I have to state at this point that I had already built up a working relationship of trust with Lucy. She had been doing well and we had reached the stage of planning to enter her for the advanced test – then the lockdown put it all on hold.
The conditions we both agreed upon were that both of us would have hand gel with us; we would both wear masks; drive with the windows open to allow free movement of air; and she would clean the car beforehand with spray sanitiser cleaner.
Lucy jumped at the chance of a drive out and we quickly agreed on a date for it. However, I was a bit worried when she said she was going to start going to the gym in the week before the run. I asked her to message me to tell me what the conditions were like at the gym and if she felt safe in that environment.
A few days before the run Lucy got in touch to describe the gym set up and we both felt it was safe to proceed.
I arrived at our usual meeting place in Bicester and before I got in her car I sanitised my hands with the gel I had with me. Lucy’s car was spotless, putting my own car to shame, I’m embarrassed to admit. (In my defence, I do sometimes haul goats in it.)
In my enthusiasm to use the hand gel to get in Lucy's car, I managed to squirt it on my leg and on the car seat before sitting in it - so you could say I was fully covered in the sanitisation department.
I put on my mask - as did Lucy - and climbed into her car.
The drive was in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures in the thirties, so having the windows open and the air conditioning on was a blessing. Windows open when there is a rainstorm going on was going to mean we would both get wet. That would be one instance where we would have had to cancel.
We drove to Oxford via the main route and then back through the beautiful countryside.
One potential problem that became very apparent with the experience was when Lucy said she couldn’t hear me. We both had to raise our voices because (a) the masks muffled our voices and (b) with the windows open the road noise was very loud. I had to ensure I was turned towards her, as well. Another concern was we both wear glasses, so when we did talk they would steam up. Ensuring the glasses are on top of the masks helps to a certain extent and I’ve also read that rubbing the glass in soap and then polishing it off prevents it but I didn’t try it. Another difficulty was sweaty forehead…I know, I know, pigs sweat but we ladies gently glow but it is what it is, and keeping hands away from the face was hard.
However, as Lucy said herself, she felt safe and we worked out the teething problems. I also felt safe. My confidence was strengthened by knowing Lucy well enough to be certain that she wasn’t reckless of her own mortality. I’m not sure I would want to take anyone out who was at all sceptical about the seriousness of the Coronavirus outbreak or inclined to cut any corners with the safely advice.
When I got out of the car I was unceremoniously told to go away so that she could fumigate it – I felt reassured and only a little bit insulted.
I hope my experience will give observers and associates some confidence in resuming their observed drives and completing their advanced course.