Oct. 8, 2024 – Andy is in OurLitteCorner today
Ride Sharing with Chris
Today’s OutLittleCorner is dedicated to Chris Jones, a close friend and fellow cyclist who recently passed away.
I met Chris sometime in 2004 on a Santa Rosa Cycling Club (SRCC) ride when we both were new members. In one of our first conversations I asked him about what he did in “real” life. He said something about having a business that provided sulfites for larger wineries in the area. I had never thought about where wineries got their sulfites nor did I have any idea of why wines might contain sulfites. I imagined Chris coordinating deliveries of dump truck loads of sulfite to wine facilities throughout Sonoma and Napa.
I learned later that he had said he provided “software,” not “sulfites,” for wineries. This, of course, substantially changed how I pictured Chris. But what I later learned about him from another club member (not from Chris himself) dramatically changed my view of him. I learned that he was a world-renowned alpinist who had pioneered difficult climbs in the Andes and Canadian Rockies, was the author of numerous articles and a book on the history of climbing, and, to boot, was a photographer. You can find lots more about Chris on the Wikipedia page devoted to him.
We got to know each other better as time passed and, because we both lived in Glen Ellen and most of the SRCC rides started some distance away, we decided to car pool to the rides – something Chris called “ride sharing.” I don’t exactly remember when we started “ride sharing,” but it has to have been at least 18 years ago.
We each had a Subaru which allowed us to stack our two bikes in the back cargo area by removing the front wheel of one of the bikes and using an old quilt and other padding between them. Chris and I would roll up to the starting places of the SRCC rides and initiate our bike-unloading routine where one of us would be at the car’s rear side door to lift and help guide the top bike while the other would be at the tailgate to pull the bike out. I suspect that our fellow cyclists who witnessed this ritual over the years were bemused.
Needless to say, when two old guys like us spend all of those hours commuting together we not only get to know one another intimately, we experience a number of “adventures,” such as getting stuck in traffic, arriving at the wrong starting point, or getting lost because we didn’t know how to operate the GPS. So, for today’s OurLittle Corner I am sharing a very short video commemorating our last ride share adventure. Ironically, it involves a new bike rack that Chris purchased so we would no longer have to stack our bikes in the cargo area.
Produced by Andy. Video recorded on Feb. 9, 2024 by Ann (with a giggle).
Andy (and Ann), what a beautiful remembrance of a great guy and special friendship you had. Thanks. Steve
Thanks. He was in all respects a great guy.
‘Tis a wonderful “thing” that Friendship is. Truly wonderful and revealing. ThanX! and good rides to you.
I appreciate you thoughts. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing this Andy! John
I’m glad I had a way to share it. Appreciate your comment.
Thank you for the video. Chris will be missed. You ,Buck, and Chris were like the three Amigos .
We were not only like the three Amigos, we were the three amigos. And, we will remain the three amigos in spirit. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the remembrance! His sense of humor will be missed, I’m sure you had a lot of adventures together!
His sense of humor was delightful and inspiring – our adventures often less so.
What a meaningful way to remember a dear friend. I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for the condolences. I like think of it in terms of what I gained through our friendship as much as what I lost in a friend.
Ahhh sweet, sweet remembrances of your friend on and off the road of life. Chris is missed. Thank your for sharing the “new bike rack” video, it made me smile.
Andy, thanks for the great rememberance. And great job on the video, Ann.
Buck
Thanks Buck. I guess we’ll have to settle on being “AB” from now on, although for you and me Chris will always be the “C” in absentia.
I loved this, Andy. Great filming job, Ann. Oh, that bike rack!
Thanks Sharon. Actually, Ann audibly giggled while surreptitiously video recording the “Laurel and Hardy” scene. However, the giggles are drowned out by the background music (from the British comedian Benny Hill). Aside from your opinion of the bike rack, I’m pleased that you loved the video.
Please accept my condolences, Andy. I didn’t know Chris, but I welled with tears as I read your blog and watched the video. It is clear you loved the guy and will miss him.
Thanks David. Chris was one of a kind. You would have hit it off with him if you had known him.
Thank you Ann and Andy! Chris had so many interests and friends that were dear to him. It’s so lovely to see so many heartfelt remembrances. He was a most exceptional man
Thanks Elizabeth. We know this has been hard on you. You are so right that he was a most exceptional man. We will always have exceptional memories of him.
What a nice tribute to a great guy!
Thanks Len. He definitely was a great guy.
Thank you for that sweet and funny memory of a wonderful person and your lovely friendship.
Thanks. Humor is great medicine for suffering a loss.
Beautiful people make beautiful friendships.
Thanks. I guess that all friendships are beautiful in their own way. It is something we particularly appreciate when we lose it.
Agreed…
Thank you, Andy. The 3 Amigos have always been an inspiration to me, for the riding through the years, but really for the lovely friendships always demonstrated.