We Lost a Friend

[motowriter]

Please accept my heart-felt condolences, everyone.

Gary

Reno, NV

 

[Grumpy]

So sorry to hear this news. I only knew Andrew thru this forum, but feel the loss.

Jim

 

[HaulinAshe]

The infamous words of Billy Joel... "Only the good die young."

Our thoughts and prayers go to Sheri and family.

Jeff Ashe

 

[spklbuk]

A truly sad day. Prayers to you Sherri and to y'alls family.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Saw this at first post and couldn't believe what had happened. I ride with the Nor Cal group and am very saddened to hear of the loss. Prayers for Sheri and the family.

 

[rogdeb]

Deb & I are reading this and finding it really hard to let the info sink in .....................

One helluva loss indeed

RIP Andrew...........

Sherri, if we can do ANYTHING - we're just down the road.......

Andrew - you'll be sorely missed brother

Rog n Debs

Salmon Falls Rd -- ridden it many times and it can bite......... this wants to make me quit riding.

 

[radman]

Deb & I are reading this and finding it really hard to let the info sink in .....................One helluva loss indeed

RIP Andrew...........

Sherri, if we can do ANYTHING - we're just down the road.......

Andrew - you'll be sorely missed brother

Rog n Debs

Salmon Falls Rd -- ridden it many times and it can bite......... this wants to make me quit riding.

Ditto. So today, I went for a hundred miler. Almost blew a stop sign, almost went down in soft dirt. Guess my mind wasn't on the ride, and I'm not going back out until it can be-enough death around here as it is.

 

[exskibum]

Weather Underground (wunderground.com) reports that Sacramento experienced light rain throughout the afternoon yesterday. Was the road wet in places?

I don't know enough to say with any certainty, but I'm not sure that this happened after it began raining -- may have happened Friday afternoon, and that is before we got any rain here. (I'm in Auburn.) At this point, we're speculating, and we may never know exactly what happened, other than the tragic consequences.

I am terribly sorry to learn of Andew’s passing, and feel a gut-wrenching connection through Salmon Falls Rd. I’ll never ride it again without thinking about Andrew.

My feelings, too, Gary. But I'm afraid that I won't ever ride LaPorte Road, 49 through Downieville, Gold Lakes Road, or 89 north through Lassen Park, and many more routes, without thinking about Andrew. I'm sure I'll see him standing on a rock at the overlook on Monitor, gazing south, for years to come, as well.

Andrew left more than he took with him -- that was his gift, his generosity, and the product of his perspective. He'll be sorely missed.

Godspeed Andrew, and prayers for Sherri in this time of agonizing loss.

 

[jwilly]

I was just going through some of Andrews posts and the pictures in his ride reports have just taken on a new meaning. Rest in Peace Andrew. You will be missed but not forgotten!

 

[snikr]

Even though I never met the man....THIS JUST BLOWS!

Tom

 

[trimmantom]

Guys I was just reading through some of Andrews posts and one that I think everyone should read and I'd transfer it here but I'm so computer illiterate.

Go to ride reports A typical 680 mile day in Cal and read his post at #24 it kinda of told you how he felt about riding.

Read it and it may make us all realize he died doing what he really loved.

 

[Fred W]

I was just going through some of Andrews posts and the pictures in his ride reports have just taken on a new meaning. Rest in Peace Andrew. You will be missed but not forgotten!

Willy,

I know exactly what you mean. I just reposted that 2nd picture in the other thread. I remember when I first saw it at the end of that ride report I commented back to Andrew that he had caught something special. Expressive was the term I used. Little did I know...

 

[Jer]

I mentioned in a post that I was having trouble posting pictures. Andrew e-mailed me leaving his phone number and telling me to call and he could probably help me out. During our phone conversation he mentioned that if I was ever in the Sacramento area he and Sherry would be glad to put me up. After that brief conversation I became a Andrew fan, reading all of his posts. I can't express my shock and disbelive that this kind, generous man is gone from our lives. I had plans of riding down from my home in Salem, Oregon next summer to meet him and do some riding with him.

Jer

 

[RadioHowie]

Like many here on the forum, I never had the opportunity to meet OVale, but from his postings, he was certainly a part of my "life".

The world is a darker, drearier place today.

 

[PapaUtah]

I met this nice couple in Reno. Sherri, I am saddened to hear of your loss. You and your family are in our prayers. I hope Andrew is riding the best roads in heaven right now.

 

[twowheelnut]

All,

I just got off the phone with Sherri. She is at her neighbor's home with her daughter and friends. Needless to say, she needs our support and love right now as she is hurting terribly, but she is a strong woman. With a little help, she'll make it through this dark time.

Ours was a very, very short conversation and she knows about the support, thoughts and feelings coming from you all. Thank you for that.

Sadness permeates my entire being tonight...

- Tim

 

[RonBB]

Only knew Andrew through the forum persona-Always liked his postings. Even though I didn't know Andrew I will miss the postings. My very best to Sherri & the family-I am so very sorry to hear of this & your loss. Very Sincerely, Ron

 

[kuklaki]

I am so sad to hear this news. My thoughts go out to everyone who his life has touched, those who loved him and those who were loved by him-from reading these posts, there are no shortage of you who are feeling a great loss.

 

[dcarver]

Sherri,

My heart goes out to you in your hours of grief, anger and despair. I have lost a wonderful friend. You and your family have lost that and so much more. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers, thoughts, and tears.

When the time arrives and you've the courage to read through all these posts, see how we all knew Andrew; as a fine and gentle man, a loving husband who adored you, a fellow's best friend, rider, confidant and mentor. These will be my long term memories of Andrew.

A quick story for you Sherri, my last conversation via PM with Andrew went like this.

Andrew - I hear your on tough times, would you like to borrow my FJR or the FZ6 until your bike is repaired? I think I can talk Sherri into letting you use the FZ6."

Don - WOW, Thanks for the offer Andrew, I'm very appeciative but think I can ride the storm out. You are a true friend, Andrew."

Andrew - "All I have are true friends. No need to spend the energy on anything less than a true friend."

I'm honored to have been considered a true friend by Andrew. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Don

 

[fhaze]

“Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming ... WOW! What a ride!”

RIP Brother..see you on the other side.