For one thing, Provo Canyon is a freeway. I guess that didn’t really cross my mind until I typed it just now, but it’s true. Provo Canyon is a multi-lane divided highway. The ride up the canyon was a lot of fun. I had a great tail-wind pushing me up. In some spots I was able to hit the “red line” a few times (75 mph — indicated). I imagine I was only going about 65 mph, but that’s a topic for a different day. It was a great ride up the canyon.

At Vivian Park I pulled off the highway and drove up past South Fork park. That road was very much like the ride up American Fork Canyon. If there was a way to get there without going on the highway, I would probably do it again and again. But since it requires the 10 minutes on the freeway, I doubt I’ll go back anytime soon.

The ride down the canyon was fast, but not all that enjoyable. What had been my tailwind pushing me up the canyon was now a hurricane-force headwind. And sometimes it was coming at me from the side, which made it hard to steady the scooter on corners.

It certainly accomplished the task of taking my mind off work for a few minutes, and there’s something to be said for that.

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I had never practiced any of the tests I would be asked to perform on my scooter, so I was a bit anxious going into the test. I hadn’t even read exactly what the tests would be until this morning before the test. The one bit of confidence I had was everyone saying how much easier the test would be on such a small machine. Apparently the cone weave and U-turn are almost impossible to perform on a large bike, like a Harley.

When I arrived at the DMV, I wondered if it was closed. There were only 3 or 4 cars in the parking lot. I was so confused. The day I took my written test, the entire parking lot was full. As luck would have it, Thursdays are just like that… empty. I parked my scooter and started walking in when I noticed a guy on a large Harley being tested. I watched for a minute. He seemed to be doing just fine, but it was hard to tell.

I walked straight to the test counter, showed them my temporary license and motorcycle registration, and they told me to go right out and take my test. The guy on the Harley was just finishing up. He passed with no mistakes. My confidence grew. Maybe this skills test isn’t such a big deal after all.

The gentleman giving me instructions started shooting the breeze with me, asking me if I went to BYU (no), Provo High School (no), if I was married (yes), how long I had been married (7 years), how many kids I have (none), etc. Then he started telling jokes about how he didn’t have kids for the first 4 years he was married and he still reminds his kids that those were the best 4 years of his life. When he switched into joke mode, I figured I was going to be fine. Looking back on it now, I think he probably does it to help those taking the test to relax. It definitely worked on me. The tests were a piece of cake. I passed with no mistakes.

Minutes later I had my new temporary license and started riding back to work… all before my scheduled time to start my skills test. Thursdays at the DMV are the best. I’ll have to remember that the next time I need to renew my license.

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But this weekend we decided to ride up American Fork canyon on our own. Charmaine jumped on the back and we headed off into the hills. That was another great ride. Shortly after you pass where the road splits between Tibble Fork and the Alpine Loop, the road narrows and loses its painted lines… this is where 2-wheeled vehicles thrive. That road was made for scooters and motorcycles. And we saw several, each giving us the motorcycle wave.

We didn’t go up an over into Provo Canyon, though. We stopped to stretch our legs at the summit and then went back down American Fork Canyon to our home. I’m sure we’ll be doing that ride again and again.

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I realize that my scooter is far from being a motorcycle, but it doesn’t look like a typical scooter, either. I guess the larger wheels make it look somewhat like a motorcycle to motorcycle riders approaching from the front, because I get the motorcycle wave fairly often. It’s such a simple thing, but it adds a lot to the experience. I’m more and more convinced that I’m going to end up with a real motorcycle at some point.

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Finally, they called my number. The written test was a joke. I had never picked up the motorcycle handbook, but managed to pass the test on my first attempt. I had been putting off taking the test until I thought I was ready to pass the skills test. Yet another silly mistake. At the completion of the written test they told me the soonest they can schedule me to take the skills test is sometime in September. That’s right. I have to be content with a learners permit for the next 6 weeks. That means no passengers and no riding my scooter at night. Oh well. I guess it just means I’ll be that much more prepared for the skills test when I finally get to take it. And I’ll be legal riding around town between now and then.

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