Monday, July 18, 2011

Next step in the Dream


Ah, scooters. How do I love thee. I love the cute styling, how they look all parked in a row or against some wonderful European backdrop. I love the freedom they exude, as they zoom along the streets. I love to capture them as part of a scene. They scream "Italy" and "Europe" to me. I never had any desire to ride a motorcycle, but after living in Italy for two years, scooters captured my heart.

I wrote a few months ago about my scooter dream and how I signed up for Motorcycle Basic Rider Training through Team Oregon in July to help me along in my dream. The purpose of this course is to teach basic skills to make a motorcyclist safer on the road, and by 2015 anyone in Oregon who wants to ride a motorcycle will be required to take it. By the end of the course, if you pass, you have met all of the requirements to get your license and the class completion card waives any further testing.

The training was this weekend. It started with a classroom session on Thursday night for two and a half hours, followed by Saturday and Sunday classes which each had four hours on the riding range in the morning and then 2 to 3 hours in class in the afternoon. It included a skills test on the motorcycle and a written test that you had to pass.

Let me be honest - this was the most physically and mentally demanding thing I've done in a long time. (It took all of my energy this weekend, hence no blog posts!) Riding a motorcycle takes an enormous amount of skill and concentration, especially if you're new to it. You have to do different things with both hands and feet at the same time. You have to pay attention to the world around you so much more than in a car, because the hazards are so much greater and you are less visible. You have to learn to trust the machine below you and how to react quickly and safely.

I am not the most physically coordinated of people. I was always last picked in gym class, being small and slow. I was the one who would go out for a sport and work super hard, practicing a ton, just to become mediocre. The athletic stars would come in with no practice and exceed my skills by a long shot. But what I have learned through all of that, is that I have the determination and persistence to learn just about anything when I set my mind to it. I'm not completely uncoordinated, it just takes me more time to get it and more practice to master it than some others. I kept that in mind as I struggled with the controls and getting the sequence right. My past experience has shown me that I could do it, if I really tried.

I have to say, that this course was amazing. It took me (and others) who had never driven a motorcycle before, didn't even know the controls, to riding a motorcycle and passing a skills test in two days of range riding. That is just incredible. By the end, I was swerving around obstacles and taking corners at 15-20 miles per hour (24-32 km/hr), weaving through offset cones at low speed without putting my foot down, able to take sharp corners. Oh yeah, and all of this - in the rain! The second day of class it rained the whole time on the range, soaking us but showing us that we could do this in the rain as much as the sun.

And guess what - I passed! I am so excited. I am so proud. This gives me a bigger feeling of accomplishment than I ever, ever expected. I overcame my fears. I learned something that was hard for me but my persistence and determination paid off. And the good news, driving a scooter is much easier than a motorcycle! No clutch to worry about, no foot controls, yet I know how to do those too now.

Today, I will go down to the Department of Motor Vehicles with my class completion card and get the motorcycle endorsement added to my license. Here is one thing I know though - I am nowhere near riding on the road yet. I have a lot of practice to do, and skills to continue building, before I be-bop around town on a scooter. I have a little 50cc Honda Metropolitan scooter purchased from a friend to practice on though, and some great basic skills to help me progress.

Maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but an old Kat? If she really wants to learn it, she can.

(Linking in to Creative Exchange and Creative Every Day today. Here's a story where following my heart photographically has led to something wholly new and unexpected in my life. Isn't that amazing?)

21 comments:

  1. I'm so proud of you - you're my hero. LOL No seriously, congrats my friend.

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  2. I'm so proud of your awesome accomplishment! Well done Kat!

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  3. You are a brilliant Kat, old or not! I'm so pleased you did this and in my imagination you're whizzing around town looking 'tres continentale' (sorry - French!!)

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  4. that is so great kat! good on ya!!!! i wanna learn now!

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  5. Congratulations, Kat. This sounds wonderful, and I'm sure you will enjoy riding your little scooter. How sweet to realize such a nice dream.

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  6. Congratulations on this milestone. We were also inspired by the motor scooters we saw everywhere on our recent trip to Italy. Good for you for actually following up.

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  7. You are amazing! Actually I was thinking that before I read your latest post. Moving, the postcard exchange, setting up a rudimentary studio...and now motorcycle training too! You are one high energy chick! Congratulations and have fun with your new ride.

    BTW, we need pictures!

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  8. I have no doubt you can do anything you put your mind to. Congrats! I had a motorcycle license when I was young, and after crashing into a parked car while making a u-turn, I learned how important practice and weight of the bike is.

    You go girl!

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  9. Way to go. I ride on the back of my husband's motorcycle which is awesome. Driving your own would be entirely different feeling. I am sure there there is nothing like it. Congratulations and safe driving.

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  10. wow Kat....what a great idea. Think how much easier it will be to drive a scooter than a motorcycle. You'll likely be overqualified. How great is that?

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  11. Congratulations, Kat!! This is such great news - please keep us posted on your practicing with your scooter!

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  12. CONGRATULATIONS Kat. My brother is a big motorcycle person, and I cannot tell you the number of times he has said the same thing about how physically demanding it is. Good for you! You should be very proud of you!! :-)

    Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful photograph and your awesome news today at The Creative Exchange.

    Have a wonderful day!

    lisa.

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  13. Congrats! So fun to see people achieving goals and making their dreams come true.

    I swore while I was in Switzerland that if I went back for any length of time I'd rent a scooter. I've never ridden a Vespa and have always wanted to. I grew up riding motorcycles, so I've always assumed it would be easy, but maybe I need a refresher course!

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  14. Congrats! More power to you if you like riding one in the rain. ;)

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  15. Congrats to you - my dream is to ride around Italy in a Vespa - but I am not very coordinated so who knows!!! Good luck - oh yes - great capture of the red scooter.

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  16. Congrats, Kat! That's great! I'd love an orange scooter, but I'd be way too afraid to take one on the road.

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  17. soooo awesome girl! congrats again.

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  18. Congratulations! What an accomplishment! I love the little red orange scooter in the photo!

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  19. Go Kat Go!!! I can totally see you rocking out a lil Vespa - congrats on passing the motorcycle driving test!

    I'm so excited for you - a fab new studio (such great light - I love it!), an upcoming course, the postcard swap - you my dear as always are my inspiration. I'm so SO happy for you and can't wait to see what amazing things you do next! xx

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