After a year and a bit of training I had it. I arranged it a few weeks back about a week after my cross check and when I applied it took all of 2 days before an examiner got in touch to arrange the test! I was gobsmacked how quickly it took off! He had a free slot about a week after on a Friday however because I couldn't get the day off work I had to schedule it for this week, which wasn't a bad thing in the end what with all the ice that was about etc
So the meet time was 10AM and my observer agreed to meet me before to ride up together and take a observed ride before (had to travel around 30miles to meet point so was a good opportunity). As I was pulling out of the petrol station with my observer I stalled it!! I thought oh no I hope this doesn't happen on my test! But luckily that wasn't the theme of the day!!
So we got to the meet point (Hanger Cafe), everything went well getting there. Met up with the examiner had a 30 min brief and 10 minute checking the bike over making sure everything was legal and going over POWDDERS checks. He was happy with everything so off we went.
(Picture taken a few days ago when scouting the meet place at Hanger Cafe)
Ride was around 30-40 miles on all types of roads!! Through that time we picked up a traffic cop who wanted to follow us waiting for us to do illegal moves...well they didn't get that!! So after around 10 odd miles they got bored and moved on...I actually took a look at the guy driving and he looked at me...clearly he was very dissapointed not having to pull us over...although think that would of been an experience and a half...would loved to of seen the argument between the examiner (ROSPA/IAM/ police trained biker) and the traffic cops!! [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES] anyway I just got on with it but it did put me on edge because not only did I have my test but I had the old bill watching everything I did!!
So when they got bored we headed towards the motorway (all 50MPH at the moment) very boring but love how some people think they can get away with 70 on the outside lane...do these people know more than us?? Or are they just pr$cks!!
Fast forward a bit we ended at a place called Blackbushe Cafe (nice little airfield cafe), he asked for me to do a few figure of 8's which he was very happy about and off we went to park up.
Got off the bikes took lids off and first thing he said was "what did you think about the old bill then" I said they were bloody following us, he laughed and said I had coped with it very well and wasn't nervous of cracking on when getting into nationals and then added...clearly they were bored and wanted us to give them something to pull us over!!
He asked me a handful of questions and gave me a few scenarios which I answered to his liking.
Then the ultimate question..."how do you think it went?"
I stopped...my mind went blank couldn't remember a bloody thing, where was I, what did I do, crap crap crap...etc. urm, well, you see...
He interrupted and said I'll take you out of your misery
YOU PASSED and very easily, one of the best he's seen for a long time!!
As of today I am an advanced rider, YAY!!
