First solo road trip was a complete BLAST!!!

Did you read the first Birdybird discussion before she did her road trip? If not, there's a link in the first post in this discussion thread. It's a good read, too.

Now that you're inspired, how can we help you plan a fantastic trip? Feel free to come back for any tips on locations, routes, etc. We aim to please and to do whatever it takes to create another road-trip devotee. :)

Yes I actually read it and it linked to here. It was exactly what I needed to read. I have been wanting to do this for years and thinking, "Am I crazy??" I have finally decided that I don't care if it is crazy or not...but reading that other people are doing it too does make me feel better.

Hi SCgirl!
Wow...it's been months and months since I logged on to this forum and I am just in awe that my post still has threads!!! And, i'm so glad that my postings back last year helped to inspire you to plan YOUR first solo trip! As I wrote after my trip, it's one of the best things i've ever done, truly. There have been very few experiences in my life where I've felt such a sense of freedom and pride in myself. It seems silly that a relatively "short" 840 mile sojourn could provide me that, but given my background ( always considered flaky, needy, incompetent, etc) it was a HUGE feat for me. Truly one that caused a shift in my life. It's as if I released a burden that I'd been carrying for years- the burden of chronic fear and uncertainty, caused by a longstanding deficit in confidence in MYSELF- in my abilities to stand on my own two feet and face those fears....which, of course, turned out to be completely NOT based in reality! I discovered that, by gosh, I AM a grown-ass woman who can take care of herself! I can be alone and feel completely free, complete and fulfilled.
I'm bringing tears to my own eyes just thinking about the trip!!! LOL!!
So, again, I repeat...DO IT! You won't regret it, this I can say with certainty. You may have some glitches, you may have negative reactions from others ( yeah, that whole "are you crazy?" thing that you may hear) you may even have some moments during the trip where you think "what the hell was I thinking???" I had all of those....but they didn't stop me and I don't regret a second of it.
I actually logged on to begin thinking about THIS summer and the road trip I want to take! It "awoke" something in me that just won't become dormant again, I tell ya!
Keep checking out this sight for all the great tips, but mostly for the support and encouragement. It made the difference for me in my trip growing from just a "crazy idea", to a wonderful memory.
Birdy

That's beautiful - thanks for that post - I will refer back to it when I doubt my abilities to pull off my upcoming trip. Well written!!

thanks for responding to my post... you have really inspired me. I am scared and nervous but I am really excited. I am trying not to let myself focus on the scared and nervous part! I want to learn new things and see new places all on my own. I can't wait to be on my trip and to report back about how great it was.

Where are you thinking about going this summer??

Happy tears! Birdy, I'm so glad we helped you have such a life-changing experience. That's exciting. I sure can't wait to help you plan your next trip and to hear about how it went when you get back.

Let me put a bug in your ear....or eyes, I guess, since you'll be reading this...would you consider checking in here more often to give people advice and encouragement. You could answer travel questions about the routes you've travelled. And if I recall where you live correctly, you live in an area where we don't have a regular who lives there. Many questions about your general home area are ones that you might be able to help answer. No pressure. :) I just think you might enjoy helping others out.

To Judy- Thanks for that feedback- and yes, I will definitely try to log on more often. I live in NC and I hopefully can be helpful to those who would like to sojourn to this part of the country! As well as those who are scared first timers, like myself

To SCgirl- I understand completely about those fears- as did everyone who responded to my initial post back in May of '07. That is what is so wonderful about this forum- so much support and encouragement, as well as honest feedback about the pro's and con's of roadtrips, including solo roadtrips- which definitely have their pro's and con's too..
But, as I said in my post above, finally facing that fear truly released a burden and for that, I am so thankful. Truly, the most effective way to deal with fears is to face them head on. Now....as you'll see from my first trip, I did "face my fears" in a way that didn't completely overwhelm me for my first attempt. There are those that really just CHARGE right into their fears, and those ( like me) who decided to slowly immerse myself. Either way has the same results, though, in my opinion. It's the FACING it that is really what matters in the end.
So, with that said- plan your first solo trip with YOU- all the unique qualities about YOU- in mind....you will feel fear, that is practically a given. I"ll bet that even seasoned solo road trippers get a tinge of anxiety beforehand. Once I realized that the fear was normal and that it wasn't an indication of actual danger from the trip, but an emotional manifestation of all my old insecurities, it made it easier to manage.
So yeah, definitely keep us posted on your plans for your trip this summer! As far as mine, I"m not really sure where I"ll go this summer. I had initially planned on flying into San Antonia Texas and trekking into Arizona, NM, Nevada, over to Cali, then up into Oregon and then west into Boise Idaho, where my sister lives. But.....my friends that were going to move to San Antonio have now decided to stay put in NC, so I have to reconfigure. I'm thinking that maybe my hubbie and I will fly out to Phoenix, ARizona- he'll drive with me up to the GrandCanyon and then we'll end up in Las VEgas, where he'll fly home. I will then drive west in CA, up into OR and over to Boise. I have some relatives in CA that I could visit with too, so that's further impetus to go that way this time....
Anywho.....i will definitely try to log on more often.
TAke care everyone!
Birdy

I look forward to reading more of your posts here! Jump in wherever you think you can be of help.