The scary courageous thing I did on my summer vacation. Would you?

In August I took my summer vacation and did, what for me, was a scary courageous thing. Would you have done it? 

For two years my son and I had been planning a trip to Ireland and the Isle of Man. For years he had wanted to see the TT Motorcycle races that occur each year on the Isle of Man on normal public roads, not a closed circuit. I have ridden on motorcycles throughout my life, as a passenger, and share my son’s enthusiasm for them. Last month the trip finally happened. 

Manx Grand Prix

The TT race actually occurs in May and June each year and originated on the island in 1907. Our vacation had to occur in August so we attend the Manx Grand Prix. It is still on the same 37.7 mile TT mountain course and is still on race bikes, Supertwins, Supersport and Senior, but this race is for the amateur and emerging riders. This event began back in 1923 as an alternative to the TT race.

Riders still risk their lives on narrow, tight small town roads and reach speeds of up to 120 miles per hour or 190 km. It’s amazing to see and hear. Being there you can’t help but get caught up in it all. 

The scary courageous thing 

While researching what else we could do on the island when the roads weren’t otherwise closed to qualifying, I came across the website IOM Trike Tours. The company takes you around the 37.7 mile Manx Grand Prix course on one of their 3 wheel trikes. Giving you a taste of the entire track and the opportunity to feel the wind in your face and the speed on your body. As my son rides I knew he’d be up for this and I thought it would be a fun mother son experience and one to look back on fondly in years to come. (I also thought it was pretty courageous of me) 

When we arrived I was happy to see that we would be fitted with proper pants, jacket and helmet, especially because it was chilly. And that we each had a lap belt on the back of the trike.

With excitement and a little trepidation on my part, as I really don’t usually like to go more than 60 to 70 km an hour on the back of my partner’s bike, we set off. 

The ride

Isle of Man Trikes bike

As we drove through town we began to feel just how narrow the road was and how tight some of the corners were. We learned of the places where, on race day, we could get a good view from. We got to enjoy some of the countryside we had not yet seen, as well as learn more about the history of the race. 

Then we reached the top of Snaefell Mountain and with a clear road ahead our driver opened it up and gave us a taste of the speeds at which the motorcycles do the race. I felt quite courageous as I saw the speedometer hit 80, then 90, thinking, ha I’ve passed how fast I usually go with my partner, yeah me! When he  hit 100 and then started going over I started to get quite nervous. However I didn’t want to be the old mom who was the one to say,” please can we slow down.”

It wasn’t me!!

At the 105 mark I saw my son tap the driver’s shoulder and ask if we could slow down. HA! It wasn’t me that asked first! I was so proud of myself. 

When we stopped afterwards I asked my son why he’d done that. He said that 105 miles per hour was getting a bit scary for him because he wasn’t the one in control of the bike. (He said it’s quite different when you’re the rider and  have 2 wheels vs 3, making leaning into corners feel easier. A trike holds the road very differently. Plus we were not on a closed track, other vehicles could come past us) What? I said, “105 miles per hour? So what was that in km?” 170 km was the response. Whoa! This was now the scary courageous thing I had done on my vacation. 

Mother son connection

Mom & son adventure

If you read my blogs enough you’ll know that having connection in our lives is important for all of us. And if there was ever a time I had felt connected to my son, it was that day. 

I had shared with him, in a small way, his passion for motorcycles and racing. I had experienced with him that speed that he has experienced himself on a closed circuit track and now with his old mom. Was I nervous to do this? Yes. Did I know or realize I would be going that fast at one point? No. But perhaps that’s why I did it, because I didn’t stop to think about it too hard. I did it because it was important to my son, the trip and the trike ride, and therefore it was important to me to create an opportunity for connection like no other we have ever had. 

The entire 10 day vacation in Ireland and the Isle of Man was a once in a lifetime thing. Having the opportunity to do it just my son and I was a gift I will always be grateful for. My son and I have had a strong connection ever since his father and I split up and it was just the two of us.  For me, this adventure just made it even stronger. 

I’m glad that I did a scary courageous thing on my summer vacation. If you ever want to do it again Mason, just let me know.