After running endless loops around the relatively quiet streets of my tiny neighborhood the day before, I was at that critical, I’m-bored-and-ready-to-move-on stage of learning. I’m fairly landlocked by large and busy roads, so I had scoured my Google maps to see if I could find something that would allow me take the next step in my learning progression, something in the Goldilocks range of discomfort – not too little, not too much.
What I found was Missionary Ridge. We live at the base of the north-south running ridge, situated along the eastern side of Chattanooga. It’s known for the Battle of Missionary Ridge during the Civil War. There are several military parks and monuments on the narrow ribbon of road that snakes along the tippy top.
What appealed to me was its characteristics. Even though it’s in town, it’s infrequently travelled – if you don’t live up there, there’s no real reason to be driving up there. The speed limits are low – 25-30 MPH. It runs for several miles with only two stop signs, and one yielding intersection along its length, so very little possibilities for cross-traffic. It seemed the perfect place for getting out on the road without too many additional challenges or risks.
My only problem… I was faced with getting Viv up there from where I live. A key to this approach to learning is that you must use a little bit of imagination to figure out how to arrange to make that next manageable stretch.
My solution? I had David, with his previous years of riding experience, ride her from our house, through the next neighborhood, up and around to the ridge road, and out to one of the little parks for me, while I followed behind in my truck. That solved that problem.
When we got up there, I also asked him to drive my truck behind me riding Vivie, to act as a buffer for me, in case I made any mistakes. That alone helped me tremendously in getting over the mental hump of riding out on a “real” road.
And, I did make some mistakes. I scooted off into a driveway way too fast in front of David, because I was anxious at holding up traffic. David covered me! I ended up at, what felt like, a busy intersection and did the most dumbass thing I could have done – turned around in the road – fortunately David also covered me on this one. Getting into wrong gears – he had me! Stopping abruptly, had by back!
But, oh!!! Vivie ‘n Me up on Missionary Ridge!! Delight!! My first real practice in light traffic, navigating stop signs and cross traffic, turn signals, trying to remember to turn off the turn signals – a lot to take in all at once, but lovin’ the twisty, turny curves and hills, and looking out over downtown Chattanooga (when I could take a quickie glance that way!!)
For the whole, long, boring YouTube video… https://youtu.be/zX5Q09LIctA
Smarter-Not-Harder U 