Going to the Dogs Issue #233 | Dog, Have, Had, Ride, First

Going to the Dogs Issue #233

Written by Nancy Irwin

Thursday, 12 July 2007

There are so many people who give up one thing or another to ride. It shouldn’t have to be a compromise, but sometimes it is.

Can’t join a baseball team that has practice and games all weekend long if you want to attend weekend rallies.
Can’t make it to the barbecue when you’re four hours away and the road keeps rolling in the opposite direction.
Can’t have a dog.

Wait a minute. Can’t have a dog? Can’t have a dog and ride?

Recently I’ve been considering the possibility of getting a pup. Honestly, it’s my girlfriend who wants one. But when one person wants a dog, both of you end up with one—or two for that matter. I’ve been resisting both kittens and puppies, not because I don’t enjoy them, but because I like my freedom. With cats, you can leave them alone for days, but some will crap in your bed if you’re gone too long—just to let you know they noticed. They’ll also give you the very cold shoulder when finally you return.

No, cats don’t like to be left alone while you go for that fabulous three-day weekend ride. And they DON’T like to ride. Dogs on the other hand can’t be left alone. They need to go for walks, answer the call of nature, and so on. They need a dog sitter. Finding a regular dog sitter can be a problem. And it has to be someone the animal knows and likes. And that would most likely be the person you want to go riding with. Ha!

No cat. No dog. Perfect.

But then, consider the example of Marla Garber who used to write travel stories and lifestyle features for Canadian Biker during the late 1980s and early ‘90s. She always took her dog Scooter with her, and together they practically lived on her well-worn FLHT. Neither seemed to have a problem with the other while they were on the road.

When I rode to Sturgis back in 1993, I ended up part of a motley crew that included a dog. I met Gai, who was riding a 900cc Honda from California to Philadelphia to attend a wedding. With Gai was a little fox-like dog named Ready—the two had met along the way. Then we were introduced to Richard, a North Carolinian on a Decker pulling a trailer. Toss in my oversized enduro, and we made an odd trio—quartet, counting Ready—especially when you consider the silly “rule” that says people riding different makes of motorcycles aren’t supposed to get along. But our common denominator was that we were all long distance committed riders with years of experience, and we all rode solo. Except for the presence of Ready that is, who didn’t have any trouble riding in a tank-mounted wicker basket.

So, here I am now wondering what to do when considering a Westie? A Westie is more formally known as the West Highland Terrier. It’s a Scottish breed of little white dog with a big dog attitude. Of course, my girlfriend Kathryn Hunter needs a Scottish dog to match her family tartan and there’s something to be said for smaller stature dogs. They require shorter walks, are happy running around a small city backyard and can fit in a tank bag. Right? Of course they do make special tank bags for dogs, don’t they? Funny, I haven’t noticed any at the bike shops. I must not have looked in the right places.

This little Westie (or two) would have to arrive as a pup and be trained to ride. It’s simple. Most dogs love car riding—that much is made apparent to me everytime I see one with its head stuck out the window and nose pointed into the wind. I’m sure they really want to be on a motorcycle, like most people do when they’re stuck in a car. But I wonder, do Westies like motorcycles, and are they easy to train?

I have friends who never go for long rides. They haven’t given up riding; it’s just that they prefer day trips because first they have to walk the dog, then they have to come home to walk the dog. That kind of dog life doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. But with the exception of a trip to Europe (to ride), where would I go in the summer that I couldn’t take a dog? Do Westies like canoeing? I know I do. I’ll often ride to a place where I can rent a canoe and then go up river to a nice secluded spot. But, can Westies swim?

There is so much to consider before getting a pet. I remember I got my first dog when I lived with my parents—which is to say that I always had dog sitters and never had to worry about it. Training a dog to ride should be easy. But when I look around, not that many bikers have their four-legged friends riding with them. In fact, I think they number less than one per cent. Hmm. Do I want to join the way less than one per cent club? I don’t know. But I sure don’t want to join the Poop and Scoop club. That will be Kathryn’s job! But knowing her, she’ll be busy at that moment ...

I wonder if StatsCan has figures on the number of motorcycle riding dogs.

The Blooming of The First Ride Issue #232

Written by Nancy Irwin
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Everyone has their own version of the “First Ride of the Season.” No two First Rides are ever the same, but one thing is true: if you don’t live in a place where you can ride through the winter, pampered Victoria for example, then there is that exceptional moment when you take your First Ride. The other exceptional moment is when you see someone has beat you to it! Such was the case for me this year. My work schedule didn’t coincide with the first actual warm day of the dawning season, so I had to work while others were out testing themselves against winter’s last grip. The first day of riding weather here in Toronto may have seemed comparatively mild, but the perspective is that, though the streets were clear, my driveway was still covered in ice and snow. Perhaps it was just as well I had to work that day; I would have hated enlisting the neighbours to help pick my bike off the icy ground. I’m not worried now, though. We’ve had a taste of spring and the snowdrops have now risen in my front garden, followed shortly after by crocuses. The daffodils will be up soon. I can easily judge weather by the arrival of flowers as they first begin to bloom. Motorcycles appear approximately at the same time, when the first real break in the weather occurs. Though, it seems some people don’t get their bikes out until we’re well into tulip weather. In many ways, the first outing of the season conjures feelings of a motorcyclist’s first few days as a novice rider. The excitement level is similar, the passion is there, and it’s not about going anywhere in particular. Early spring rides are about nothing but riding. They’re about just getting out there, remembering the sensations, refreshing skills, practicing tight, slow turns. It’s also about making sure everything on the bike still works or remembering what it was you had intended to correct or replace over the winter hibernation. Two days before my first ride the park across the street, like my driveway, had been covered in ice and snow. The miracle of green had not yet begun. The daily high was just above freezing but weather reports had promised stellar conditions by week’s end—close enough to plan. I already had time booked off work and surely there was some errand I had to run, some excuse to ride downtown or cruise the beaches. Alas, before I could take advantage of the day, I had a duty to attend. It was the day before a major motorcycle show at the Canadian National Exhibition and I had offered up my aged Triumph to the local chapter of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group as part of the club’s exhibit. There wasn’t a lot required on my part but I did have to extract the Triumph from deep in my garage, then wait around for the truck that would haul it down to CNE grounds. That done, I decided to jump on my BMW and ride to the show venue—if for no other reason than to take advantage of the free parking offered to exhibitors such as myself and the equally free entry pass for the weekend. As a bonus, I had the pleasure of seeing my Triumph in a group of vintage motorcycles and catching a glimpse of what the show would be like when I returned on Sunday. On casual inspection, everything seemed fine, and the cluster of custom bikes assembled for the show were especially eye-catching. But there was something else. I stopped to visit the owners of the Motorcycle Super Store and saw pink helmets on their display. Pink helmets? Turns out there are so many women now riding that manufacturers have begun producing helmets in shades of pink. Keep your eyes out this summer for the latest trend. I left the show and took the long route to Parkdale where my favourite roti shop is located on Queen West. With the thermometer hovering around the 14C mark, the conditions were almost luxurious for sitting outdoors at a sidewalk cafe and, in Toronto, street parking is free for motorcyclists. I felt warmed by the heat of the sun and the knowledge that summer was really coming along. Fourteen degrees on a motorcycle isn’t exactly balmy, but it sure is do-able—especially after a long cold winter. I wasn’t the only one not working. I saw an amazing number of bikes on the road that day, though some were scooters. (None were police.) And so it was that I rejoined the living; I entered that elite corps of early season riders—the sort who make dawdlers think about their own bikes and why they aren’t riding at that moment, or who make others stop to think about buying a motorcycle this year, either for the first time or as a return to the sport. Sport. Calling it a sport legitimizes the passion. Calling it a sport makes it sound practical. Sometimes I even fill in the word “motorcycling” on that line at the bottom of forms where you are asked to list the activities, interests and past achievements that define you as a person. Regardless of whether you see motorcycling as a sport, lifestyle or even just a mildly amusing pastime, now is the time of year to begin planning summer rides. In fact, I think there’s someplace I need to go right now, and I’ll figure out where once I’m bundled up and out there on my bike, heading down the road.

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