2nd day of riding - stupid asshole!

I decided to go for a scooter ride after work today. I got spotted by the in-laws and had a little explaining to do before I started on my ride. I ventured out on to both residential streets and county highways. I fought the wind and the tight curves of Demming road. I both gave and received the "biker wave". I even got waved at by a guy on a lawnmower - how cool is that!

It wasn't until I was a few blocks away from home that I encountered the asshole. Now remember, the scooter that I was on is day-glow yellow. I ride with both headlights on also. I arrived at a four way stop where I was planning on turning left. My signal was on. The only other car was across the intersection who was also going to turn left. There was no one else. I let the car across from me complete its turn before I decided to go. I just had one last glance and saw out of the corner of my eye a red taurus with a driver that looked to still be in high school. He was coming from my left pretty fast as I was starting my left turn. It really didn't look like he was going to stop so I slowed. I stopped in the middle of the intersection right as he blew right through the stop sign. He didn't even slow down until he reached the point just before where I was paused. He maneuvered around me and only gave me a sideways glance as he went on his merry way. I raised my hand in a "What the Hell?!?" sort of gesture, but I don't think he understood.

Hubby says that assholes like him are similar to road construction - there is really no escaping either one....

I wanna ride!!!!

So, awhile back, I wrote about getting my motorcycle learner's permit. After waiting for the weather to warm up, I finally took up a co-worker on his offer to loan his scooter to me.

Yesterday, he picked me up and took me to his garage after work. I was expecting a little Vespa-like scooter. Instead, the door opened and revealed a day-glow yellow, 250cc, big ole Honda. It actually looks like a cross between a rice rocket and a scooter. So he showed me all the switches and everything and demonstrated the operation of this contraption for me and then it was up to me to actually get on and ride. So I strapped on the full-face helmet that he loaned me and got on. The only thing that was really foreign to me was the throttle and the fact that I didn't have to pedal. Due to my years of bicycling experience, I am pretty natural at leaning into corners, balancing, and using hand brakes. The co-worker was sweet enough to follow me for a few blocks to make sure that I was alright, but after that, I was on my own. I had really never ridden a motorized, two-wheeled device so this really was a first for me. I spent about twenty minutes riding around the subdivision getting used to everything, and then it was time to actually ride the seven miles home on country roads. I won't bore you with every minute detail, but needless to say, I made it home! It was really fantastic and mildly terrifying, but I was really quite proud of myself. Yay!!!!!