first solo road trip and scared as hell....

[PNW Judy]

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. :-)

[UKCraig]

...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!)

[MSVoyageur]

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!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I took my first solo road trip recently and now can't understand why in the world I waited so long!

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! Where did you go? How long were you on the road? What did you discover out there?

Mark

[heather96]

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.

[lhuff]

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

[LeavingLA]

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.

[Mark Sedenquist]

...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.

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.

Good fortune to you and your kitty!

Mark

[heather96]

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

Hi Laura

The book is called "Lois on the Loose" - its a great read!!!

[samanthajacobsnyc]

Hey girl!!

Live a little, go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!