Bit late this week, so I apologise if I've forgotten most of it!
After a quick circuit of left hand turns, making it up into third gear, we went on to right hand turns. A little more to think about here, especially which way to flick the signal switch, which on numerous occasions I seemed to manage to signal left for right hand turns. Hmm... must work on that!
Thankfully I only stalled a couple of times, although it was to my dismay as I hoped to be the person that never stalled. Hey ho, just need to keep the revs up. I think it may have been a confidence issue. A cockyness issue in fact, as I sped up in my manouvers trying to seemless carry out my instructors instructions (well there's a mouthful) at the speed of a 'normal' driver. It appears I need to wait for myself to catch up.
My other problem this week (perhaps related to the over-confidence) seemed to be changing gear. Not changing gear in itself or forgetting the clutch nor going fast/slow enough, but simply grabbing the handbreak instead of the gear stick. Fatal flaw indeed. Again thankfully I managed to rectify my mistake before putting the handbreak on - which would indeed of had interesting consequences.
On a positive note, my foot/pedal control is excellent and coming on in leaps and bounds. I have control!
Next week I have been promised the delight of mixing left and right turns in our little jaunts. Looks like it would be a good plan to learn my left and right when it comes to signalling for this.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Driving Number 4
Bit of a break between posts as unfortunately I was very sick last week and had to miss my driving lesson! Disappointing.
So today was largely recap of the old left hand turns. Feeling slightly apprehensive after the break, I seemed to settle back into it quicker than I thought.
I do believe that it's a mark of my evolving maturity that I told my instructor what I needed (e.g. 'can we go round the block one more time to cement this in my mind?') rather than just meekly going along with what she said. It's almost come as a shock to me that I have my own mind, and that it's thoughts are worth listening to (at times)!
Having mastered mirror, signal, manouver and left turn in first gear, complete with handbreak stop at the junction, along with giving way behind parked cars, we decided to take it up a gear. Literally. So we set off, we get into second gear, happily go along until a car whizzes into the road forcing me to stop behind a parked car. So we carry on in first. Once we have turned we aim to speed up into second again. I manage the speed, push down the clush and the car makes an awful revving noise and jumps - horrible. I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!' So we turn into a side road to discuss. Turns out you're supposed to take your foot of the accelerator as you put the clutch down. Oh. That'd explain it. D'oh.
So today I avoid my instructor squealing at me, and just squealed myself. I have to say though, I did notice a marked improvement in my confidence and reaction times. It's not taking quite as long to carry out the instructions I'm given, my feet and hands are starting to move automatically. Whoo. I started the lesson thinking I'll never get it, and left the lesson thinking, 'ah ha, here we go!'
I only hit the curb once. Guess that's good going. Especially since my clutch control of just rolling into position at junctions and when parking is so excellent! ;) he he.
Right hand turns next week me thinks.
So today was largely recap of the old left hand turns. Feeling slightly apprehensive after the break, I seemed to settle back into it quicker than I thought.
I do believe that it's a mark of my evolving maturity that I told my instructor what I needed (e.g. 'can we go round the block one more time to cement this in my mind?') rather than just meekly going along with what she said. It's almost come as a shock to me that I have my own mind, and that it's thoughts are worth listening to (at times)!
Having mastered mirror, signal, manouver and left turn in first gear, complete with handbreak stop at the junction, along with giving way behind parked cars, we decided to take it up a gear. Literally. So we set off, we get into second gear, happily go along until a car whizzes into the road forcing me to stop behind a parked car. So we carry on in first. Once we have turned we aim to speed up into second again. I manage the speed, push down the clush and the car makes an awful revving noise and jumps - horrible. I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!' So we turn into a side road to discuss. Turns out you're supposed to take your foot of the accelerator as you put the clutch down. Oh. That'd explain it. D'oh.
So today I avoid my instructor squealing at me, and just squealed myself. I have to say though, I did notice a marked improvement in my confidence and reaction times. It's not taking quite as long to carry out the instructions I'm given, my feet and hands are starting to move automatically. Whoo. I started the lesson thinking I'll never get it, and left the lesson thinking, 'ah ha, here we go!'
I only hit the curb once. Guess that's good going. Especially since my clutch control of just rolling into position at junctions and when parking is so excellent! ;) he he.
Right hand turns next week me thinks.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Driving Number 3
So today we were doing left-hand turns. I underestimated the difficulty of this!
After finding a suitable section in the estate (away from parked cars and other people) we sat and discussed what I was to do. Simply, we were to approach the junction (mirror, signal, manouver ma larky) and then stop at it having turned left in line with the curb. Then having looked everywhere again, turn and repeat at the next junction, going round in circles.
It seemed simple, but that wasn't counting for the parked cars, lorries, workmen, other road users who seemed to be in the mood to make me life as hard as possible! I hope that I am more considerate to learners when I pass! Didn't feel at all panicked by any situation though, as quite simply I couldn't do anything anyway! Just plod along at my slow speed!
Going round in circles was good practice, but by the end of the hour my left leg had had quite enough from all the clutch control creeping and insisted on shaking and being in spasm. Hmm.
A number of times I could sense panic in my instructors voice as she squeeked, 'not too near the parked car' and her voice became more high pitched as she grabbed the wheel. You really have to turn that thing further than you think! I also had it upside down at some point which confused me.
Truely I'm not sure how my brain is going to be able to cope with doing different things with my eyes, arms and legs. I thought being a drummer would help, but not so far!
All in all though, I do appear to be a good creeper.
After finding a suitable section in the estate (away from parked cars and other people) we sat and discussed what I was to do. Simply, we were to approach the junction (mirror, signal, manouver ma larky) and then stop at it having turned left in line with the curb. Then having looked everywhere again, turn and repeat at the next junction, going round in circles.
It seemed simple, but that wasn't counting for the parked cars, lorries, workmen, other road users who seemed to be in the mood to make me life as hard as possible! I hope that I am more considerate to learners when I pass! Didn't feel at all panicked by any situation though, as quite simply I couldn't do anything anyway! Just plod along at my slow speed!
Going round in circles was good practice, but by the end of the hour my left leg had had quite enough from all the clutch control creeping and insisted on shaking and being in spasm. Hmm.
A number of times I could sense panic in my instructors voice as she squeeked, 'not too near the parked car' and her voice became more high pitched as she grabbed the wheel. You really have to turn that thing further than you think! I also had it upside down at some point which confused me.
Truely I'm not sure how my brain is going to be able to cope with doing different things with my eyes, arms and legs. I thought being a drummer would help, but not so far!
All in all though, I do appear to be a good creeper.
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