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What a fantastic weekend for bikers.

I’m pretty sure from the number of motorcycles on the roads this weekend that pretty well everyone realized it finally stopped raining, at least for two days. And it couldn’t have picked a better two days than our bike club’s back-to-back runs — our annual pet food run to benefit SHAID animal shelter and our memorial run to remember fallen bikers.

We had a great turnout on Saturday for the Maritime Motorcycle Touring Association’s pet food run. We counted about 115 bikes, many of them two-up, so we would have had more than 150 riders for sure. I haven’t received the final tally yet, but heard on Saturday that the run raised more than $1,300. That’s wonderful news for SHAID and the many animals who will benefit in the coming months.

Our RoadDog had a great day. It is by far one of Jake’s favourite events of the year, since it’s usually his first big gathering of bikes and riders, especially “his people” from the MMTA, of the season. He was excited from the time I told him it was the big day on Saturday morning and was completely wound up by the time we arrived in Mahone Bay at lunch time. He was so excited at SHAID that he actually turned down a Timbit when Steve offered it to him. Don’t worry, he’s okay. He got over it quickly and has had, I think, two Timbits since then, one later that afternoon in Chester and another last evening at home.

Last evening’s Tims run, I confess, was all about Steve and I sucking up to our dog. We left him home yesterday and he wasn’t very happy with us. The memorial run is the one day of the year when Jake doesn’t get to ride with us, but he doesn’t really grasp the reasons behind that, so he just gets put out by being left behind. But it was a great ride with a good turnout and the sun was shining.

And speaking of our memorial run, Steve and I are now sporting new magnetic bumper stickers on our four-wheeled vehicles reminding people to watch out for motorcycles. Please do that, whenever you’re on the road. It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong — the bike always loses.

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It’s that time of year again – time for RoadDog and his fellow bikers to help his four-legged friends.

Saturday is the Maritime Motorcycle Touring Association’s annual Pet Food Run to benefit SHAID animal shelter. The run will leave the parking lots across from Mahone Bay’s three churches at 1 p.m., head through Maders Cove to Lunenburg, then through Dayspring to Bridgewater, before winding its way to the shelter in Whynotts Settlement.

It really is a fantastic day, all the better if the weather co-operates (and surely we’ve had more than enough rain lately). It’s one of Jake’s favourite group rides. As is often the case, it will be his first chance to see “his people” (MMTA members) and our first big gathering of bikes and riders after a long winter.

Our bike club is usually lucky enough to attract fellow bikers from around the province to participate in this worthy cause. Lots of times, we also have people who sit roadside in cars or on their lawns and porches to cheer us on.

Jake may not understand it, but Steve and I know he’s one of the lucky ones, lucky enough to have found a loving home where he’s treated well (sometimes a little too well maybe, not that I’d ever admit to spoiling him). So many dogs and cats don’t fare as well, at least until they make their way to a place like SHAID where they have a good chance of moving on to a good home. Shelters are always strapped for cash though and without support they can be forced to close and then the animals have no hope at all.

All animals should have loving homes and everyone should experience and appreciate the unconditional love of a pet, either the total adoration of a dog or the cooler independence of a cat. SHAID provides a wonderful link between animals that need to be loved and people who can love them.

So on Saturday, rain or shine (but we really, really hope shine), our little family will join the other members of our bike club and bikers from all over to help the animals. If you want to cheer on riders, including Jake, who are out there to support SHAID, feel free to wave and shout as we ride by. Better yet, if you’d like to help the cause, MMTA members (you’ll recognize us by our bright yellow club jackets and t-shirts) will be happy to accept donations at the three churches before the run or you can take them directly to SHAID on Saturday afternoon. Better still, if you ride, please come and join us. All riders are welcome.

Most riders give money since it’s easier to carry on the bikes, but the shelter is always in need of pet food and other supplies. Whatever the donation, it will be greatly appreciated by SHAID, the MMTA, RoadDog and his four-legged friends. So thank you.

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It’s possible our Jake is a rather odd dog.

I don’t know if other people have dogs who love fish or maybe other Cairn terriers do, I’m not sure, but our RoadDog is insane for fish. Sometimes I’ve thought maybe it’s just the odour, because our boy does love anything that smells strong and stinky, but other times I think it’s more than that. Since he can’t talk, it’s hard to tell, but he definitely always seems to be saying “more please, more.”

Jake eats a sardine every day. The breeder where we got him in Saint John suggested it would be good for his coat and that appears to be true. Aside from that, Jake loves that sardine. He goes nuts waiting for me to get it out of the container and onto a dish in front of him, then gobbles it down. He eats it so fast I’m not even sure if he tastes it, but perhaps that’s the key to eating sardines anyway.

If I make salmon or haddock for dinner (which I don’t do often because someone in our house … cough … Steve … cough … doesn’t like fish much), Jake has to have some too. He’s under my feet in the kitchen from the first whiff until the last plate goes in the dishwasher.

And then there’s the whole tuna thing. Honestly, I think Jake would walk over hot coals for tuna. It is absolutely impossible to make a tuna sandwich in our house without giving our lovable dog his share. He whines. He barks. He bumps the back of my leg with his nose. When that doesn’t work, those paws start scratching at my leg. He simply will not be ignored.

Then there’s the lobster. I’ve mentioned before that Jake likes to share my occasional lobster sandwiches. We recently had a couple of lobsters at our place and our RoadDog nearly lost his mind. He was all over the kitchen, sniffing and putting his paws up on the cupboards. Steve finally scooped him up and let him see what was going on at the counter.

And, of course, Jake had a few tidbits. How could you say no to that hairy face?

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My boys recently had a wonderful day of riding — without me.

I was busy elsewhere a couple of Saturdays back so Steve and Jake headed out for the afternoon on Steve’s bike. From all accounts — well, okay, from Steve’s account and Jake’s exhaustion that evening, it must have been quite a day.

First they headed to one of our RoadDog’s favourite places to run around and stretch those rather short doggie legs — Graves Island. I’m told Jake rolled around in the grass and had a pretty grand time. Ever friendly, he then met two teen girls who wanted to play with him, so, under Steve’s watchful eye, they chased around with Jake until, as is the norm, they tired out before our energetic Cairn terrier. Thanks girls, with me not there to run and play chase, that was just what Jake needed.

After some water and a stop at the Tims in Mahone Bay (yes, Jake even ate Timbits without me), my boys headed to Blue Rocks to scramble over the rocks and sniff the sea air. They arrived back at home just minutes before I did. Steve’s bike was still in the driveway when I drove in and both man and dog looked happy if slightly tired.

Ah, male bonding, it does seem to be a special thing.

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I know I’ve written a lot about Jake and his toys lately, but we haven’t been doing a lot of riding and I have a new funny story to share.

Jake got a new toy for Easter courtesy of my aunt. She arrived at my parents’ house with a stuffed Tigger on Easter Sunday and immediately presented it to a very happy RoadDog. Our boy does love stuffed toys.

However, Jake quickly discovered that this one is different. You see, it isn’t actually a dog toy – it’s a baby toy – and instead of having a squeaker inside, it has a round button in the belly that you push and it plays “Twinkle, twinkle little star.” My aunt got it at The Daisy, the hospital auxiliary’s used clothing outlet, where she volunteers a few days a week.

As you can imagine, Jake finds this new toy all rather perplexing, especially since he occasionally manages to make the lullaby play when he grabs it. It really was too funny right from the beginning.

But then, typical of our RoadDog, it got funnier. Jake is a rather smart dog, just in case you haven’t figured that out yet. He has spent much of the last week, during his typical play times, poking at that Tigger toy’s tummy, with his nose and with his paw, apparently trying to make the music play. When he can’t do it, he just sits back on his bum beside it and looks confused. If Steve or I go over and make the lullaby play, Jake looks even more confused.

So thank you again Carolyn, your little gift has amused all of us this week.