Canada - British Expat Forum

Hi ALL,

thought would just share with you all I passed my driving test this morning in Dartmouth NS. Glad it is over, very easy only took 5 mins. Now i can relax about driving.

Congratulations.

Well done, girl! I'm happy to hear that part is over...how is the house-hunting coming along?i

Well done! Not too difficult was it?
I found the driving test quite a bit easier here, but the motorcycle test was a lot harder!
Cheers.

Graeme

Graeme, when I took my motorcycle test it was the culmination of weeks of a training course...once a week for 10 weeks, I think. (long ago). During the course we were taught to drive over a see-saw, stay on our pegs in a small diameter circle using only our acceleraator, drivnig over a kerb, etc. Our instructor said that anyone could rid a bike quickly, but that slow-speed driving was much more difficult. on the last night of our training, a provincial tester came out and tested us on the course. The only thing i was nervous about was counter-turns, as I felt I could only do it in one direction. We were to drive at a certain spped toward the instructor, and at the last minute he would signal us which way to counter-turn. I told him before the test that I only felt comfortable doing it in one particular direction, but as I rode toward him he started grinning at me. just at the last minute he indicated I should turn the way I could do it...hurray! I passed. Some of the others found the see-saw scarey.

It sure was a lot tougher than the UK test for motorcycles, I didn't like the small circle. We had to walk our bikes in a tight cicle with the wheel locked over as far as it would go, then they mark it and add half a metre. you're then expected to ride into this circle and do an about turn without touching the sides-tough! The "cone test" as they called it was hard, but the riding test itself was a doddle, they drove behind talking to me on a one way radio which had an ear plug. It was a bit surreal hearing this disconnected voice saying "turn right" or "Pull over and park" right in your ear.
Anyhow, I'm riding lots now and loving it, wide open roads, little traffic, good weather ....perfect!

Graeme

Ah yes, I had forgotten the cones. A mini slalom course, wasn't it?

Slalom is a good word for it, I ran over a few cones on the dry run, but made it okay on the actual test. I agree slow riding is the true test as any fool can ride fast, slow riding lets you get a proper feel for the bike as well.

Graeme

HI jaj,

now the only test is Jamie passing his truck test, which shouldn't be too long away. We have put a deposit down on a house being built in fall river, should be ready for October, but depends on our house selling in the uk. Our friendly investor guy wanted it again, but for less than before we said no to him and haven't heard back. I hope something will happen soon, its a real pain. Everything else is going good for us, we both have jobs, i start on 29th August, going to buy second car today, hard work, this needs to be a run around for jamie to and from work. Given up on big truck decided the house was the biggest investment for us so other things have had to wait. We have a lifetime so i'm sure big trucks can wait. Will call you this weekend JAJ.