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Saturday, May 3, 2014

Molly's Ride

Tuesday, April 15

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The rig arrived Sunday about 10:30 a.m. Alison, being the only one of the three of us with any experience driving the thing, was the obvious choice to manoeuvre it up the partially frozen driveway. The ice stopped her once but with a little coaxing from her husband and me she managed to make it to the parking area about  half way between the road and the cabin. That would have to do for now and at least it’s not visible from the road. 


I have spent the last couple of days working with Molly to get her accustomed to the sidecar. She's still a little hesitant about getting in but with a little coaxing, and a treat or two, she’s been hopping in and is beginning to relax. This, of course, is with the bike not running. When I start it up it’s an entirely different matter. As soon as I start to crank it over she’s out of the car and headed for the house and no amount of coaxing will get her back down there again. I have now rigged up her leash such that it’s too short for her to escape.

A huge step forward today as we managed a small circle around the parking area. It would be stretching the truth to say she enjoyed it but she did tolerate it, looking extremely apprehensive the whole time but we got through it. All in good time. After all it’s only been a couple of days.

April 27

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Started bike with Molly in the sidecar on Saturday and she didn't flinch at all – progress! Same thing today. 

Took the bike out today, no Molly, with the intent of going around ‘the block’ to practice turns but got less than half way round when I suddenly found myself in the ditch, still upright, but shaken. Turns out that the bolt fell off the bottom end of the shock absorber allowing the car’s fender to slam down onto the tire which had the same effect as slamming on the brakes. This in turn, swung me to the right placing me at right angles to the road and ultimately, as I said, in the ditch. Mustering up all my strength, I raised the car up with one hand while I jammed an allen wrench into the bolt hole and ever so carefully limped back to Sean’s to see if he might have a bolt that would fit. He didn’t, but he suggested I go to the service centre on the east side of town to see if they had one. Turns out they did. My stomach still does flip-flops when I think about this little incident and what might have happened if I’d been barrelling down the highway at twice the speed. It's also a good thing I didn't have Molly with e as an incident like this might have frightened her off the sidecar for good.

April 28

In the afternoon Molly and I went to town on the rig! She’d mastered sitting in the car while I started it up so I figured we'd give it a shot. I tied her in and she did make a feeble attempt to  make a break for it once but that was it. She did amazingly well. A few times she tried lying down but she got up as soon as she was down so her comfort zone is a little narrow yet. Stopped for gas and no problem. Also no problem all through town. Went to Birch Creek to show Robin the rig, let Molly out and when it was time to go she barely hesitated to get back in.

April 29

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Molly did well again on the trip although she didn't really want to get in the sidecar initially. Whenever we stop however she’s always in good spirits and, when I’m ready to go, she jumps in readily. 

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On a more pleasant note, when I was at IGA earlier there was a family standing around their van. There were a couple of young girls not looking very happy and then one of them spotted Molly in her side-car and she was transformed, got a big smile on her face, then told the rest of the family to look and they all stood there grinning ear to ear. Whenever I think I'd like a regular bike - I really don’t like the way the rig handles - I only have to think of all the people who, upon seeing Molly in the sidecar, crack a smile and I know that it's worth it to bring so much happiness to so many people. A regular bike is fine but for me and me alone – selfish I know, but I do think about it.

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Also stopped at the butcher shop and bought frozen organic hamburger, bison sausages and a couple of pickerel filets. Hope I can eat them before they go bad. The lady there made a big fuss over Molly, of course, and everyone was smiling and commented on Molly and the rig at IGA.

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Went to town on the bike for a few groceries including a prime rib steak from the butcher. The butcher lady really looks forward to my visits it seems, nothing to do with me, but she adores Molly and the fact that she has her own ride. She, Molly, came out of there with about a quarter pound of baloney. A little later, still in town, some guy got all uptight, honked his horn, gave me the finger and had a few choice words, which I echoed right back at him. I’m not at all certain what his problem was. Something to do with pulling into the driveway at the grocery store. I think he may have thought I was going to pull out on him or something. Anyway, I'm sure I did nothing wrong so screw him. Why is it that for every warm, caring person we meet, there has to be some asshole to try and ruin our day. Well, sorry to disappoint asshole, but the butcher lady wins this one. Enjoy your day.

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Been on the road so no entries for over three weeks! Left for Friday the 13th in Port Dover on Tuesday. Too many black-flies to do anything outside so I figured I may as well be on the road as sit around here thinking about going. Took the Port Perry route again but missed a turn somewhere which added one half to one hour of travel time but it didn't matter. Arrived in London in late afternoon. This was Molly’s first extended trip in the rig and she did amazingly well. In London she was reluctant to get out of it in fact. Later as we were all in the back yard she disappeared. We found her lying in the side-car. Eric had told me to put the bike in the garage and when I opened the door to show him the rig around 10:00 p.m. Molly dashed in and settled down in the car again. It took some coaxing to get her out. I think she was afraid I was going to leave without her. 

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Friday the 13th was overcast with intermittent light rain but we barely got wet at all. Picked Chuck up at St. Mary's High School in Woodstock and got to Port Dover about noon. Those attending included Molly and me, Eric, Mike and Dany, Chuck, Steve and his friend Dave. Also saw Brian Linn there. Molly stayed with us most of the time except for the last hour or so when I tied her in the side-car. When we got back several people told me that she wouldn’t let anyone near the rig. As soon as they got too close she would start barking and snarling at them. I guess this means she has taken ownership of her side-car.