Learning to drive
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
May 7, 2017 11:11am CST
This is our "new to us" riding lawn mower. It is a zero-turn radius mower. Once I get really good with it I can give everything an "up close and personal" cut. The lawn that is.
It drives with the handles. Not quite like a joy stick, but definitely not a steering wheel.
I do not go really straight, but that is okay. The ground is very bumpy with lots of ups and downs. If I hit them hard and fast I MIGHT flip my mower.
I do not go straight with my walk behind mower, either.
This makes a much shorter time to get the grass trimmed up. We need to keep on top of the situation, due to the rain.
So today I was practicing driving. No people or animals were injured in the process.
13 people like this
14 responses
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
7 May 17
Good luck practicing and learning ! :)
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
It is so nice to finish up most of the lawn quickly. Practice is what I need and this yard is large enough for me to get it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
@infatuatedbby We always choose homes with large lawns. They are still common in Kansas.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
7 May 17
@GardenGerty Yes, here we don't have large lawns!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 May 17
LOL, I am not sure I could do one without a steering wheel.
If I do not use the rider it takes me 6 hours to mow this place, I love my rider.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
It seems I never finished if I used the push mower. I hope this continues to be a happy choice.
@allknowing (153544)
• India
8 May 17
Are there any speed controllers there to take care of those hard bumps. Will those bumps show on your digital screen 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
I am not sure if I can show how uneven the yard is in a picture. I will have to check it out. The mower has a throttle, first of all. I drive it at a low throttle speed. In addition, I can drive it more slowly by not pushing hard on the controller arms. I could go racing around like a wild woman, but if I do, I think I should wear a helmet. I find myself thinking it should have a seat belt.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
8 May 17
@GardenGerty I thought you had that mower that showed you all those bumps. Yes please do wear a helmet. When you go wild you will need it
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
7 May 17
Sounds like fun and what a nice looking machine it is Heather.
I know you can go wheeling in the grass now
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
@TiarasOceanView I see people ride their golf carts around. I used the mower with the blades disengaged to carry three huge bags of garden soil from the car to the back of the house. You would enjoy the site of my dad on his mobility scooter walking the dog, or hooking a rope to stuff in his yard and pulling it to where he wants it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
Maybe I can just ride on down the road.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
@Courtlynn I thought of how hard it was for me to steer bumper cars correctly when I was a kid. Some rides have a bar in front you can push for speed, as well. That is how this works. Push forward for speed, pull back and eventually you reverse, one forward, one back and you spin or turn. Both sides of the bar out for neutral.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
8 May 17
Those are really popular these days, with those handles, I have never tried those but I'm thinking they take some time getting used to.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
9 May 17
Since I did not have to unlearn another type of rider I am doing okay.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
9 May 17
@GardenGerty Right I have only driven the ones with a steering wheel, the one you are talking about looks hard to me. I don't understand it.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
12 May 17
Nice ride Heather! We could have used one at our old place. Our landlord is supposed to mow our lawn. It hasn't happened yet this season though. The grass is getting quite high. I'll have to remind him that it needs to be done soon to keep the tick population down. They do love the high grass.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
12 May 17
Yes, this is a bad year for ticks, already. A kid at school found one crawling on his neck and killed it.
@Hate2Iron (15724)
• Canada
7 May 17
It's funny you bring up the topic because I was saying to my daughter that I have no idea how to use our new sit down mower and now that we are in the country... we really need one. She said that she would show me this afternoon. LOL... can't wait to see my rows ;)
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
I was only on a rider one other time, as a teen, and forgot to shut down the throttle and scared myself. I really enjoy this and the freedom it gives me to get done.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
I take the hills and bumps and slopes with care and slowly.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
I have always had to do the mowing, both marriages. I have had an electric battery powered mower. I remember my dad using a corded mower when I was quite young.
I have had an electric battery powered mower. I remember my dad using a corded mower when I was quite young.1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
12 May 17
@GardenGerty Now we have a lawn company take care of all that. My husband did buy a riding mower years ago, but that's long gone.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
8 May 17
I did alright. I was able to remember all the steps to start it.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
It makes the job quicker and is a bit easier on the body, too.
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
7 May 17
That looks very efficient...When I had a lawn and garden a person with a scythe used to do the job.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 17
I had a friend who enjoyed that when she had land out in the country.
1 person likes this
