Trying something new at lightning-quick speeds

Last week something exciting arrived at work via Purolator. That something exciting may also give some of my Ontario readers who are related to me a slight heart attack.

Last week Purolator delivered a helmet, jacket and gloves for me to wear on Cody’s street bike and tonight we tried riding together for the first time. I’d like to say he was super nice to me and went at slow cruiser speeds the entire time – but then I’d be lying. However, I’ll never tell you how fast he did go (I’d really like my parents and grandparents to still love him when they meet him at Christmas time).

The only other motorcycle I’ve been on is my grandpa’s and that his cruiser couldn’t be more different. While I get to sit back, listen to classical or gospel music and relax in the comfy seat with arm rests on grandpa’s bike, I have to sit 100 per cent still and brace myself against the gas tank on Cody’s.

All I have to say after tonight is that riding on the bike wasn’t as scary as I thought it might be and it was a ton of fun. I look forward to getting more comfortable on the bike, it will be a nice way to travel when the weather is nice.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Good-bye accelerated speeds, hello cautious driver

This is a scene I have chosen to be a part of past

My days of flying down Highway 401 towards Toronto, and even towards Sarnia are of course long gone.

It has taken me seven months, but I’m finally ready to shed by bad speeding habit in lieu of much more cautious speeds.

There are several reasons for this much needed change of heart. For one, I’ve landed in the ditch twice because of accelerated speeds. For most people, landing in the ditch once would be reason enough, apparently I’m a slow learner and needed to land in the ditch twice.

Reason number two: Speeding fines cost far too much money. Money I do not want to incorporate into my budget, especially with warmer weather creeping up on northern Alberta. Because of the weight I lost last summer and fall, my summer work wardrobe is severely lacking, and I’m going to have to purchase a few more pieces sooner or later (For those of you generous in heart, I am now accepting donations J – I’ll even pledge another 20 pounds for shopping money.)

Reason number three: Deer. Lots and lots of deer –  and the occasional moose. Now that it is spring time and hunting season is over, the many, many deer living in the forests along the only highway into Grande Prairie and the only highway into Peace River are out and running. Just the other day Ashley, Chris and I were driving to Grande Prairie and had to stop twice to allow a group of eight deer prance and frolic across the highway.

So, this is goodbye lead foot. I can’t say whether or not I’ll ever see you again, but I do know that so long as I’m living in a deer sanctuary and driving a highly inappropriate vehicle for northern living, I will be driving slowly and cautiously.