Have I missed the point?!

Had a good little outing today - despite having to negotiate some "noddies" going the wrong way through the one-way system in the village!

On perusing the Enduroland site this evening, I spied some forthcoming excitement at Silverstone - ohh I thought, that sounds fun. Love Silverstone for any reason - bikes, cars, classics (late father-in-law designed the AC Ace, he was a member of the BRDC so many a fond memory..)

Ok wistful moment over - that was of course until I read the detail - some great little treats like concrete steps.! Great little treats like concrete steps - is that an oxymoron? Oooo - as a girl that thinks treat as perhaps; a meal out, a glass of fizz, chocolates, flowers....... not sure where the concrete steps come in.

Cripes, still have a lot to learn....

Two NAN (Novice and Newcomers - or is that Nervous and Noticeable for all the wrong reasons in my case) days in the diary for June and July instead, I might just pass on the concrete steps treat - lovely as they sound....??!!?

Have a little goal mind, by the time I go to the Pyrenees I would like to be able to do a wheelie to order. Did one this evening - hurrah - not by design mind, just a bit heavy handed with the loud handle and dropped the clutch - teehee....

Concrete ruts........and soft muck heaps!

What a glorious weekend! Mr T and I went out for an Easter trip this morning. Had my usual confidence wobble on departing however I'm beginning to whick along rather more quickly than I used to. Fabulous weather and a little breeze this morning so just lovely.

Being the Bank Holiday weekend, there were lots of people about and dogs - as a learner biker this is often good news as it also means a little rest (i.e. stop engine, greetings, little chat...). Only small stops though as Mr T was pressing on rather - so I had to keep up!

The ground was like concrete and very, very dusty. The ruts that one had hitherto undertaken that had soft sides certainly didn't any more! So, I figured avoidance tactics today then. Won't do the concrete ruts, I'll go round them!

This all went well until I rounded a corner and there was a family and assorted small dogs some way off on the side of the byway with 'no ruts' - oh!

A few lessons back Donna had said 'now if you have to go across any ruts, as opposed along and in them as it were, do it diagonally and with purpose'. Right! So that's what I did, with purpose, diagonally and with a wee Gary tip too - if in doubt use the throttle, the bike will take it, just make sure you can stop afterwards! I did, I did and I did - yippee!

Later on we came upon some unavoidable ruts and I did it, throttle - looking where I was headed rather than where I was at (I hope a temporary bad habit...) and voila! Then thought, I could perhaps practice on these and then thought 'practicing ruts feels somewhat akin to practicing toothache' - now why would one do that - have 4 1/2 months to go, I'll do that another day!! I did however go in and out the ditch several times - yeehah!

In the pic attached there is a big, smelly heap of muck and straw - always on the look for a soft landing just in case I need it - even if it does stink!

Being Easter have now had my full of really far too much chocolate - better work it off tomorrow on the bike - still burning quite a lot of calories through both fear and riding!

Very excited about a conversation with Steve Parrish's (MotoGP commentator and former top level racer - Barry Sheen's team mate) lovely girlfriend Michelle. Planning a wee event of some sort; food, marquee, music and Steve has extremely kindly agreed to donate something to auction - most chuffed! Watch this space - will let you know the date.

Now, where was I, there's some chocolate somewhere..........

Is a pert bottom a pre-requisite?

This week I haven't done as much practice as my training schedule says I should have! Oop! Two steps forward...... However on Sunday - Mother's Day - whilst not out riding - was enjoying lots of lovely R&R with the girls and family, whilst not exercise, must be a good compliment to training!

Consumed rather a lot of chocolate though, so training this week required for more reasons that one.

Now whilst I wasn't training on the GasGas last week, I did do a Lotte Berke session at Esse with Karen Taylor. I decided some time back that some overall fitness and stamina/ endurance would be necessary if I'm to have any chance of keeping up in the Pyrenees. So, Lotte Berke for those of you not familiar with it, is a combination of ballet/ modern dance, yoga and physiotherapy designed to help one achieve a lean, supple and toned body along with a 'pert bottom' I'm led to believe! The session was an hour long and I must admit that after 10 minutes I was beginning to wonder if I'd last the next 10 minutes! I did ache rather the following morning!

As some of you know of course, the boys, including Mr T did his bit for Comic Relief and the opening of the new scrumptious studio at Esse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6nDPn3SFY if you fancy a giggle and a Lotte Berke taster??!!?

So, on with the serious stuff. I'm going on a trail ride this week and am also going to an Enduro Event (my first ever) with my bike on Saturday - eek!

And if the pleasant added extra is a 'pert bottom' too, that's okay with me!