“Jersey Mikes “. Last Ride Memorial.

cgaroutte1201

cgaroutte1201

Member
mastiffdave said:
Sitting out here in the outside living room to which was one of mikes favorite places and realized it’s now time. Mike first of all was my friend and a very true friend as he was to many others in this group. Yes he was loud and had a knack for calling right when I was in a project with grease clear to my elbows or on horseback trying to catch a wayward bovine off the interstate or many others such scenarios. That being said I loved that big guy and the more you was around Mike you realized there were many many layers of Mike. Yes some of them washed off after he rode that bike for most a week that should have taken two days . H always stayed around a few days to a week after everyone else had gone and I came to realize that he just wanted to have family and true friends ,of which he had neither except here at the farm and the fine people of this big dog forum. We had lots of deep talks and last year when I told him there would not be any more gatherings it about broke his heart and he assured me there would be one more held here at the farm and I just laughed. Imagine my shock at the news and instantly knew there would be one more gathering. I’ve got the ashes of Mike here at farm which I see as a great honor, where others saw only liability to be rid of . Mike loved all the country and saw a lot of it but had many more areas that he wanted to see but he loved this part of Arkansas and east Oklahoma and his special friends in the establishments we frequented .

Many nights at deep thought here in horse barn I developed an idea or plan if you will to show Mike how much he meant to me and to many orders. First he’s going to Sturgis since his plan last year to go fell thru. wheather or not I get a clean bill of health this week I’m taking off on the 2000 mile journey to deliver a small part to the black hills and if I can circle thru Wyoming.

Now for the main event which I think should be that last weekend of September 26 and 27. You can come early and stay late , I don’t care but 26 and 27 will be the days. This WILL NOT be like any gatherings before, it will strictly be a time to honor Mike and engage with the great friendships that has evolved in this group. Big dog motorcycles brought each one of us together but it’s grown so much more that just bikes. It’s the real family that some of us never had. Anyone that feels the same and wants to honor Mike is welcome.

friday we are going west around grand lake and stopping at the Bra Bar . Mike liked this route and liked stopping at this bar. His highlife tale of this route was when the whole group roared and rumbled thru grove while a parade was going on and unknowingly,we were in the middle of it.

Saturday ,we going to Cookson the the deck , he loved that place and those girls loved him. They were distraught at the news and asked if they could be one more time a part of the group and make mikes last ride a part of the deck. I said he is smiling right now cause his plan is now complete. They asked for Saturday so everyone of the wait staff and owners could be a part of this. I already ordered a burnt cheese pizzia which is a inside joke from another ride years ago.

On these rides there will not be a dedicated leader or blockers . It is just not safe any longer to d this and safety is the name of the game here. No hot rodding and everyone ridding at his own pace with a common destination. I will print maps for everyone and the groups should not be more than four to six bikes at most. Every bit of these routes will have major road construction and many unplanned construction stops. In otherwise not bike friendly but for Mike these are the routes.

There is electric and bathroom and shower at horse barn . The electric where the big campers stay out by shop is iffy and will not have time to work on it..
Hman has the Harry Potter room in the house and there are three more rooms available but Harry gets first pick if he wants an upgrade.

Bikes , cars, vettes, it doesn’t matter what you bring , Mike would just want all his friends in one place .

Anything anyone else wants to add ,please feel free to do so.

Rip old friend.
Click to expand...
Gentry is only an hour away from me, so I'm hoping I can make it, would be cool to meet some fellow Dawgs, and I didn't know Mike passed, seems like he was just helping me with mine last year? What happened? Sorry for digging up the past.
 
mastiffdave

mastiffdave

Well-Known Member
Well gentlemen and ladies, it’s two weeks away and I’m attempting to update a bit. ive brought out the good stuff for tonight to collect my thoughts and try to post a pic but it’s hard to beat garrison bourbon and chocolate pudding.lolIMG_0323.jpeg
I wasn’t planning on doing anything extra this year as I wanted it all to be about Mike . So I rebuilt the entire 1/2 mile drive way and drainage with 5 loads of fresh top gravel , rewired some janky electrical stuff and prob made it more janky and replumbed the outside potty and shower. Oh and took out 6 dead trees in the yard so nothing could fall on bikes or people. .

ok really , I'm haven’t planned much like we used to do as far as food and meals ,I’m gonna let that go as we make do mighty well with what’s needed. we can fly by ear on that and I don’t think anyone gonna starve to death if we didn’t cook all weekend.

what I have done and I’m goin to spill the beans early to get some feed back .

like I said earlier Friday going to bra bar around grand lake in Oklahoma and will just go in small groups and I’ll have maps or go off gps.
come back to farm and just have. Grand old time in mikes honor.

Sat we go to the deck in Oklahoma and again in small groups at your own speed . Road const is gonna suck ,it’s all tore up but it is what it is. Take bikes or vehicles.

Sat night is where I’ve let my imagination run a little wild and I’m excited about it coming together.

the only thing Mike ever said that he wanted done at end of life was sale his stuff and donate to wounded warriors. Actually last year we had a in depth conversation after everyone had left and it was just he and I and hman. Unfortunately I failed at protecting our friends assets and some of his fake friends used it to their own advantage And I won’t go into any other detail except it’s over. So I’ve had to compromise and overcome the adversity but I believe I have developed a plan that even that big headed shit himself would say holy shit look at that. In fact he’s sitting in his box in his swinging chair tonight on the patio enjoying the evening. ( gotta have humor about this stuff.)

i want to raise all the funds possible for the donation and there will be a raffle instead of a auction. That way everyone can play and spend as little or as much money as he wants to and everyone will still have a chance .

my entire preparation for this gathering has been thinking and contacting people to make his wish come true and I believe I’ve got it done . There is one little thing I want feed back on to make this complete. I’ve tweaked things around and have a plan that I believe Mike would be so very proud of.

Big Jersey Mike was so proud of his biker family and he always made goodies for us and I am very proud of what he made Buff and I over the years And I know many of you are as well.
here is the good part:
The second picture is Three leather quart jar wraps that I made in mikes honor . It commemer Mikes last Ride with his True Friends And yes Family , I’m proud he was my brother And we had lots of conversations on the late nights I spent making these.
There will be only three for raffle at the gathering and here is the best part. Chubbs, the master of all things shine has made a special batch and it will be in these wraps for the winner to do as they choose.
There is a fourth one and here is where I need help. The idea came late one night that there are people on the forum that is unable to attend in person and people from foreign lands that never met Mike and they might like to contribute to the donation amount in mikes honor. So I want to set up a Venmo act or something similar where the whole forum can participate in this. I know a lot of trust will have to be extended and i Want no accusations of scam or similar. If I can pull this off I think an astronomical amount of funds can be raised for the donation.
I need help with this as its out of my league. Someone please advise how to do this or please someone just take this job on , I just can’t do this Part , the rest I got .
last but not lease actually saving best for last. Human has graciously provided some of his specialty meats to raffle as well and I know we all,eat and Harry has never provided anything but the absolute best of foods. .

now for the donation which I’m extremely ecstatic about will be at the end of all this on Sat night and I will apt third and fourth parties to do the financial part so there are no surprises. Now , not that I’m proud of it but it’s been customary to donate a bit to Buff and I for the facilities,camping,electricity and other facilities but never has it been asked for. This year if anyone is led to do so I want every penny to go to this donation in mikes honor . We have been blessed beyond measure in a group of friends unmatched anywhere and the facilities to come togather and reunite with true brothers and sisters. For this we want nothing and nothing is expected, the friendship of each of you is plenty . I want only for these two days to bring glory to the memory of our good and belligerent friend and Brother , Jersey Big Mike . As a group with whatever funds was raised during this there will be a video call no matter how late it is and the funds presented in person , to the very deserving benificiary of Jersey Big Mikes last ride.
Please make every effort to stay awake ,somewhat sober ,not to high , (so don’t smoke weed with Harry)

I think that’s all I got and looking forward to see you all and love each and everyone of you.

The third picture is a game we gonna play if we don’t come up with a good donation. we gonna hang Shannon up by his heals to the xcavator and see how many spins he can take before he spews. Just teasing on ya Shannon , love ya brother and see ya soon. Please anyone can come as early as they like and stay as long as they like as well.

RIP Jersy Big Mike . IMG_0323.jpegIMG_0325.jpegIMG_0312.jpeg
 
mastiffdave

mastiffdave

Well-Known Member
Finished the fourth one tonight and they are all a bit different . Looks like the forum wide raffle won’t happen can’t figure it out So there will be four here At the farm. IMG_0328.jpegIMG_0327.jpegIMG_0326.jpeg Jersey Mike never hesitated to help anyone on the forum and was a big help and friend to us all. I would really like to donate a sizable chunk of change in mikes honor and this is the last time I’ll mention it .
 
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