I love rollerblading!!
Tonight I was feeling daring and I went on my very first ‘Rando-Roller’. Every Friday night hundreds of rollerbladers gather in front of the cathedral in the city center at around 9.30 and then they do a 6 - 10km circuit of the city. It’s fantastic because the police give an escort and the roads are blocked so we can go in the middle of the road.
I have taken 3 lessons so I thought I would give it a go. I was quite nervous because I was going on my own and didn’t know if I’d recognize anyone from the lessons. I arrived and tried to get into an underground car park…I had gone down the ramp and the car in front of me couldn’t get the barrier to lift. He started reversing…that meant I had to try and reverse up the curving entry ramp….arghhh!! Hill starts and reversing round an up-hill corner…after lots of engine revving it was humiliatingly clear I wasn’t going to do it. I was on the point of getting out of my car and telling the driver in front that if he wanted to get out he would have to drive my car out first!! Thankfully, at this point, probably alerted by the noise and petrol fumes I had created, a man arrived and lifted the barrier. I was so relieved that I didn’t think about it and just drove in and parked well away from the other car so we didn’t have any awkward conversations in the lift!So, I arrived outside the cathedral and there was a big screen TV there with a huge crowd watching the rugby - a great atmosphere! I sat on the steps and got kitted up, scanning the area desperately for anyone that I might have vaguely seen before. One of the more experienced lads was there - and he came to talk to me - I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief!! Also one of the patrol guys knew me and he came and said hello. With all these competent people around I felt a bit more confident and we were off! It was soooooo much fun! At one point we had to go down a big slip road. Because I can’t break that well one of the lads let me hold on to him - conga style - and we went down the hill together!! I was screaming and I think he was seriously embarrassed!! Ha ha!! Anyway, we did 6.5Km and I didn’t fall once! Hurrah me! When I got back I sat down taking my boots off and there was another guy that I knew - in the crowd I hadn’t seen him. We will be going for a skate together after work…if I decide whether or not I think he’s an axe murderer!!
All elated and feeling very proud of myself I made my way back to the car park. Found Fifi - always a bonus - and set off. Only of course I had entered without a ticket and I couldn’t get out!! Arghhh! It was only when I got to the gate with a queue of cars behind me that I realized this! D’oh! I had to jump out and run and find someone to help…all this while the drivers behind were pomping their horns and getting stressed! Opps!
So there’s the story. I’m having lots of fun and FINALLY meeting people who don’t go to church! Hurrah! Lots of thank yous to the VERY kind people who bought my rollerblades for me. What a great gift! 
Great
Comment by jilal — September 8, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Great
Comment by jilal — September 8, 2007 @ 11:53 am
You couldn’t post a video on You Tube of you on blades? Got to see you in action!
Comment by Ian Rees — September 10, 2007 @ 12:00 pm