Epilogue

In the end, Keith Collins and Carl took the ferry from Prince Rupert up to "real" Alaska. Ed, Hans, Ditch, Sherri and I headed back south and completed our loop. The remaining five musketeers had managed to stay in formation until we were just east of Vancouver. Our mission was accomplished with flying colors. Sherri and I had been able to show our friends some of the most superb riding that Canada has to offer. Just remember to bring your warm weather gear and refresh the waterproofing. But just in case, bring the SPF 30.

To all: I just found out that Hans Von Nostitz passed away early this morning of a massive heart attack.  He was about 68 years old at the time of his death.

Hans worked for the Navy for many years, as I still do, and I knew him in a work capacity in the '70s and '80s.  Big, burly, full of himself and life, he truly lived large.

In recent years I reconnected with him almost by accident when I realized that the "Hans" on the COG listserver was "that" Hans.  He had jumped whole hog back into motorcycling and had picked the Concours and COG as his reentry vehicles.  While he migrated to a pretty FJR1300 last year, he was still active in COG rides.  I rode with him up to Weaverville, the National at Klamath Falls, Death Valley, June Lakes, Dave Owen's Hyder, Alaska ride and on a bazillion other rides.  About a month ago he came up to my neck of the woods in Ridgecrest, CA for work.  He brought his FJR with him.  I and two of his Ridgecrest riding friends escorted him through some of our great riding roads.  Of course, before the end of the ride, he found a great excuse to blow the carbon out of his FJR and he blasted off at warp speed.  Yes, it was speeding and boy, it was fun.

He sent me an email yesterday, wanting to set up a Christmas vacation ride with me down in the San Diego area.  I didn't have time to call, but I emailed back that he should count on it. 

I understand that his desire was to be cremated and that his ashes be scattered off the back of his back-up ride, his KLR.  His son-in-law is coordinating this.  I'm hoping to make it down to San Diego to have that last ride with him.

Updated: January 18, 2005   Page1   Page2   Page3   Page4   Page5   Page6   Page7