Passing my motorcycle test was one of things I always wanted to do but probably would never get round to. That was until we were invited to a wedding in Norway in the summer of 2007 and Ken decided that it was a golden opportunity for a bike tour. We had better get a couple of bikes and I better get a license then!

           On a wet December day we innocently wandered in to West Coast Harley Davidson and wandered back out again the proud owners of a 2007 Night Train for Ken and a 2007 883R Sportster for me. The pressure was on, it was time to call in the A team.

Pam with Wee Nasty just after passing her test,

            We booked in with Riders Edge and I started my motorcycling career on a wee 125. I should point out at this point that not only did I not have a motorcycle license but I have never driven anything with manual gears, having an automatic only car license. To cut to the point we had a great time at Riders Edge Ken was thoroughly back to biking and I, well I met my nemesis, the dreaded U turn! We made a return trip in May and I found things a lot easier and passed my test with only 3 minor faults.

           On our return I received my reward with cherries and sprinkles on top. My wee Sportster had been customised for me with a special paint, and a plethora of extras. I was like a dog with 2 tails that got the milk before the cat! It also had been christened Wee Nasty, was someone trying to tell me something?

            We spent the next month preparing for our trip and running in the bikes, and then 1 month and 5 days after passing my test we were off. I had hardly had time to think about the wise words of all the doubters which is probably just as well, my confidence was fragile enough.

            I started to feel better after I had braved the ordeal of riding on and off the ferry at Newcastle and survived my first downpour in the Netherlands. In fact Ken pointed out that instead of pulling straight off the road, as I had threatened to do, I put my head back and tried to get a drop or two to drink, oops I thought no one had seen me.

            I soon found a rhythm and was singing along to myself as we rode, at least I thought I was singing along to myself but Ken managed to identify the song I was singing over the noise of two Harleys with custom exhausts so perhaps I was getting a bit carried away.

            After a couple of days I was getting more and more into it all when we took a wrong turn and had to turn around in a Swedish farmyard. Oh No! A U turn! Ken had turned and burbled off up the correct road. "You have done this before Pam don't panic" I thought to myself. I was going through my U turn routine when suddenly a band of kamikaze chickens decided to run between my wheels. What do I do here? Why wasn't this covered in the course? I managed to get round trouble free and at least now I know how the game of chicken got its name.

            We continued to Stockholm for a days rest with friends and I had a chance to reflect on my achievements to date and couldn't help feel a wee bit proud of myself. We then continued on through Sweden and Finland and finally in to Norway where on June 22^nd we made it to the North Cape. I found I was really enjoying my bike and now realised that it wouldn't immediately fall over if I lent into the corners.

            On July 10^th we returned home. In the two months and two days since I passed my test I had covered approximately 6,500 miles roughly 5132 of those riding in other countries. I have ridden through the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. I have overcome my fears and many a crisis of confidence. I have come face to face with reindeer and survived. I have proved the doubters wrong and best of all I have become inseparable from my new pal 'Wee Nasty'.

 Pam at North Cape 400km north of the artic circle.