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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Koru
I was about to post something about the services for Ken, 'Herb,' but you have done an excellent job
I will say that I was amazed that he was only 43 years old, younger that my youngest daughter, and I really find it obscene when such a caring person
leaves us so early in life.
Our meeting was very much by chance as it was with Herb. I did sense that I was meeting a very similar type person who cared about others and it
showed. Thank you for being so supportive when things became a bit much for both of us. Like I always say, "Baja is about People Helping People."
Glad you are going to be posting and I hope that you bring your feeling about Baja and what you see in your travels for all of us to share.
I never did get a chance to speak with his wife because there were just too many folks there to support her and pay their respects.
Sure wish I had been able to visit with him one more time before he was gone............didn't happen and I know I lost something important because of
that.
Here is an excerpt of the message Ken left for his family....."knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile, So if your meet someone who
is down and feeling low, just lend a hand to pick him up...................."
That my friends sums up why I liked and respected this man!
Thank you for the kind words.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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danamite
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 6-5-2007
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Member Is Offline
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ESCAPER XTERRA KEN (as we knew him)
We met Ken Thomas (aka Herb) on the back roads of Death Valley, literally.
It was a bright sunny day in Death Valley, October 2003 & my first time visiting Saline Valley Hot Springs. We ventured up to the source pools.
The area was fenced off so the burros would stay out. From the rugged north pass, a very rocky 4WD route, comes an black Xterra. That vehicle followed
us down to the warm springs area & I noticed his big grin in my rear view mirror. The driver was shaking his head in amusement off me, my dot com
logo, or maybe my little 2WD Isuzu - coasting down the hill. We parked near camp. Later that evening before our nightly soak, as my friends & I
walked through the moonlight in the open desert, I noticed the Xterra parked out near the runway. I hiked over a introduced myself to the stranger.
After a few minutes of chit chat, he asked "You wouldn't happen to be DanaMite would you?" I was stunned, as most people have no idea of who I am ,
but some are dedicated fans of Total Escape. Xterra Ken had been a follower of my site & adventures for well over 5 years. He stated that my web
site & documented travels was one of the main reasons he bought his SUV. His love of travel had lead him to Baja many times, the high Sierra &
the vast California deserts. I was tickled to meet him that magical night & we introduced him to public nudity.
The first time he stayed overnight at the Total Escape headquarters, I had to remove a large scorpion from his room. Lory, Kristin, Ken & I spend
10 days traveling through the back roads of Baja: Bahia de Los Angeles, where we all got to know him better & met some amazing folks. Mid-2005, we
dragged him up to the high country Eastern Sierra, Inyo National Forest, for some wildflowers, boulder camping & chilly snow melt creeks. Long
time Escapers Cheps & Suzie followed Ken's Xterra almost everywhere that weekend in their stock Trooper, except during the hail storm. My most
recent camp trip with Ken was to the Sequoia's in the summer of 2006. We spent the weekend sightseeing & lounging by granite waterfalls.
We will surely miss this incredible soul!
We love you Xterra Ken.
DanaMite's PHOTOS from these trips -
http://www.totalescape.net/pix/2003/10_Salina/
http://www.totalescape.net/pix/2005/04_BajaR& /
http://www.totalescape.net/pix/2005/07_InyoHighCountry/
http://www.totalescape.net/pix/2006/09_Sequoia/
Live your life!
DanaMite
Total Escape - California, Off the Beaten Path
10 years Online! ~ http://www.totalescape.com
Defining your Direction ~ http://www.totalescape.net
[Edited on 6-6-2007 by danamite]
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DoRu
Newbie
Posts: 1
Registered: 6-7-2007
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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There was something about Ken that few people I've met have. Once you've met him, it was as if you've known him for much longer and looked forward to
the next meeting. Our first trip to BoLA was with Ken and though he'd not been able to make it on our later trips into Baja, he did join us for a
handful of parties at our home in S.D. Knowing that we'll no longer be in his company is quite a sad thought and yet we'd only met a handful of
times. He had that way about him. Bernie had only met him once and exchanged a few emails but that was enough for him to see Ken off at his memorial
service. Having heard some of the stories at Ken's service, it became obvious just how special Ken was and how many lives he had touched. There was
not a dry eye in the place.
Hopefully, Ken's photo's will remain online for years to come so others can enjoy what he saw and how he captured it. He saw through 'the stuff' and
captured the best of it all.
We'll miss you Ken.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64834
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Sorry that I didn't add this when I posted the photo I took of Ken (Herb) with Bernie... 'Herb's' Baja photo collection has been linked on
VivaBaja.com for several years under 'Baja Home Pages' as:
Herb's Beautiful Baja Photos
They are outstanding... Herb had traveled with the late 'jrbaja' when he visited the more remote ranchos in baja Sur.
The link to the photos (you gotta see these): http://www.pbase.com/jugheadken/baja
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