Princess Scooterpie - A Motorcycle Diva who likes to moto wander & write about it.: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Bespeckled doesn't mean boring.

The quest for glasses begins again, and it's tortuous. I lost my much loved glasses last weekend. I back tracked and couldn't locate them - boo.

Choice number 1 - these glasses are from a Vancouver designer from Spectacle Eyeworks. They are from his 'Pussy Galore' line which is based on the 60's James Bond Movies. These sung to my retro diva vibe.

I have to wear specs now as it's a requirement on my license for driving. I have never tried contacts because of astigmatism, and I am a little worried about putting things in my eye. But I actually may try them and keep an open mind.

I like my glasses to be funky and make a statement. Why be boring? It means being a little brave and definitely out of my comfort zone. I have found not everyone is complimentary about eccentric, eclectic, funky frames, but in the end I have to live with the choice and it has to make me happy.

Choice number 2 - more sedate but still funky.

Choice 3 - they are metal frames and maybe a little big, but I did like them.

I am leaning towards the Pussy Galore frames by Spectacle. They make me smile every time I try them on, they are comfortable and best yet, they fit really well in my helmet!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Just a little bit of where I live - beautiful BC

Malahat Summet look-out view of Vancouver Island.

Today was an especially early start for me, I headed up Island to meet a friend and spend some time with her. Sunrise was about 8:22am today, and as I drove over the Trans Canada #1 Highway the sun was just peeking it's lazy head up over the horizon. I decided to stop at the Malahat Summit lookout to capture a few pics, and I was very glad I did. I was rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise, warm and golden, promising of the spring to come. The pics may be a little grainy because they were taken on my iPhone. This is looking over to the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island.

It's been pretty grey and drizzly for the last week. I was extremely happy to see my friend the sun, but he sure likes to wake up late during the winter and go to bed early. Given a choice, I think I would have liked to get up late too! But I'm a busy girl with places to go & things to do, so I was up with the chickens and beat the sun out of bed.

The sun is still a little sleepy, but starting to stretch upwards into the sky. Good morning Mr. Sun! Would love it if you got up a little earlier & stayed a little longer, I am craving spring of a long rainy winter. We have the mildest climate in Canada, but winter tends to be never ending grey with fog and rain. We are starting to see signs of spring here and there, a few misguided trees are starting to blossom, but the forecasters are calling for cold next week, so it may stall out an early spring. February and March can be quite unpredictable here and we have gotten snow & freezing tempuratures. We aren't as warm as California or as sunny, our winter is more like their winter with mild temps, but with a case of ugly mood syndrome.

The little blip in the water in front of the island is the Mill Bay ferry that cuts out at least an hour of driving.

This pic is looking towards Vancouver on the mainland. On a beautiful clear day you see mountains in the distance. It was soon time to get on my way and skiddadle up to Ladysmith.

I was almost to my friends, when I spotted this view of this beautiful little island. I had to stop and take this picture, to me it was simply magical.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Status update - a few steps closer! Chasing the motorcycle dream.

This is me about 7 months post motorcycle novice course, spring 2012, I was running a cone course on Scarlett at an alumni event.

The bulk of my course is finished and I've written my school's exam & our local government exam and passed those.

I want to do nothing less than my very best at teaching and give my future students the tools to be safe, competent, confident, and well trained motorcyclists who are committed to excellent road craft when out on their bikes.

I owe a big thanks to a few people along my instructor path, my 3 instructor trainers who have been rock solid and imparted their moto knowledge.

The biggest thanks though really goes to my family, because they have ridden along with me on this journey when it started in January 2011 on a little 50cc scooter, through motorcycle courses, exams, licensing and finally being moto orphans since September 2014 when I was busy learning to teach. It has been quite a ride and I still can't believe I have really only been riding for 3 years and am now embarking on a new phase of my motorcycle adventure. Stay tuned! Wish me luck, my practicum is at the end of March.