Sidecars, Kayaks and Dogs

Today being a typical Sunday, I decided to load up the old Hawg Harley with the service dog and kayak. Ryland has only been with me a few weeks now and she’s already a veteran of the sidecar hack. It was time to see if she had her sea legs too.

freighted down ready to roll

So I freighted down my Harley hack. I strapped on my Oru folding kayak and loaded up the neighbors kid too, because he wanted to go. I don’t have kids of my own, and the neighbor doesn’t have a lot of time to do stuff with his step kids. The boy has never been on a motorcycle before, and never been in a kayak either, so why not kill two birds with one stone ?

Passengers

Kayak unfolded and ready to go

My Electra Glide and sidecar hack

Once we got out in the woods and picked a nice launching spot, I unloaded the gear. The tug is a bone stock 1998 Harley Electra Glide and a 2001 Champion Escort sidecar.

The sidecar opened up.

The hack opens up like a clamshell to give easy access in and out of the car.

Kayaking around the lake

We made it without drowning any of us. I didn’t take any fishing gear on this trip. I wanted to see if my passengers would tip us into the lake or not. Next time we go, we’re going to be fishing for trout amd smallmouth bass.

Pit stop on the way home

We drew quite a few stares on the way home. It was a great trip all around. We stopped for gas and drinks.

Drying out the gear

The aftermath is evident. You get wet in a kayak, period. That’s why I bring dry clothes to change out of the wet shorts, and river running shoes. So everything is hung up on the bike to dry out before folding it to put away.

Drying out the Oru kayak back home.

The kayak shell itself is drying out on the carport at home. The model is Oru TT Haven. She’s 16 feet long and carries 500 pounds. It folds up the size of a large suitcase and only weighs 42 pounds. It fits perfectly on my sidecar rig, and is easy to roll around with.