Blogging about friends who have died is becoming way too frequent around here. Ok, I get it. A motorcycle may be the most unforgiving machine ever created. If you manage to survive a fall off of one you call it a good day, no matter what other injuries you may have acquired as a result.
John Ryan was extreme in an extreme sport. His long distance endurance rides put him in a class by himself. He called himself a "militant motorcyclist". And he was. He didn't believe in cars and he managed to live his life so that it was all about riding. And he made no apologies for it. There are few out there who eschew all convention and truly live the life they want to live. But John was one of those courageous souls.
I wrote about how I first met him and his participation in spreading Eddie's ashes back in January of 2011.
http://livinglurleen.blogspot.com/2011/01/crazy-maybe-maybe-not.html
Right after Ardys Kellerman died earlier this year I wrote a blog about her impact on me. I lamented the fact that I would never experience the Iron Butt Rally first hand. I had no sooner hit the "Post" key when my phone rang.
John Ryan.
He had a crazy idea. What if he and I teamed up for the 2015 Iron Butt Rally?
"I was competent enough to have finished ahead of guys like Eddie and Eric Jewell", he said as he attempted to sell me on the idea.
His reasoning was simple enough - he had said he would never ride in the IBR again unless he had a really good reason. I had a really good reason.
"You can do all the routing. I'll just keep the wheels turning and you can nap whenever you want."
Hmmmm..... my initial reaction was that it was the most insane idea ever. Riding two-up for a mini-rally is one thing but spending 11 days in the saddle with someone is a whole other matter. It would have been really hard to do it with Eddie and we were in love with each other.
To do it with a rider like John? Well, hmmmm....
I spoke to John for the last time last Monday. The call was unusual because it came during daylight.
"Hey Lisa."
"Hey John."
"I'm out of Eddie."
"Huh?"
"I'm out of Eddie."
I started laughing. He had run out of Eddie's ashes. I had lost count of how many vials of Eddie I had given to John. Thanks to Mr. Ryan, Eddie is all over the Eastern Seaboard.
"Ok", I said. "I have plenty."
We discussed logistics and his family's plan to move to Virginia from New Jersey. He would be driving a truck to the new farm outside of Charlottesville the next day. He didn't say when he would return.
When I got the news yesterday that John was gone my first thought was that it had to be a mistake. Denial immediately kicked in. I kept saying, "But he's in Virginia. He's not even on his bike."
But he wasn't in Virginia and he was on his bike. And now, like Eddie, Curt and Ardys, he is gone.
I don't think I ever really thanked him for all those late night calls after Eddie died. I would be in my darkest moments, contemplating the fact that I had no desire to continue this life without Eddie. And then the phone would ring and it would be John.
And we would talk about riding and motorcycles and Eddie and the wonderful people we both knew.
I would hang up and that moment of total darkness would be gone, at least for a little while. And when it returned, almost by magic, there would be John, talking me through it.
John Ryan was one of the most unique people I have ever known. He lived his life exactly as he wanted.
All he wanted was to ride. And that is exactly what he did. A true militant to the very end.
_____________________________________
Melissa Holbrook Pierson was so inspired by John Ryan she wrote a book with him as the central character. Her writing is exquisite and even if you don't like motorcycles, I highly recommend this book and her others. She is a truly gifted writer.
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Man-Who-Would-Stop-at-Nothing/
John Ryan was extreme in an extreme sport. His long distance endurance rides put him in a class by himself. He called himself a "militant motorcyclist". And he was. He didn't believe in cars and he managed to live his life so that it was all about riding. And he made no apologies for it. There are few out there who eschew all convention and truly live the life they want to live. But John was one of those courageous souls.
I wrote about how I first met him and his participation in spreading Eddie's ashes back in January of 2011.
http://livinglurleen.blogspot.com/2011/01/crazy-maybe-maybe-not.html
Right after Ardys Kellerman died earlier this year I wrote a blog about her impact on me. I lamented the fact that I would never experience the Iron Butt Rally first hand. I had no sooner hit the "Post" key when my phone rang.
John Ryan.
He had a crazy idea. What if he and I teamed up for the 2015 Iron Butt Rally?
"I was competent enough to have finished ahead of guys like Eddie and Eric Jewell", he said as he attempted to sell me on the idea.
His reasoning was simple enough - he had said he would never ride in the IBR again unless he had a really good reason. I had a really good reason.
"You can do all the routing. I'll just keep the wheels turning and you can nap whenever you want."
Hmmmm..... my initial reaction was that it was the most insane idea ever. Riding two-up for a mini-rally is one thing but spending 11 days in the saddle with someone is a whole other matter. It would have been really hard to do it with Eddie and we were in love with each other.
To do it with a rider like John? Well, hmmmm....
I spoke to John for the last time last Monday. The call was unusual because it came during daylight.
 |
| John leaving Eddie at the home of The Moonshine Rally |
"Hey Lisa."
"Hey John."
"I'm out of Eddie."
"Huh?"
"I'm out of Eddie."
I started laughing. He had run out of Eddie's ashes. I had lost count of how many vials of Eddie I had given to John. Thanks to Mr. Ryan, Eddie is all over the Eastern Seaboard.
"Ok", I said. "I have plenty."
We discussed logistics and his family's plan to move to Virginia from New Jersey. He would be driving a truck to the new farm outside of Charlottesville the next day. He didn't say when he would return.
When I got the news yesterday that John was gone my first thought was that it had to be a mistake. Denial immediately kicked in. I kept saying, "But he's in Virginia. He's not even on his bike."
But he wasn't in Virginia and he was on his bike. And now, like Eddie, Curt and Ardys, he is gone.
I don't think I ever really thanked him for all those late night calls after Eddie died. I would be in my darkest moments, contemplating the fact that I had no desire to continue this life without Eddie. And then the phone would ring and it would be John.
And we would talk about riding and motorcycles and Eddie and the wonderful people we both knew.
I would hang up and that moment of total darkness would be gone, at least for a little while. And when it returned, almost by magic, there would be John, talking me through it.
John Ryan was one of the most unique people I have ever known. He lived his life exactly as he wanted.
All he wanted was to ride. And that is exactly what he did. A true militant to the very end.
_____________________________________
Melissa Holbrook Pierson was so inspired by John Ryan she wrote a book with him as the central character. Her writing is exquisite and even if you don't like motorcycles, I highly recommend this book and her others. She is a truly gifted writer.
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Man-Who-Would-Stop-at-Nothing/
Heartfelt and true. For those of us who did not get the opportunity to know John in person it is nice to read about him through the eyes of someone who knew him personally. I only met him once but was amazed by his gracious and kind persona. It is a true loss.
ReplyDelete~ Minna
One of the things found at John's crash site was the remains of a canister of Ardys' ashes. I don't ride anything like John did but I carry a canister of her ashes too looking for the right spot to scatter them. Until I find that spot she will keep traveling on. It does not appear that John will be cremated but it would be very appropriate for his ashes to just keep traveling on in the pocket or bag of riders across the country.
ReplyDelete