BEING a journalist, the segue with which I am most familiar involves a smooth transition from one topic to the next.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, on a crisp autumn morning at Silos Estate, I was faced with a different kind of Segway experience and one that I probably couldn’t talk my way out of.
I had wrongly been under the impression that Segways had four wheels, so when Segway Tours South Coast owner David Munn extracted a serious looking two-wheeled contraption from his car boot, I started to feel a little nervous. (Historically, I haven’t had the best balancing track record.)
David assured me the eco-friendly machine was self-balancing and intuitive to control.
I felt a small degree of comfort, which was quickly destroyed by the photographer’s obvious glee at seeing my unease.
Anyone taking on a tour is given time to become familiar with the Segway and there are even training videos.
Of course there was no time for all that, so I bravely stepped atop the contraption after a few minutes’ instruction to find myself doing the “segway dance” – a back and forth rocking David told me everyone does.
As I was just a beginner, the Segway was set to “turtle mode” and I got my bearings; moving forward jerkily, then turning and coming back with slightly more confidence.
Honestly it was only a couple of minutes before I felt far more comfortable, even upping the speed, which is simply done by leaning forward on the handlebars.
To steer left or right, you simply lean the handlebars the way you wish to go.
Making our way to the highest point on the property I couldn’t help feeling a certain smugness that I didn’t have to huff and puff my way up the hill.
The view over Jaspers Brush was spectacular and it was easy to see how the Segway can give you a new perspective on familiar territory.
Although I didn’t graduate from turtle mode, I was pretty chuffed I hadn’t fallen off and felt a certain exhilaration at trying something new.
I must say it is going to feel much harder riding my bicycle home today though.