Mishap with a tree, a steep slope and a GasGas......

Out with excellent tutor Donna Gray today, former British Champion which was tops! I'm without doubt improving, though that's not withstanding that I still have a long way to go.

Donna as always was pushing my boundaries of comfort and encouraging me, even had me riding with one foot off the pegs for steering from centre point of one's bike purposes. Might have looked like I was trying ride like a flamingo but most importantly I could do it - it's just like using your weight appropriately when riding a horse.

In the photos, you'll see Donna showing how it's done and me well .....showing how it's not?! Answers on a postcard to what might be going on.....behind the tree!

Breakfast discussions with Ross Noble, Billy, Ian, various (many) others and a bit of heart-to-heart with Donna today, much as I love the GasGas, to use an equestrian colloquialism, I may have over-horsed myself! The GasGas is at optimum performance at a particular power band, it's not torquey so one has to keep it revving and it does go (off the proverbial shovel)! Of course that sometimes means wheelies if your weight isn't in the right place to keep the front end down. Now whilst wheelies are fun, when one's learning - they're a tad unnerving, I don't do them to order you understand, but I do them!

So, off very early for two days training tomorrow with Tamsin Jones, one of only two British Women to complete the Dakar - very excited if a little nervous!

Currently watching 60 years of Formula One and John Surtees just commented that you do become as one with your car and it talks to you. He was world champion on 2 and 4 wheels! Mr T drily commented 'you need to be at one with your bike, Mrs T'! Hmmm - I do indeed (I was always at one with my sadly departed 17'2 thoroughbred - he went like the proverbial and had a particular power delivery to work within too!!) The GasGas intimidates me a tad. Oddly enough, I actually believe deep down that I can complete the challenge on the GasGas however there is a massive confidence thing going in my ability, I'm reticent to let it get into that power band too much. Has life gone full circle? I felt just the same when I got Buns, aforementioned chestnut throughbred, green and unschooled from the racecourse...!? And of course on a thoroughbred, the option to close the throttle ........just isn't there!!!

I shall ponder the GasGas on my return........

Dirt school!

Martin (Wittering) of Torque Racing made a comment last week, 'time in the saddle, Kate!'.

So, I've been doing exactly that - got hilariously wet today too. Every single thing that I was wearing was soaked - yeuk! Fun though, made a decision to avoid the chalky slopes however, on balance I think the grass was just as slippery. Mr T, the girls and our pooch, all got soaked too. One of those, right in the middle of nowhere moments when the heavens opened - so thanks to all the family for not only accompanying me on my practice but getting soaked graciously too! Good excuse for cake and hot chocolate when we got back home though.

Our cat was sensibly curled up on a chair!

Having looked at potential training days, summer holidays, the girls activities, professional commitments et al , I thought hmm... better take this in hand.

In light of Martin's comments I have booked myself into 'dirt school' for some serious time in the saddle and some tuition and learning along the way. Along with a few trail days.....

Whilst I was coming down the chalky ascent I was pondering a conversation that I'd had (at work) earlier in the week. Positive psychology is a very powerful thing and mastering one's confidence in a given scenario equally, however not to be at the expense of mastering skills and capability!

So, school it is, albeit of the off-road variety and some outings with Mr T.

Another boost today with another donation to GOSH, thank you! It's what this is all really about; raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and KidsCo, charities that do so much to try to make the world a better place for children.

A bit fast on the rebound..........

A bit fast on the rebound isn't necessarily when your recently divorced mate gets married again rather quickly!

Last night we met with Martin Wittering of Torque Racing and Donna Gray, former British Ladies Enduro Champion and Overall Winner of the Dawn to Dusk, Clubman class which was fantastic - they're both really super people. Donna is very much at the top of her game and has generously agreed to give me (at the bottom of my game!) some training for the event in September. Very excited, bit nervous and feeling very privileged.

I admitted (possibly a bit too candidly?!) that last week when I had to turn the bike round I had in fact got off pushed it and got back on again. It was quite a narrow lane. Donna suggested that practicing riding in a figure of eight would be good - I did this today however on a six acre field; so quite big figures of eight and room for improvement! I know that it's possible to spin the bike round in it's own space so to speak however, that's out of my skillset at the moment - my clutch control isn't up to it for sure.

Martin and Donna also had a look over my bike, which needs some re-adjustment. It is the suspension that is a bit fast on the rebound not aforementioned mate. This means that when the bike squishes down when you sit on it (technical term), mine comes back up a bit quickly - i.e. fast on the rebound. Learning so much .......also learnt that my husband has new pipes on his Benelli - in fact Martin and Donna noticed this, I didn't. Though it having been pointed out, I did observe that were rather nice (expensive I think) carbon fibre ones......!