I enjoy my road-trips to those meetings. I usually try to explore a little and have some fun on the way there and back again. I'm a big believer in mixing business with pleasure. :-)
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I enjoy my road-trips to those meetings. I usually try to explore a little and have some fun on the way there and back again. I'm a big believer in mixing business with pleasure. :-)
...but we did this week. We were working in Central Paris (and I MEAN central!) and, despite being in a truck, we manged to make quite a nice little trip out of it and do a bit of sightseeing too. My god, the roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe was terrifying yet extremely good fun all at the same time. Probably a little like taking your first long-distance solo roadtrip (he says, desperately trying to get back to the thread!)
I took my first solo road trip recently and now can't understand why in the world I waited so long! It was more than awesome. It was great-times-ten! I did what I wanted; when I wanted and how I wanted. Didn't have to consult with anyone or make any decisions as to what "we" wanted to do -- it was ALL about ME! And I loved every minute of it. From now on I will always try to go solo if I can!
Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! Where did you go? How long were you on the road? What did you discover out there?Quote:
Originally Posted by MSVoyageur
Mark
You go for it and ignore the doubters!! I've just read a book about a woman (from the UK) riding her motorbike from Anchorage in Alaska to the very southern tip of South America. The story is inspiring and just shows what you can do when you want to. What also surprised me was the amount of help she got along the way from virtual strangers.
I did a road trip a couple of years ago with a girlfriend and we travelled from Vegas through Death Valley, then over the Sierra Nevada mountains via Tioga pass into Yosemite, over to Moneterey and Carmel and on up to San Fransisco. Just before we did it we were petrified, thinking that we would die from the heat in Death Valley or fall to our deaths from the Tioa road (I had listened to too many scary stories)!!!!
It turned out to be the best holiday i ever had - the scenery we took in on the way was fabulous and the whole experience was one that looking back, i wouldnt have missed for anything.
We are now planning another trip, Canada and the Rockies this time, no doubt my fears this time will be whether or not we will be eaten by bears!!!!!!
Good luck, im sure you will have a fab time, may this be the first of many.
Heather,
Would you mind sharing the title and author of the book you mentioned? I'm sure that lot's of us would enjoy reading it.
Laura
I too am taking a solo roadtrip....a week from today I leave my home of almost ten years (Los Angeles) to go back east (to Florida) to go take care of my mother who is ill. I have taken road trips alone before but it must've been over 20 years ago and nothing of htis magnitude. I will be driving for 3 to 4 days....but in all fairness, I'm going with my kitty so I'm not really alone.
I am scared to. I am scared because I have gone through so much over the past few years....things I won't even get into. I am afraid to go back to my family who can be very difficult and is very dysfunctional. I go with the hope that we will come together but there is fear in my heart...and lastly, I go with the sadness that I will lose my mother and she will deteriorate in front of my eyes. When I consider all of this, my journey through the desert seems almost like the last chance I have to really bond with myself, to go at it alone and to see what awaits me when I get there. I hope that my fears are just that: fears and that life is a lot better than the last few years in LA were.
So, you just saddle up with music, some audiobooks, some interesting places to stop and go on your journey. Face your fears, it's all you have.
This is one of the primary reasons I travel alone -- it gives me time and helps me the focus my attention and will on the things that I consider to be important. Important to my life on this web site (& Forum), and to my family and to me. Savor your coming alone-ness -- it can be very restorative and it sounds like you may well need a little extra supply and reserve of "restorative powers" over the next few weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by LeavingLA
Good fortune to you and your kitty!
Mark
Hi LauraQuote:
Originally Posted by lhuff
The book is called "Lois on the Loose" - its a great read!!!
Hey girl!!
Live a little, go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You'll all be pleased to hear that Birdybird made it back in one piece - read her updates here on the field report forum.
I took my first solo trip from Indiana to Virginia when I was 18. I love to travel by myself! (I don't get to do it to often now)You can stop when and where you want, great for soul searching and praying, listen to what type of music you want.
First map out your trip and I keep a small list of roads I am looking for within easy reaching distance. I have also found if I think I am lost to stop at a busy gas station and ask, people are usual very helpful. Just always remember if it doesn't feel right go on. Don't put yourself in harms way. I have never had any problems as a woman traveling by myself, but I always look around and check things out too.
Stay in hotels close to the interstate, easy on and off and are usually safe. Also they are close to where the food is. You can also take a cooler and snacks, save some money and time.
I love to travel and I think with the right planning you will love it to.
Alice Zyetz has listed some great resources for anyone considering taking a solo road trip adventure in her latest column, published a few moments ago.... Look at reason #8 for that list.
Mark
Sounds like you are planning a great trip. Just also wanted to encourage you about travelling solo. I am female 44 yrs old, and have done many driving trips throughout North America without incident. I sleep in my car at truck stops, etc. No problems whatsoever. Of course, my family thinks I am nuts and worries about me. Some great tips have been provided.Another suggestion if out hiking in the desert or on a walk through town - attach a whistle to your key chain or waist pouch. There may be many areas your cellphone will not have a signal.Have fun. Be sure to post a trip report when you get back.
Go Go Go Go Go! Do not stop!
This summer I will be taking my first solo road trip from San Jose, CA to Cleveland, OH. I wanted to do the trip with someone but not many people I know in California have much interest in a one-way ride to Cleveland, and no one I know in Cleveland has the time or money to fly out to California and spend a couple weeks on the road with me. So I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'll be making the trek alone.
The part I'm most worried about is lodging. I want to sleep for cheap but I don't want to end up in sketchy roadside motels where I don't feel safe. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find cheap, secure hotels? I plan on taking Route 66 all the way up to Chicago and then I-90 after that into Cleveland. So if you have any suggestions for specific places to stay along that route that would be awesome, too!
Any other advice for a 20-something female first time road tripper that you might have would be similarly appreciated. Thank you!
Welcome to the RoadTrip America Forum!
For me it really comes down to instincts. If I'm in an area that I don't feel safe in, then I don't consider lodging there. In earlier days, I did occasionally stay in areas that weren't the most desirable, but even then I didn't have a problem. Now, however, I'm more diligent before settling in for the night. It can be rough, especially if it has been a long day, to keep the guard up, which is why I recommend stopping well before reaching the point of exhaustion to keep your wits about you.Quote:
Originally Posted by clevelandchica
This current thread is definitely a good place to start.Quote:
Any other advice for a 20-something female first time road tripper that you might have would be similarly appreciated. Thank you!
Hello!
I'm heartened that my original post is STILL active!!
while i'm not a 20-somethinger any longer, I hope I can still be helpful re: advice about traveling alone.
Lodging was DEFINITELY my biggest concern. I didn't want to risk staying in places that made me feel unsafe in any way, thereby possibly dampening my overall experience. So, while I tried to stay on the "cheap" side of lodging, I also had to weigh the $$ issue with what I was trying to achieve- which was to have a fabulous time on my first ever solo road trip. So, after mulling everything over, I decided to err on the side of caution and look for hotels/lodging that were a little bit more of the mid-higher grade type. Yes, I had to readjust my budget, which was pretty tight to begin with. But the peace of mind that I had, knowing that my destination for that days travel would be safe, by my standards anyway, was invaluable.
I got most of my lodging info by going on to trip advisor and seeing what hotels were available along my route, and then checking on the feedback/reveiws that folks leave. My experience with trip advisor has only been good so far. The feedback has been almost 100% right on every time i book something based on their reviews. So, use them as a guideline when booking for your trip. There was a pretty low priced LaQuinta Inn that I stayed at on my trip that I would have otherwise overlooked, due to it's location next to the freeway, and that there were other "higher end" hotels right near it. AS it turned out, that was one of the best places I stayed on my trip! Clean, friendly and I felt ultra safe there.
As others have said, in the end, you don't really need more than the basic commen sense that you always use in daily life. As somebody said to me here on this board last year, wherever you are, you are in somebody's home town, and most places ( with a few exceptions) are safe- just use normal common sense and that will be enough.
Good Luck planning your trip!
I think one answering option is missing: I have not tried a solo trip yet, but I want to in the future.
This is true for me!
Of course you can do it. It is important to do. Don't just do though because you want to overcome something do it because it is a wonderful journey and experience. Just be smart and careful about it too. I joined this site looking for and hoping to contribute basic recommendations. So here's what I have for you:
1. Never stop for gas/food unless you can see the station/restaurant from the road. The only exception is if you are stopping for scenic stops.
2. If you think about filling up for gas as you get low do it. Don't "hope" for gas stop at the next exit. Invariably the next exit will be 30 miles away without services.
3. Be friendly but trust no one.
4. Finally, comedy cd's go a long way.
I know this thread is very old, but I just had to comment. Sorry for the spelling errors, no spell check.
What an awesome story of a person overcoming her fear and pursuing something her heart desired. We could all learn a thing about her courage (courage is not the absence of fear, but doing something inspite of it). It was very eye opening to hear about how her family tried to cut her down and discourage her, when they were likely just projecting their own fears on her.
The truth is, as I read this, I thought it was so interesting to see how fearful someone was to make such a small drive (in my mind), but then I remembered my own fear when I took my first trip. I was 21 and I drove from michigan to california on my own, sleeping in rest areas along the way (a HUGE no-no, but I was inexperienced). Once you get a taste of adventure, you want to up the anty and go for bigger and more brave trips.
My first ultimate, hardcore trip was driving from Michigan to Alaska and back - alone! I often tried to talk myself out of it, but eventually decided that I just had to take that trip. The night before I left, I was awake with fear but I left anyways. Driving on my first day through the Winsconsin planes, I was consumed with fear and considered turning back, but I just kept going. I was on the road two months, drove 13,000 miles, camping alone in the wilds of Alaska and Northern Canada. When I returned home, I litterally cried out with joy that I had made it, and changed myself in the process.
The point is, it's better to live now and take chances than to "play it safe" and regret what might have been.
Since that trip, three years ago, I am absolutely ADDICTED to solo travel. I am a nurse and frequently have lots of time off, so I typically go on between 10-12 solo trips a year! To up the anty even further, I have started doing solo trips in different countries. I have driven the western Fjords and Ring Road in Iceland (AMAZING!), drove up to the artic circle in Norway, flew into Milan and drove through Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France and even took road trip through Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and Greece (had a friend with me that time, though).
Hopefully, Birdybirds experience helped seed that lust for travel and experience! I am curious if she has gone on any other trips since then
Hello and welcome to RTA Rambling Rose.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights into solo travelling, you went from fear to an accomplished traveller, now with many adventures behind you. I hope it helps others. Birdybird has not been active since 2008 so I'm not sure you will find out whether or not if they caught the Road trippin' bug or not.
If ever you would like to share your trip experiences in the future we have the Roadtrip Field reports section to do just that. Not only is it enjoyable for us fellow trippers to read, it is helpful to future travellers in planning their own trip. Hope to see you on the forums !
Dave.
I just found this forum at Road Trip America and I too am feeling apprehensive about taking a solo road trip from the Portland Oregon area to Los Angeles to visit family. Most of my own family and friends just tell me to go for it. I have a little dog and I want to bring him. Last time I went to LA I flew and had to leave my dog with family which was great to have that choice but now just one month after my trip I want to go back and don't want to leave my dog again so decided a road trip would be great. Last time I flew and couldn't bring my dog. When I was young I took road trips by myself all the time but now that I'm a LOT older I have my fears. I fear about my car breaking down. It's a Mercedes C230. It's a 2000, one owner, only 137,000 miles on it. It's always been a great car so I'm not sure why I have such a fear of this happening. Has anyone ever taken a road trip solo down I-5 from the Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles? Now, my original reason for writing this was to ask if you, I think Rambling Rose? Now I'm not sure, anyway, did you take that 8 day solo road trip in 2007? Is there anyone on here that can give me some good advise about a solo road trip and maybe help put my fears to rest a little bit anyway?
Hi Creekgirl, and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.
There was a time that I could share your feelings.... but not having an option but to push through them, I hit the road in 2001.
Now 200000 miles later, I take most of it in my stride.
An old 1998 van bought second hand, a AAA membership and good advice from friends on what to do and when helps a great deal. There is no end of help available on this site. Why not start your own thread about the trip you are about to undertake. It sounds feasible enough. Thousands do it every day, and if it is any comfort, statistics show that there are more female solo roadtrippers than male.
There are of course a few common sense security actions you need to take, such as a roadside assistance package, and checking out the hotel room before you commit. But, believe me, it is great to actually do it, and have the feeling of achievement. Who knows where it may lead.
Don't let age stop you. As a septuagenarian, I have travelled more than I ever did before.
Lifey
It turns out that more than half of all solo roadtrippers are women. There are plenty of reasons why traveling on your own can be more appealing to women than men, but you are in good company.
Here some tips
It will be a fantastic trip.
Thanks Mark for your reply and the tips! I appreciate your reply very much!
Creekgirl
Thanks Dave! When I actually start packing, I will definitely share my adventures. I think it would be fun to do that and very helpful for others to read too. Thank you for suggesting that. I probably wouldn't have thought to do that other wise.
Creekgirl
I take 2-3 solo roadtrips each year