Driving For The First Time

I have been dreaming of driving a red truck, a Strada to be more specific.  My dream car that is!  But this is not about “driving my Strada experience”……not yet… this is about my first day of school - in driving!

My mentor who is my boyfriend allow me to familiarize (or shall I say introduce) the 3 pedals at the driver’s seat, the clutch, the footbrake, and the accelerator; and of course the most recognized steering wheel, and gear stick.  Then boooommmm!  It’s a bombshell, in less than 20 minutes of getting to know, I am going to be grilled!

It wasn’t that easy like how it looks like, these drivers just make it look so easy.  How can it be easy when you will consider a lot of things?  The car is not equipped with an automatic transmission, which, should be a lot easier (at least he said so, and he meant a lot, lot easier), but perhaps he wanted me to learn the hard way.

There is this clutching every shift or whenever you change gear; hold and release slowly the clutch while manipulating the gas; know when to shift or change gear; and there is this Math thing, I need to cal-cu-late when to steep the footbrake.   And don’t forget to check your speed, darling!  Watch as well and be alert for the traffic lights, along with that, be attentive because there may be intersections with no traffic lights, not to mention the pedestrians.  Above all those, I am maneuvering a 1.2 tonnes object to keep it on the right lane, and keep it off from the fast moving vehicles passing by me left and right.

Beyond any doubt I would say that it’s one gigantic case of MULTI TASKING.

How was it goin??? Check it for yourself with the attached video.

Important Lessons for this day:

1.     Step on the clutch fully and put the stick into the first gear.

2.     Slowly, yes, I said sloooowwwwlllyyyy release the clutch while thrusting the accelerator. 

3.     EYES ON THE ROAD, not on the steering wheel, all the more not on your teacher. ;-) (let’s go home baby, I’ll drive you crazy instead!)