Tips for solo tourer

[Wapping]

I travel alone sometimes and with a friend sometimes.
Obviously both are different, i enjoy both, though if i had to choose i would be solo.

We might now wonder if your friend is saying the same

 

[Wapping]

I'm off to Kefalonia on my own in June. 7 days with my own thoughts. My little adventure. I will meet my other half and our 8 year old son and spend a further 7 days sitting by a pool ( going quietly insane!) And then a further 7 days to get back whichever route I choose. On the way down I'll pre-book hotels on the way back I may just see where I end up!

See, OP, this might be read as travelling solo is YOUR chance to be selfish (for yourself) too.

This jaunt though is maybe different, as the fellow goes to meet his other half and eight year old, which doesn’t seem to be an option for you. That he’s got himself out of the journey there and back with them in tow, is a plus point…. Now all he has to do is survive going insane, when he does meet them, as they’ll not be letting him ride his bike…. The curse of SWMBO is cast.


PS Yes, I know the fellow’s reply is tongue-in-cheek (possibly) but so is mine, possibly.

 

[The Other PaulG]

I always take a decent book so I can sit in a bar with a quiet beer and chill.

But... I usually come home having only read a few pages because I always seem to get chatting to someone. It's nice to be able to control how much you want to interact with others, as the mood takes you.

 

[Barnoe]

We might now wonder if your friend is saying the same

He probably thinks without me he would get another 100 miles a day, I'm sure he would too

 

[Wapping]

I always take a decent book so I can sit in a bar with a quiet beer and chill.

But... I usually come home having only read a few pages because I always seem to get chatting to someone. It's nice to be able to control how much you want to interact with others, as the mood takes you.

Just pray he never sits next to you on the number 8 bus

 

[Wapping]

I was looking for something I may not have considered.

Local folk dancing.

Kitsilano, is your man.

 

[Pootler]

I have done a couple of trips using camping pods instead of canvas camping. Lots about in the UK and elsewhere with varying levels of comfort, facilities and price variation in some great locations + no need to carry a tent.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Just pray he never sits next to you on the number 8 bus

Ha! Even worse, the Circle line.

 

[Santa-2512]

Last thing i want to do is engage in conversation over dinner -

Its usually along the the lines of - "Travelling round Europe", my mate did that , he says you need to .......

Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla
Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla
Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla
Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla, Bla, bla, bla

Then pulling my nail out with pliers becomes suddenly interesting

 

[alan29]

I ride a Honda so nobody ever wants to talk to me.

 

[Wapping]

What are your top tips for the solo traveller when the sun starts setting?

In mainland Western Europe, in the summer, that is around 21:30.

If we are to assume you eat dinner at 19:00 for an hour, that leaves an hour and a half to kill before the light starts to go. On a good evening, you’d probably be able to sit outside until, say 23:00. If you enjoy your own company, you could have a drink, read a book, watch a film (with headphones), plot the next day’s ride or do a crossword. In fact you could do just about anything that didn’t involve a whole lot of moving about. You could sit in a bar and do all those things, too. Nobody would give a stuff. It is only restricted by your own boredom threshold and imagination.

The key to it is enjoying your own company. If you find yourself in need of being ‘entertained’, then sitting in a b’n’b with the door shut, as there really is nothing to see and do and nowhere to sit outside, then you are not off to a roaring start, I’m afraid. Failing that, look for LDO, written in the boardinghouse’s visitors’ book.

 

[ChasF]

I used to find that I’d press on when I’m on my own. More recently I’ve tried to sort out where I going to spend the night at lunchtime which usually means I arrive around 5 or 6pm and don’t have to search for a hotel so can be out looking for beer and dinner by 7pm at the latest (in Spain they’re still on afternoon tea at 7pm). I rarely start a conversation with anyone but if some chooses to chat to me I’m pretty sociable - given we have a language in common! If nothing’s happening I’m happy enough to drift back to the hotel and read my book. It’s all about going with the flow, some evenings are memorable, others not so much.

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

Bloody hell Wapping. I feel I’ve just spent an hour on the couch!
Thanks for all the replies. Odd as it sounds given my post did make it sound as if I hibernated on tour - I don’t - I do do many of the positive suggestions given above. I was looking for something I may not have considered.

One thing not mentioned: if I have gone away at short notice, no plan, as usually happens when soloing, I’ll take a map (I always do anyway) and sat nav and plot the route and places of interest on a day by day basis in the evening.

So, next year people, look out for a billy-no-mates on a 1290 SAR looking lost somewhere in Portugal and/or east of Prague.

Thanks to all.

If you’re looking to go east of Prague and want to keep to a sensible budget then you’ll often find yourself sitting outside roadside cafes having a coffee where there’ll be other solo bike travellers or small groups who will want to brighten their day and possibly yours by chatting to someone who has obviously travelled a long way.

I prefer solo travelling if I’m going a long way with no fixed plan and I’ve been given lots of really good suggestions regarding where to go under the circumstances described above. If you’re feeling bored then you’ll soon find that parking your bike in a very obvious position outside a cafe in the wilds of Romania will even get other bikers turn round 100 yards up the road to come back for a chat.

 

[MartinK]

Don't mind travelling solo, with one mate, or in a group!
Definitely agree that you almost always get chatting to other travellers when camping.
Similar in "Hostels" - especially those with shared cooking facilities and shared common rooms.
B&B/Hotel can be more segregated, but motorcyclists still usually bunch together as they have something in common.
It's nice to blend both IMO when travelling - it can be easy to be lonely tho, especially where language can be a barrier...

One of the groups I have frequent trips with consists of a core of 4 guys who have travelled together for 30 years. We must be so "cliquey" it would be very hard for a stranger to become a part of the group! We also ride at a "pace", having similarly-powered bikes and similar riding experience, not crazy fast, but not slow either. It's good because you always (think you) know how your mates will react in a situation.

 

[Udders]

Hookers.

 

[jefformston]

Don't mind travelling solo, with one mate, or in a group!
Definitely agree that you almost always get chatting to other travellers when camping.
Similar in "Hostels" - especially those with shared cooking facilities and shared common rooms.
B&B/Hotel can be more segregated, but motorcyclists still usually bunch together as they have something in common.
It's nice to blend both IMO when travelling - it can be easy to be lonely tho, especially where language can be a barrier...

One of the groups I have frequent trips with consists of a core of 4 guys who have travelled together for 30 years. We must be so "cliquey" it would be very hard for a stranger to become a part of the group! We also ride at a "pace", having similarly-powered bikes and similar riding experience, not crazy fast, but not slow either. It's good because you always (think you) know how your mates will react in a situation.

Certainly find camping a lot more social & like you prefer small groups or solo.

The annual EuroTrash that started in 2004, after the around uk Charity ride you helped organise, is still going strong although now only two bikes & riders. We’ve changed to almost full time camping rather than hotels.

 

[Wapping]

I have done a couple of trips using camping pods instead of canvas camping. Lots about in the UK and elsewhere with varying levels of comfort, facilities and price variation in some great locations + no need to carry a tent.

How does being in a camping pod, answer the OP’s question about avoiding possible boredom when travelling alone?

 

[Deleted account 240831001]

How does being in a camping pod, answer the OP’s question about avoiding possible boredom when travelling alone?

My limited experience of camping pods indicates that unless it’s tipping it down most people sit outside in the evening increasing the likelihood of communication with other pod dwellers. The only risk is that the pod dwellers on either side might be boring bastards forcing you to go inside and become a short term version of a Portuguese hermit.

 

[Wapping]

My limited experience of camping pods indicates that…..pod dwellers on either side might be boring bastards forcing you to go inside and become a short term version of a Portuguese hermit.

Wise words.

 

[EVskiy]

I’ve lost the riding buddies I’ve always gone away with so it looks like I’m travelling solo from now on.
What are your top tips for the solo traveller when the sun starts setting?

…as @Wapping has mentioned above.

Most of us have a decent smartphone, glued to our faces every day of our lives. Take his advice and snap some photos along the way through out the day. Sit down at a cafe with a cup of coffee and jot down some memorable moments from the night before, at breakfast or from the ride until your “curent” stop, naturally if time permitting. I would use an iPad and excellent “notes” app for this. Then transfer the text to the forum along with any associated links to POIs and photos.

You can utilise a lunch break to book a hotel/B&B or a campsite for the night ahead. Make notes about said accommodation from your own experience.

If in Spain for example, you are unlikely to be sitting down for dinner before 8-8:30pm. Meaning you can grab a drink and spend a hour or two sat outside typing out your daily ride report. It can be amusing to do so as an author, yet provide as much entertainment to fellow forum members, who can draw from your experience and perhaps employment some of your experiences into their own travels.

If you still have time after all this, go for a wonder around the town and explore the local surroundings. There could be something that really draws your attention, even a plant or a tree that you never seen before.

Have a look at @MikeO ’ recent as well as past ride reports for some inspiration. The man is a master of sole traveling and writing an excellent ride report.

If all else fails, post an open invite on the forum, draw some lines as far as the length of time you wish to be in somebody’s company, age group, motorcycle type, etc. anything you wish to suit your riding style. After all it is your open invite and you can be as selfish as you wish to be.

From personal experience, I was in same boat as you, back in 2019. A simple message to a fellow member (who happens to be riding in same area as was I planning to be in) allowed me to join him for 3 days in the alps, we become good friends since. Once we split up, I rode to northern Italy, to ride a bucket list Stelvio Pass. I had the place all to my own, with an amazing sunset colours to enjoy.



The following day I have moved on to Austria, then Switzerland, Black Forest in Germany, and so on. The interest for me was, to ride roads and mountain passes that I haven’t ridden before.

Our recent trip to Spain, the circle riders has expanded some of whom have become friends, some are friends from previous trips, others are friends of the friend and so on. Like with every trip, you are likely to be surrounded with unknown personalities, there is a risk that one would not get along with everybody. We are all different after all. You soon will filter out said personality and make your excuses to move on, hard as it might be. Sometimes, it is simply worth ditching a suitcase without a handle even if contents has some value.

It is a circle of life, people come and go in equal measures, in every way possible. It takes courage and some effort to make new acquaintances and friends.

Best of luck with your solo travel experiences. Keep the rubber side down.