Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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Goodbye to a dear friend
I met my friend Mike back in 2001 after a failed transmission due to a shift tower leak left myself and my ex-wife stranded in Parque Nacional Sierra
San Pedro Martir. We hitched down to the Shipwrecks development where my friend Ray and his family had been surfing and we luckily caught them on
their last day before packing up for their ride back to the US. There was just enough room to fit inside their SuperDuty and make it back home to
Riverside where I set up a recovery effort of my truck and trailer.
Mike and his family were nice people who I became friends with over the years and eventually he began traveling on some of the Baja trail runs that I
set up as well as other runs in the deserts of Southern California.
The last two times I saw Mike, I brought him a 3 pack of birthday/Father's Day shirts that helped him look forward to life besides his daily dialysis
treatments and numerous eye surgeries and he was able to reflect on his life one last time with me in late September. Without warning he was gone
just one day after Thanksgiving (due to Covid) and no I'm without one of my best friends. Here's to a true Baja fan and Jeep hoarder. Trips to the
desert won't be the same. Rest in Peace my friend.
Mike at the Off Road Expo
Mike getting an extra hand along the Pole Line Road back in 2004 from John M.
Mike crawling on the trail in Riverside during a Memorial run I set up for a friend of my wife's.
Mike, John M., Neal Johns, Brock, Marian Johns - (and even my ex-wife) gathered around the campfire in Cohabuzo Junction right before a pair of
travelers in a 4WD Ford Aerostar minivan with a blown tire limped into camp that night.
On my annual Berdoo Canyon Run in Joshua Tree Natl. Park
Rest easy, Mike.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64493
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Yes, a very nice tribute to your amigo! Vaya con Dios, Miguel!
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2242
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
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if we live long enough, we have to witnesses some of pals check out.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64493
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I think that is the worse part of getting old... losing friends and people you know or know of.
I know death is part of life but that doesn't make it easy.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17343
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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Ken,
Sorry for your loss.
I know it is infuriating to lose people to covid, knowing that many such deaths could have been prevented if only people had not mocked, dismissed or
ignored the public health recommendations, or even outright denied the disease as being political fakery.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3455
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Leave it to the resident troll to turn a heartfelt eulogy into a political rant. Lowest of the low.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1907
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Sorry to hear the news
Ken, each of us bring something special to these outings - bonds formed over such a brief time together are nonetheless meaningful and it's difficult
to accept the finality of lives lost. Thankfully, memories of friendships endure.
John M
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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Sorry for your loss brother, Im sure he is sticking her in 4Lo with all the rest of the legends of Baja past, following that long offroad trail in the
sky
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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So sorry for your loss. My grandfather's biggest complaint was that ALL his friends died before he did. I think it is important to have friends of
all ages. Keeps you young at heart.
What would Gibbs do is great!
May He rest in peace, Ken.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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Thanks everyone. I am glad that Mike was able to enjoy the trails and good times that Baja had to offer.
Calamajue
La Turquesa
Catavina/Mission Santa Maria leg of Baja Grande 2008
[Edited on 12-19-2020 by Ken Cooke]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64493
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks for the photos... It gives us a look into the life of a friend of yours.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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So sorry for your loss Ken. Condolences to his family.
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advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1847
Registered: 10-2-2015
Member Is Offline
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The good ones always go to soon and leave such an empty spot in our souls... Very nice tribute Ken.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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Thanks ADV and TW. One day at a time..
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