I made sure she was there well before the 6:00 time Friday evening. We didn't even have time to stop and eat, so I dropped her off and ran for some food. When I returned the class had already started and I did the wait thing! Fortunately the break room was stocked with plenty of coffee and motorcycle magazines. When break came at about 8PM she was ready to eat.
The Friday evening class was just indoctrination and films...and dispersal of study aids and workbooks. There were 2 classes in session at the same time and I sat in the break room listening through the open door to what was happening in the class that Sparky was not in. I found out later her class did pretty much the exact same thing.
Friday night after 10 and at home she was very nervous about riding the next day. We got to bed by 11 and we were up at 5:45 again. Had to be there at 8! Can't be late! I fixed her a nice big breakfast and sent her on her way by herself. I fretted all day!! And didn't get a thing done.
She got home around 6:30 and could hardly walk. Her hips hurt (arthritis) ...her butt hurt...her ankles hurt...her wrists hurt. She was a mess! There was a big bruise on her left shin. She said she doesn't remember what she hit. I'm guessing a foot peg.
We went quickly and picked up some BBQ ribs for that all needed meat meal. I made her then go get a hot soaking bath, but she refused to put ice on the bruise. She said it was useless at this point, besides her hips were far worse and she just needed to rest. YET! There was a ton of stuff for her to study before 5:30 Sunday morning.
I helped her with the studies...You know, stopping distances, countersteering, positions of bike controls etc. T-BLOG ..INSINC...Or some such acronyms all over the place! You see the course is not just a course, it's a preparation to pass the written and skills test for the motorcycle endorsement to one's license. Anyway! We filled her tired brain with all sorts of state required knowledge details and sent her off to sleepytown.
This morning she got up and was off before I knew the world existed outside my dreams. She had changed boots to help with the feel of the gearshift lever. Apparently this was a big problem. I got up later and rode the RR over to the facility to take a few pics.
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I got there at about 10:30 and was met at the door by a fellow with three teeth at most and wearing a red Honda shirt. He informed me immediately that I was not allowed to take pictures of the "range". I just explained that my wife was taking the course and I just wanted to take a couple of photos of the facility. We talked for maybe 20 minutes and became big pals. By the time Sparky came strolling around the corner on a lunch break, the guy was telling me it would be alright as long as I didn't disturb the classes on the range.
She introduced me to some of her classmates and we ran to Burger King for a burger. When we got back she wanted to show me one of the guys' bikes....A Ducati! She said to tell you guys that she took the class on a Ducati!
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Then I had to pull her away. After all she was lusting after another man's Duke!
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We took a stroll through the center and out the back door towards the range. This is the break room.
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I could not get away without that "verboten" pic of the range!! Here are my spy pics of the range break area. Oops! I got the "Range" in my picture! The Honda gestapo will come get me tomorrow!
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She revealed over lunch that she had dropped the bike during one of the manuevers before lunch. It was a close figure 8 inside the small box. She thinks she may have hit the brake and it slowed too much. As it started to fall she didn't have the strength to keep it from going on over and had to have help to pick it back up. She and one other lady did the same thing. But her straight line emergency braking was superb!
As I rode home it began to mist rain, so they may have some wet pavement to deal with this afternoon. It's almost 2:00 now and she'll be home in 4 1/2 hours to give me the final report.
I think she's been very brave so far, to have never ridden a bike before at all! When I left her for the afternoon finale today, the last words she spoke were: "I'm really having a good time." Damn!! You gotta keep your eye on those italian Dukes.
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