1 minute read
SUNDAY DRIVE
Big-Little
2017 BMW GS 800 RIDDEN BY STACE AND HARRY
AS TOLD TO Joshua Brosnahan Riding with Harry, my five-year-old German Shepherd, means we both enjoy the thrill of the ride. We have explored Hanmer Springs backcountry, café rides to Rakaia and a few other hotspots in North Canterbury, and even riding up to Kaikōura overnight. This summer, we’re off with the camp gear and fly-fishing rod packed. I often ride with a group of mates, and from them to strangers – and even myself – we all have a little extra smile when we ride together. It’s so amazing the number of people that smile, take photos, and come up and begin chatting. I’ve not yet come across a grumpy bum. I never considered the attention that riding with a big dog would bring. I must admit, it makes my riding a lot more courteous compared to when I ride a Ducati Supersport! I’ve been planning to ride the entire outline of New Zealand with Harry, starting in Christchurch and heading south, to begin with. I would like to have that done and dusted before the end of this summer. I guess if the wife is reading this – surprise! Harry’s safety and mine are a core focus when choosing the right carrier. I chose a Ruffly K9 Moto-Cockpit from ruffly.com. Their design and customised dog harness lock Harry down into his seat from his backside and his chest, ensuring little movement when we ride. RexSpecs, his goggles, provide safety for his eyes from the same types of bugs that hit my helmet screen. I met a man two weeks ago that was on a solo motorcycle adventure around New Zealand. We shared some memories in Oxford, North Canterbury, about his late mate from the past called, Max Corkill. Max was the guy that rode a motorcycle with his cat called Rastus. Talking about that made me realise that while there are so many dangers out there these days on our roads, you can still have some genuine fun riding a motorcycle, and have even more fun when riding with your dog.
