July 17,2008...The Road Test...

I woke up that morning with a pit in my stomach as I don't like taking tests at all, never mind one while you are hurtling down the road at 50km/hr. The test was set for 1:15 in the afternoon and I was to pick up the bike from the class instructors by 11:30 am. I prepared for the test by putting a fluorescent orange stripe up the middle of my helmet so they could easily see when I was shoulder checking. Jen told me to remember to be a "bobble head" so they could see what I was doing. So my bobble head and I went to go and pick up the bike.

Kelly my course instructor gave me some helpful tips before I took off on the bike and gave me a thumbs up signal and could wait to find out if I passed. She thought that the fluorescent tape was great because she said, "they would know that I would know that they were looking for me to be shoulder checking" I get to the driver services center a bit too early. I can feel my confidence waining as I am waiting.

Finally they call me....

The gentleman introduces himself and proceeds to put me into a safety Dan vest and gives me an earphone so I can listen to him. We go outside to the bike and he sees the "Learn to Ride" signs plastered all over the bike which I think helped. We go through the checks on the bike then we head out for our ride.

Along the way I lose him as I get through a traffic light so he tells me to turn right and wait for him by the side of the road. I must have done a good job as it took him 5 minutes to catch up with me. He then asks me to do a U-turn and go the other way. All is going well.

We get back to the driver services building and he tells me to park so I proceed to try and park in a handicapped spot...OOPS! He tells me that I might not want to park there...

We go inside and he basically marked me down for my lane position a few times and a couple of minor things. I actually had to ask him if I passed as he never told me!

I PASSED!!!!

Now begins the true adventure!

Next...Flo/Tannis, A new Nickname, and RLAP training

Just a short note....

In a couple of days I will be renewing my insurance for another year...

Hard to believe that a year has passed already! What a fantastic experience this has been and continues to be and I wouldn't give it up for the world!

(I also have to get off of my tush and update this blog more often!)

My Class and my MST test

July 2, 2008 begins the classroom portion of the course. I of course forget the book but am able to borrow a copy which is a good thing. Now, it's not all that exciting but classroom time is one of those things that should just be done. As a driver it was a good refresher as I was finding myself trying to remember what some of the road signs were, etc. Before I studied for my written exam I never even knew that it was legal to turn left onto a one way street on a red light in BC. I got my drivers in Alberta eons ago so I would have never known that.

So the next week we start the actual parking lot practice. I'm all excited to try a cruiser style of motorcycle so they decide to put me on a Virago 250. My first U-turn and I dump it which is very embarrassing being one of the few in the class that had some riding experience! At least I got to do the "how to pick a bike up" lesson and was a lovely example for all. After that they put me on a different Honda 250 that was more of a standard motorcycle like the one I had at home. I was feeling fairly comfortable with the bike after a little bit and seemed to do fairly well with it by the end of the first day. It was just those darned pylons that kept psyching me out in the U-turn!

Sunday morning comes around and we have the MST (motorcycle skills test) to do. The plan was to practice in the morning, take the test, then go for a ride in the afternoon. Much to my relief they ended up scoring the test themselves and didn't bring another tester in to mark me which probably would have freaked me right out. After putting my foot down in the U-turn the first time he told me that I, "must complete the U-turn competently to pass". Well, determined as I am, I sailed right through it that time so I very happily got to take my paperwork down to the motor vehicles branch to get my highway and supervisor restrictions lifted. OH HAPPY DAY! That afternoon was spent in an enjoyable ride around town to get some road practice.

Next,

THE ROAD TEST!!!!!