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!!!!!