A Long Road

Do you remember learning to drive? I do. It's a feeling like no other. Adrenalin is pumping through your body as you place your hands on that steering wheel. Turning the key in the ignition feels amazing. And the moment you pull away from the kerb is just exhilerating. Suddenly you're driving and it is just plain awesome! For most people, getting your licence is easy, but for some it is difficult, even frightening to be in control of a vehicle. It’s not that hard to learn in an automatic but in a manual it can be. It is so easy to stall a manual as you have to make sure the gear "engages" and not to talke your foot off the clutch pedal too quickly (which I used to do constantly!) Thank goodness Automatics don’t stall!! I decided to get my licence when I found out that my father had a car that he wasn’t driving anymore. I suggested that I get my L’s and learn to drive a manual so that I could take the car off his hands. He agreed, so off I went for the first step of my driving journey- the computer test. Passed with 100% so it was on to lessons My first lesson felt very intimidating. I had never driven before. I was terrified that soon I would be in control of this car- all I can say is thank God for dual controls!! My instructor, Mrs Sharon Van Damme, however is a family friend and an extremely skilled driving instructor at Dalton Driving School. She has been extremely patient with me, carefully teaching me everything about driving right from the start. Before we even started the engine each week she would make me go through all the gears positions without looking at the gear stick so that I would know where they were when I was driving. To this day I always know where the gear is simply by feeling for the gear stick thanks to her wonderful teaching We began on the back streets where it was nice and quiet. Once I had mastered that we began learning to navigate bends, and then it was onto the main roads. I would drive from Kirrawee to Miranda on the backstreets and then turn onto the main road, where we would drive to Cronulla and home again. After about six months Sharon and I were talking and I mentioned that I did not think I could drive in the Sydney CBD- or the "City" as some call it. Sharon just looked at me and said "You will". I just looked at her and said sarcastically "Thanks. I love you too!" I mean seriously? Me? Drive from Kirrawee to the city? I’m not ready for that! However I mastered that, too, and now I will happily drive into the city if I need to. As my confidence grew, I asked about country and freeway driving, as I have friends in country areas and hope to drive to visit them eventually. So we drove through the Royal National Park, and down to Stanwell Tops by the old road and back to Kirrawee via the freeway. I accidentally got up to 90 KMs that day which at the time was speeding. However I realise very quickly and slowed to the max for learners- 80 KMs. OOPS!!! Although I probably was not ready due to having to miss out on lessons over family issues I wanted to take the driving test for my Provisional licence- or my "Ps". So we booked the test and I had a go. Unfortunately I did not pass, so it was back to lessons. I wasn't disappointed though as I knew I would most likely fail the first time. I have now been taking driving lessons for nearly three years now. I know what you're thinking- Why have you taken so long? I am over 30 learning how to drive a car with manual transmission. I want to make sure I am completely confident in every aspect of driving before taking the test again. Sharon says I almost hold the record with her for having had the most driving lessons. I told her at first that I felt it was nothing to be proud of, but then I thought that it was as is shows that I am determined to be the best motorist I can be. I will be trying again very soon and with a bit of luck I will be successful.