Photos from my first Segway adventure. Loved it, even after my spill

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My wonderful wife bought my a Segway Adventure ride for Christmas at Newington Armory, which was really a good choice being both geeky and fun all at the same time. I immediately saw it as my opportunity to make like The Woz and get some good Segway action.  I was amazed to find that there are actually no signs on the road or even in the car park.

But once we found the place and watched a short instructional video, we were soon miraculously standing still on two wheels and beginning to learn how get going.  Let me just say for the record that you had better get used to sticking your arse out as this is how to slow down and reverse. Within a few minutes we were rolling around and get the hang of turning and braking.

The 90 minute tour took us all over the old Armory site negotiating a range of obstacles from small ditched, weaving through trees and moving on to quite step hills. I must admit that there was quite a few times i looked across at Megs reflecting the same goofy smile that was plastered all over my own face and made claims about my new entry on my present list.  They really are the best fun you can have a 22km per hour with your clothes on (I don't recommend naked, it makes all your bits wobble).

So are they safe? Well 4 out of the 6 of us did come off at one time or another.  Megs stayed on, but I did come off, right at the last minute while we were screaming around the practice area from the beginning of the session.  Yes I was going fast, and yes I did get a little air under my left wheel and was thrown off the right side of the Segway.  Was it a bad fall?  Yes.  I landed on my back and my head bounced on the ground very hard.  So hard that I split the helmet at the back.

The result: the Segway was fine (they're really tough), the helmet was split, my ego was busted, and the condition of my back is still unknown.  I should know by tomorrow once the bruising came out.

So would I recommend taking a spin on a Segway o others? Hells yes! Great fun, but just like riding a bike for the first time, take it easy and have fun with it.  

And thank you to a beautiful and amazing beloved for arranging it for me.  It was a great present.