With a cry of disbelief yesterday I read of Bobskoot's passing on David's blog The Scoot Commute. I am still in shock and it is hard to imagine he is gone. I, like others, thought he'd stopped updating his blog due to intermittent wi-fi issues.
I had to wait until today before I read everyone's tribute posts about Bob. My heart was, and still is, heavy with his loss. I feel for his beautiful and patient wife Yvonne and the grief she must be feeling.
I think Rogey summed up my feelings best when he wrote, "Bloody Hell Bob".
I had the good fortune to meet Bob and Yvonne many times over the years, the first time being at the Seattle Motorcycle Show in December 2009. He was a social person and loved to talk about anything, especially photography and gadgets.
I don't know what I can really say that hasn't already been said by others except what I said to Princess ScooterPie on facebook last night, and that was:
"He wasn't just an internet persona.
To those of us that had the fortune to meet him and actually get to know him,
he was larger than life and was the friend you never knew you needed."
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend...........
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| (Me, Bobskoot, and Yvonne - Seattle 2009) |
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| (Bobskoot and Yvonne - Seattle 2011) |
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| (Taken in Joseph, Oregon - IMBC 2012) |
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| (Me, Bobskoot, & RichardM - Joseph, Oregon IMBC 2012) |
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| (It should say America's Most Loved) |
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| (Taking pictures on the way home from IMBC 2012) |
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| (San Francisco, CA - January 2013) |
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| (San Francisco, CA 2013) |
My favorite photo of Bobskoot was one I took at the IMBC 2012, and how I will always remember him......
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| (Our Beloved Bobskoot - IMBC 2012) |
- Au Revoir Mon Ami
" There are things we don't want to happen, but have to accept, things we don't want to know, but have to learn, and people we can't live without, but have to let go." - Author Unknown
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I was shaken to my core yesterday about this and I am still having a hard time with it. Its funny we never really realize how much someone has touched our lives until they are no longer present in it. He loved life, loved people and was a magical person who attracted people and brought them together.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in the moto-blogging community felt his loss. He will be missed.
DeleteOnly slowly catching up on everyone's blogs about Bobs passing. I wasn't lucky enough to have met him but did really enjoy reading his blog and checking out his photography. It was always nice to get comments on my blog from him too.
ReplyDeleteA real bugger that I never will get the chance to meet him but from reading his blogs on the road it at least looked like he was enjoying his time on the road with his good wife.
My thoughts are with his family.
He really spread the good cheer on everyone's blogs and was always ready with tech and camera advice.
DeleteNicely done Trobairitz, nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dom.
DeleteYes, quite a shock. Very nice farewell post. He will definitely be missed...
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard, still hard to believe he is gone.
DeleteHi Brandy
ReplyDeleteSuch sad news for the blogosphere. I never knew Bob personally like some and it seems everyone that he touched he enriched their lives. He will be missed more than he could possibly know.
Thoughts go out to Yvonne and family.
Very sad news. I agree, I think he will be missed more than he knows.
DeleteWell done. Great collection of images to share in tribute. I still can't believe he is gone.
ReplyDeleteThanks you. I can't either. It is weird to think we won't see any more posts from him, or get any random text messages or emails.
DeleteSo sorry to read of your loss. His name has appeared in your blog entries many times and even though I did not know him, I certainly know of him and of your love for him and his wife.
ReplyDeleteWe were pretty close to them. He even emailed me a pic of the waiting room at the hospital when Yvonne broke her arm. He needed someone to 'talk' to I think because he was worried.
DeleteI am another that is saddened to hear of Bob's passing. If his "in person" presence was anything like his "online" presence he must have been a great guy to be around.
ReplyDeleteRIP Bob.
He was larger than life and always a whirlwind of activity. Even with our age difference it was hard to keep up to him sometimes.
DeleteBrandy another really touching tribute to Bob. He would be so embarassed to see all this digital ink flowing in his name, and yet it's all but impossible for anyone who was lucky enough to have Bob reach out them, not to be touched enough to post a tribute or a sentimental comment. His life and its value is reflected in those who were privileged to know him. Nicely done, very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThank you David. And yes, I agree that he would really be embarrassed by all these tributes, but we could do no less for him because he has done so much for us.
DeleteOh my word!! Here I am trying to catch-up my blog reading and I see this. What a great loss. I never had the honor of meeting Bob, but he was so encouraging to me on so many levels. I was hoping to connect with him on his next trip across the USA. What a loss. Thank you Brandy for this wonderful tribute to Bob.
ReplyDeleteStep away from the blogs for a few days and come back to this. A lot of people didn't get to meet Bob as he was planning another trip next year to meet them. So sad that it will never happen.
DeleteWhat a guy and what great fun he gave us. Such great memories in pics. I think the S.F. pic is the trip we all met up in Alameda? Will miss him dearly.
ReplyDeleteYes, the SF pics are from the Alameda meet-up. Taken the day before when we were wandering around the city.
DeleteA start of a new journey. Don't look back, Bob!
ReplyDeleteWell said Steve.
DeleteWell said Brandy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rogey!
DeleteI never met Bob, but I enjoyed his blog and his photographs. Very sad to read of his passing :(
ReplyDeleteVery sad. Thank you for commenting Paige. I read your blog all the time but can't comment unless I am signed in to Facebook and I don't sign in to fb when on sites. But just know that I do read your posts.
DeleteBrandy, what a great tribute. I still can't believe that he is no longer. He was often sad about not having a big family but he made a great circle of friends and built his own. I am going to miss that bubbly, enthusiastic, funny, some times quirky guy.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sonja. Yes, it still seems so unreal. Quirky is a good term, he was a quirky, fun loving guy.
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute. Thank you so much for sharing those memories.
ReplyDeleteSInce I learned of his passing Monday night I have done nothing but grieve his loss to our lives and pray for his wife and family. Like many of you, I feel an all encompassing shock and sadness. How can he be gone? Why did this have to happen now? Etc.
I said on my blog that I never "met" him, but I knew him like a good neighbor and friend that you visit with daily. He was "something else", that "Bobskoot". I don't think I will ever ride again without thinking of him and his joy in moving along on a 2 wheeled machine.
I wish we could all be together for a "group hug" or something. It is hard to go through this in a "virtual world".
Love and cyber support vibes to you all...
Thank you Deb. Bobskoot was always ready with a kind word and loved to communicate with people via email and text message not just over the blogs. He will be missed.
DeleteA group hug is a great idea and one Bob would have loved.
:( group hug!
ReplyDeleteGroup hug for Bob.
DeleteWas so sorry to hear about this. His influence seemed far reaching from all the blogs spreading the sad news. Kiri and I send our sympathies to his wife.
ReplyDeleteHe did seem to 'know' so many people and always took the time to comment and go out of his way to meet other bloggers. His online presence will be missed as well as being missed in real life.
DeleteVery fitting words and 100% reflective of my experience(s) over the years. I really don't think he realized the great & positive impact he had on people lives, as he was savoured the impact that you had on him. You were the extended family he never had and he loved you for it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robert for the kind words. He was like extended family. It will be odd that won't see him at the motorcycle show this year, probably won't even attend the Seattle one now. He was loved and he will be missed.
DeleteTrobairitz,
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tribute. The photos told a story all themselves. I never met Bob but did enjoy reading his blog from time to time. He will be missed by the moto-blogging community.
With Sympathy,
Curt
Thank you. I tis nice to see all of the different tributes to Bob. He was well known and will be missed.
DeleteA fine tribute to Bob. He was unique and had a way to enter your life. I've been turning memories of him over in my head and still have a hard time squaring them with his departure.
ReplyDeleteHe will be missed...
Thank you Steve. I too still have a hard time believing he is gone. No more emails or silly links. Sigh.
DeleteWell said. We will be passing through Corvallis on Wednesday if you have time for coffee. Text 604-92-3113. Scooterchick and I are heading south.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris. I texted you and it told me that was a land line phone. You were missing a number but I still had your email from last time with your number. I can always text Pat if I don't hear back. Anytime works as the boss is on vacation. Would love to meet up for coffee.
DeleteVery nice tribute Trobairitz, I'm saddened also at this news. RIP Bob.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken. I think we are still all a little shocked.
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