RIP My Best Friend and Dive Buddy

[Rustykfd]

For those of you who know him, Eric Shink, my best friend and dive buddy passed away on Sept. 14, 2009 at about 1800.

Eric and I were not just dive buddies, we were cave diving buddies, riding buddies and we are fire service brothers. We have logged over 200 hrs diving FL caves together. He was my wingman. I knew the maps of the systems we dive like the back of my hand. He turned the wrong way once and I fixed it. I put an arrow instead of a cookie on a line in PIII and he corrected me. He was a planner, everything was planned extensively, the dive, the ride, whatever, he had to have a plan. I am more ambitious with dives, he temperd me. I build a lot of our gear, I never once made just one, always at least two. We both ride BMW GS bikes, I bought mine after he bought his and I took it for a ride, I had to have one. We both loved to put the miles down, we did a 775 mile day on our Harleys, we were planning our Iron Butt (1000 and 1500) rides and an Alaska adventure. I couldn't make this ride to Colorado Springs for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial. I couldn't justify another 2 weeks away from my family. Eric didn't make it. Damn man I am going to miss you.

Our next dive trip, what would have been our second this year, was scheduled for Nov 1-11, staying with our favorite cave diving host Cathy at The Dive Outpost. Our tickets are already bought, and I still have to see if I can swallow comming down alone..........Time will tell.

What happened? This pretty much sums it up. I am not proud about the circumstances, but they are what they are. I was not with him, he was riding alone when the accident happened.

From the Idaho Statesman

"Eric Shink, 40, of Kennewick, Wash., was killed Monday evening after he drove his motorcycle into a guardrail on Interstate 84. Shink was driving a motorcycle eastbound on I-84 near the Idaho/Oregon border and attempting to get on the off-ramp at milepost 3 when he lost control on a curve and drove into the guardrail, according to ISP reports. The force of the impact threw Shink from the motorcycle, according to ISP reports. Shink, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. ISP investigators say they suspect alcohol and excessive speed could be contributing factors to the crash."


His service will be on Monday Sept. 21 in Kennewick, WA

RIP Brother Shink you are missed


My favorite cave photo of him. At the ear.

Our last big ride through OR, into CA and back up the coast.

Therapy session over for now........................

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Sorry for you loss

[MedCop]

So sorry to hear this..take care of yourself.

[jeandiver]

My prayers for you !!!
Very , very sorry news. (sigh)

Jean

[FW]

I just heard about this from another caver. I actually came on here to ask if anyone knew him.

I am very sorry to hear this, it sounds like he was a fine person.

[MORGAN]

He was a great guy. Tracy and I were at Cathy's at the same time as Rusty & Eric several times - never dove together but always enjoyed talking cave diving, comparing notes on fire and EMS stuff, having a beer or two, and teasing Tracy about being a cop. (since I used to be a firefighter, her brother's a fire captain and her dad's a retired fire chief, she's used to it.) We always looked forward to seeing them. I learned some good things about dive planning from Eric - he was truly a "plan your dive - dive your plan" guy. Both Rusty and Eric always struck me as just the kind of guys you'd want beside you when things went bad, whether in a fire or in a cave.

Rusty, I'm so sorry to hear this. I can only imagine how you must feel. Our sincere condolences to you, and to Eric's family and friends. He was a top notch guy, and many people will miss him. Hang in there - we're thinking of you. Hope to see you again in cave country sometime.

Rest in Peace, Eric. You weren't here long enough, but you did a heck of a job with the time on earth you had.

Mike & Tracy

[Jay]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. I am sure he was thankful for the good times you had together.

[Sludge]

ISP investigators say they suspect alcohol and excessive speed could be contributing factors to the crash.

This part breaks my heart. On a street bike, one beer is too much.

All my sympathies, Rusty. I've never lost a close friend, and I know it's gotta hurt.

[HeloDriver]

I'm very sorry for your loss and I'm glad no one else was involved.

Charles

[rblackburn]

Rusty,

Words can not convey the thoughts I have for what you are going through. 13 Mar 2002 I lost a great friend and I still think about him on a regular basis. It will get easier as time goes by, but it will never go away.