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Southern California city elects a paw-litician for life

By General Posts

Mayor Max II of Idyllwild, California sits in the back of his pickup truck, wearing a tie and hat, barking his greetings to locals. He’s not your average mayor.

He’s a dog.

The golden retriever, whose full name is Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II, has been mayor of the Southern California town since 2014. But he’s actually the second dog to be elected for the town’s highest office since Mayor Max I in 2012, when Idyllwild first elected a canine.

In 2012, nonprofit Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends ran a sponsored election for the non-incorporated town. Any resident could nominate their pets, and constituents paid $1 donations to vote. The proceeds went to help save animals, and the election raised $31,000 for the animal rescue.

Max I was in the running with 13 other dogs and two cats. Max won with two-thirds of the vote. His owner Phyllis Mueller, who says she’s his chief of staff, says she and her husband campaigned hard… but they also wrote a $20,000 check.

(MORE: Meet the ‘pilot’ pup that has flown thousands of miles)

“I thought it would be fun to have my dog be the mayor,” Mueller says. “You were asked to pay a dollar a vote and you were encouraged to buy the election.”

But Max I was an old dog when he took office and passed away within two years. Phyllis Mueller looked everywhere for the right successor, and says when she first met Max II’s litter it was obvious which of the pups should be the mayor. He apparently looked right at the camera and posed.

He was a young politician beginning his term at only 11 weeks old, and in the third election Mayor Max II was appointed mayor for life.

Mayor Max II and his deputy mayors (two other golden retrievers) make appearances at city events and festivals, go to local hospitals and schools, and even make house calls to those in need. Their fleet of “mayor mobiles” have custom license plates and the mayor’s logos.

“When people ask what party they would belong to, I always say they would be independent,” Mueller jokes.

Mayor Max II’s ultimate goal is to help make the world a better place. Now, that’s a paw-litician worth electing.

Motorcycles on Three Wheels

By General Posts

Motorcycles on Three Wheels
The sidecar riding experience and how to do it
by Ujjwal Dey

Motorcycles are fun. And so is travelling long distances or touring on motorcycles. Many touring options are available for big bikes with big budgets. But suppose you are young and wild and free but on a limited budget, what do you do? Ask your friends and they will say a car trip ain’t as much fun as being one with the road on a motorcycle. The environment, the atmosphere, the surroundings, it all hugs you, body and soul, when you tour on a motorcycle. So, here is an option hippies globally celebrate–Sidecars. A third wheel for your motorcycle. No more slippery roads for your two-wheeler. More luggage space. Bring more friends to the road trip party. Bring your dog too.

We recently covered the Ural Motorcycles phenomenon on www.BikernetTrikes.com and if that has inspired you but you are not sure about buying a whole Ural, well just buy a sidecar then. There are many companies including Ural itself, which sells Sidecars as an accessory for your existing motorcycle. So no, you don’t have to switch loyalty or buy a new bike. Just buy the goodies to attach a sidecar to your Harley-Davidson or Triumph or Indian.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FEATURE ARTICLE

Let us know your experience and adventures at wayfarer@bikernet.com

Man And Dog Log 64,000 Miles Together On A Motorcycle

By General Posts

Barney is sitting comfortably on a well-worn pad atop the Kawasaki that carried him into Hamilton. The little gray-muzzled cocker spaniel watched the world go by through his pair of shaded Doggles.

Cool as a cucumber, he hardly glanced at the small horde of people gathered around him just off the town’s Main Street. Some aimed their cellphone cameras. Others just pointed their fingers and smiled.

This isn’t anything new.

Barney is used to being a star attraction.

Read more on the Missoulian.