Interesting way to go
A couple of years ago I ran into a friend on the way home from a weekend ride. Heading home, Heather and I opted for the San Marcos Pass route versus the coast. 
A stop at the Cold Springs Tavern is mandatory. Lot’s of motorcycles…mostly the Harley crowd, but a few sportbikes thrown in for flavor. My old friend Matt is the bartender and it’s always good to see him…and by the way…he limits me to ONE ‘light’ beer. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to listen to Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan…two of the most talented and entertaining musicians you’ll ever hear. It’s a great Sunday ride destination. This day turned out a little different.
While enjoying my ‘one’ light beer, checking out motorcycles and enjoying an afternoon in the mountains, the master of high performance exhaust systems for cars, my friend John Wayne taps me on the shoulder. John is a great man. Hot Rodder, biker, terrific dad and friend.
As we were talking about his new bike, a Road King, a group gathered around a bike in the middle of the road. Whats the crowd about? John explained to me what was going on. A riding friend of theirs had passed away recently from cancer. His family had him cremated as per his wishes.Some people put a fancy urn on the mantle, some spread the ashes on the ocean or out in the garden. But what to do with this mans ashes?
This group of riding friends figured it out. Spread his ashes at the places he liked to ride to. They spent the day riding to their compatriot’s favorite destinations to spread his ashes and spirit.
Now…here is the interesting part. At each stop a friend would take a handful of ashes, stand behind another friend on his motorcycle..the rider would rev the engine and spread the ashes with the exhaust blast. All there would cheer, celebrate his life and then ride to the next ‘resting place’.
The most interesting funeral, or in this case, celebration of someones life I have ever been to. I don’t know the man, I don’t even know his name, but I know he was loved by many. We should all be so lucky.
Ride safe, ride fast, ride far and have good friends.
I’ll see you on the road,
Paul