What Happens When a Web Search Goes Awry...

" Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window." ~Steve Bluestone

Last summer I decided to buy a motorcycle. After considerable research on the web, visiting countless pages and review sites (and thinking waaaaaay to much), I finally settled on the 2001 Triumph Sprint ST you see at the right. The letters stand for Sport Tour which means it is designed for both performance and comfort. Like almost all things that try to be good at everything instead of excelling at something specific, this bike is not great at anything. But despite that, it is still a wonderful if somewhat expensive toy and, unquestionably, more fun than almost anything I've ever owned, except my dog, Sukey (let's not debate the "who really owns who here?" question, please). Nearly 12 years old now (him, not me), when I move about he is nearly always at my side and a veritable permanent fixture in my car, which, from his perspective, is a rather plush if perplexingly mobile doghouse. And one, I should add, that he simply loves to stick his head out of when we are driving. Which brings me to my current dilemma. How can I truly have fun on the road with the bike when I have to leave my furry friend behind?

The answer, of course, is a sidecar. One of those odd looking contraptions which attaches to the bike allowing a comfortable and somewhat safer ride for the passenger. Knowing I certainly wouldn't be the first person to put their canine companion in one of these contraptions, I decided to browse the web a bit for some advice and instruction. After all, there is certainly some risk involved and I had to contemplate the catastrophe that might ensue should Sukey feel the same way about my driving as everyone else who dares to ride with me (or at least who used to ride with me. Lately I can't help but notice how often my friends decline my offers to drive). In any case I assumed at the very least this search would serve to bolster my confidence and further my motivation. What could possibly be more inspiring than to see a plethora of photos - goggle wearing pups with fur streaming in the wind, riding along splendidly scenic vistas with their masters, ears alert and the inimitable doggy smile upon their faces as they soaked up the rays of the sun on a fine summer's day? I even closed my eyes to picture how awesome Sukey and I would appear to other motorists and passers by as we zipped around our little village. We would be just the coolest thing in town, I was sure of it. However, when I stumbled upon the picture below, I gave up the idea. I mean, really, there's cool, there's ridiculously cool, and then there's, well, whatever you'd call this:


PS: Can you just imagine how many accidents there must have been when this guy was out there on the road???