Yeah...I'm bad!

So, last Saturday and Sunday was exciting, lots of fun, and stressful all at the same time! My mom, dad, and I all took a rider-skill training course to get our motorcycle endorsement for our motorcycle licences. Until Saturday I had only been on one motorcycle and that was last September when I rode with my uncle in Texas. I was super excited to take the class but scared to death that I was going to drop the bike or something. The motorcycle that the class provided me with to learn on was a small Honda Rebel 250 (basically a step up from a dirt bike), if you were to actually ride this bike on the rode you would probably get ran over! Below is a picture of the bike I learned how to drive last weekend.

Being as tall as I am my knees were up to my chest! But hey, it was a motorcycle! It capped out at 80ish, so try that on the interstate!

We spent the first part of Saturday morning in the class room learning about all the switches, gauges, and proper riding attire. It was good to know before getting on the bikes, but I was anxious to ride! After lunch, I got my chance! When we first sat down on the bikes to start them up for the first time I was excited but also scared to death! I have a healthy respect for motorcycles and didn't want to be the first one to make a fool out of myself by dropping (even though it was small it still weighed about 400lbs) it or running into someone. They talked us through turning it on all the way to actually riding it across the parking lot within an hour. I was amazed, and proud! We rode for about four hours preforming exercises and maneuvers. Around 4:30 we were done for the day, and boy was I grateful! My butt was getting sore from four hours of riding.

Sunday was even more stressful than the day before! Not only did we have to remember everything from the previous day, but we also had to take a written test and a driving test! For those of you that know me, you know how well I usually do on test! Again we spent the first part of the morning in the class room and taking the written exam, which by the way I passed with flying colors. By 10:30 am we were back on the bikes for a few hours of exercises and riding before lunch. By lunch time I was a nervous wreck---knowing that my performance exam was looming over head.

After we returned from lunch we spent the next four hours riding on the bikes, learning how to roll, press, look, and turn, avoiding objects in the road, running over boards, swerving in and out of cones, learning how to slam on the breaks to avoid an object (without flipping over the handlebars), and keeping our head up (which is imperative to riding a motorcycle). By 4:30 or so it was test time...dum, dum, dum! There were 12 people in my class and believe it or not I was the last one in line to take my exam! It gave me time to watch everyone else go through there test, but it also allowed for me to let my nerves get the best of me. The test consisted of various maneuvers that we had preformed through out the last two days. Most of them were easy, but some....a little more tricky. I watched as one by one everyone aced there test, including my mom and dad. Side note: EVERYONE cheered for my mom after every passed exercise, it was great! All I could think of was..."If my mom passes and I fail, I am never going to live it down". After about 20 grueling minutes of watching everyone else go through the exercises I was on my way through each obstacle (with everyone--who had passed---watching). One-by-one I achieved every part of the test placed in front of me and I was standing with the victors!

EVERYONE in my class passed! That should tell you something about the instructors! By the end of day two (keeping in mind that I had never driven a motorcycle) I was riding without even thinking about what I was doing! Below is a picture of my endorsement.

Now all I have to do is go to the drivers licences office, give it to them, and BAM! I can legally drive a motorcycle on the road. Not saying that I would without a little more practice but I am well on my way to being a motorcycle owning, riding, mama! Look out guys, here I come! For all of you that want to ride, check out this website: http://www.bikertraining.net/. I can't imagine any better teachers! I look forward to seeing you out there!