will fondly remember TWN and Orangevale at 1800 hours with the rest of the fine folks here on our FJR Forum. Met Tim three times (Andrew just twice), each time out on a ride with vectervp1 and SkooterG. Great Man, Great Motorcyclist and Great Friend! Excellent work on your part, Fairlaner!

 

[madmike2]

I went back and viewed many of the ride reports from NAFO (They're around page 40, if you're interested.)

I've also been looking at other memorable reports and found some YouTube links you all might enjoy:

Warning: You may want to break out your tissue....I needed some. :cray:

 

[Intech]

Was up in NH for the Greens and Whites this weekend. The last of us die-hards were still sitting up past midnight last night at the hotel. MEM remembered it was the aniversary of Tim's passing. The three of us made a toast then. I never met the man, but certainly wish I had.

 

[Bustanut joker]

It sure was a shock to wake up with a birthday hangover and read that message ....

 

[tesla]

What happened to Tim? He sounds like a great guy and well liked. If this thread is just for friends that want to remember him, then please ignore my question. Yes, I know I could do a search but I just don't have the time and was hoping to find out here.

 

[Fairlaner]

What happened to Tim? He sounds like a great guy and well liked. If this thread is just for friends that want to remember him, then please ignore my question. Yes, I know I could do a search but I just don't have the time and was hoping to find out here.

HERE is a little lite reading for you........

R

 

[Niehart]

I will be tipping a glass in his honor.

Some of his insights at Andrew's funeral still ring in my mind.

 

[Barabus]

Tim at Bonneville

Tim and Jean at Kuwnageorge's camp-out

Tim prepping for another ride report.

The pictures make me happy but the stories still seem hard to tell. Maybe for next year.

 

[eeksnake]

:drinks: at 6PM it is.

 

[Tyler]

Every day when I go to work, or when I come home to my new (to me) house, I think of Tim and say a little thank you. Without Tim's encouragement, and outreach into the lives of people he's never met I wouldn't be where I am today.

I never had the honor of knowing Tim while he was here but have gotten to know him through all of you, your memories, pics, and stories. The thing that seems to shine through is his heart... of being able to truly be a friend to anyone who crossed his path whether in person or on the forum. I know personally that he lives on through all of you as I have witnessed first hand that heart that he shard with all of you.

Wishing you all peace in the memories and knowing he still lives on through each of you. 6 p.m. my glass will be raised.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I can imagine Tim looking down on (or up to) last night's celebrations with a smile. He was so much a part of the evening, that it was almost as though he were there in person. There will probably be a photo showing up soon with the group salute.

My favorite memory of TWN is from NAFO. Early Friday morning I was on my way to the hotel gym and saw Tim sitting at the sign-in table, glass in hand (and it didn't look like OJ). He laughed at the concept of working-out at that time of day, and suggested that I do a bit extra, on his behalf.