Long Solo Trips - What Did You Learn About Yourself?

[LeftCoast]

So at the moment no immediate family members are interested in riding. My brother does but he’s in Colorado and about to move to Berlin. My solo rides have all been short so far but a few have been long enough where I have enough idle brain cycles to consider “life”. It got me to thinking about a former coworker that did a 3 week solo trip to Alaska each year to clear his head and I started to wonder what you long time riders contemplate and discover when only in the company of your own thoughts. How beautiful this planet is? How wonderful it is to do it alone or to share it? Roads not taken in life or roads taken?

For me it is the beautiful world we live in juxtaposed by the anger we have in too many cases with differing viewpoints that prevent us finding a better world for everyone because when you get to travel it, it’s a beautiful marvel and perhaps the only meaningful things we do in life are to help others. I have also learned though that amid my many failings I have done good things and there is more good to do still. Find a purpose that matters, gather with friends you cherish and invite new ones into that circle, and without your health money and everything else is secondary.

Bless you all and I hope I run across you, even for a wave, someday!

Cheers!

LeftCoast

[canamjhb]

I did 10-day solo trips every spring before I retired. This lasted 12-15 years Managed to squeeze out an extra day or two and with weekends only had to declare 5 days vacation time. I was riding Goldwings then. I packed a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and small tent. They never got used. I lived in Seattle and when I left for my trip, I just looked at which direction the weather looked best and that's where I headed. Absolutely no itinerary. I wandered all over the western US and Canada. Met a lot of nice people. Never had any problem getting motel rooms when I was ready to stop. I did stop early each day usually around 4 PM. After the first day or two, I got into a routine that became very serene and comfortable. I usually traveled 2500-3000 miles each trip.

Since then, I have done many group rides as well as rides with my better half. They have all been great. But for a non-stressful time on the road and to clear the head, nothing beats a few days on the road solo..... Jim

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I now ride almost exclusively solo ie. alone..... no passengers , no buddies. ….. I don't prefer this but it is what it is ….. I find it relaxing unless on a very challenging road, where paying attention is a must …… I have a couple of local loops 10 to 15 miles on back roads which are not all paved but kept in very good condition..... When the weather is mild , I often just stop what I'm doing , hop on the RT and go ….. I'm retired and know I am very, very fortunate to have this ability / opportunity...…...….. ride safe - ride happy ….. Mike :ohyea:

[mcalva]

I have done a lot of kilometers in solitary but I did them when I was still working and then you try to do many km in a
short time and you did not enjoy the trip.
There is time to think about everything. Memories, mistakes, future, laughter, boredom, songs ......
Now that I am retired and have time (I hope ;-)) I make the trips of two or three days, alone or with my wife, with shorter
daily distances but enjoying the landscape, the gastronomy and the company.
When I need it, I go out alone to ride where I call "my bedside routes" not very long but of spectacular layout and landscape.
I live in a privileged place with the sea and the mountains just 2 or 3 km away and next to a "natural park"
I have "sine die" pending a route from Barcelona (Spain) to Nordkapp (Norway), alone or accompanied.

[oldgoat]

I miss my wife!

[Bob Denman]

I can get "lost in my own thoughts" in a trip to the bathroom... It's even worse on a trip halfway across the Country! :D
Paying attention to traffic around me is the first priority... Then: the road conditions...
Followed by the Weather, what's on the radio, are my shorts riding up>, what do those clouds remind me of" (usually Dragons...), When is my next fuel stop?, Will I be able to get food there?, What do I want to eat? Gee: I'd love some bacon! :D

[bushrat]

Great question, Left Coast; thanks for posting it:

Approaching 80 years now... have travelled solo often, and been many, many miles... in various parts of the World... lots of time to ponder the mysteries of life.....

If I had my druthers and could do it over, I'd slow down somewhat, not rush past things. Should have taken more side roads, done the 'scenic' route more often, rather than rushing straight through to the next town on the list. Should have done more miles with a companion or two, and benefitted from their insights/friendship along the way.

Too soon we grow old; too late we get smart!!!

Your observation that the beauty of this World is so often blinded to our eyes by the angst and divisiveness amongst us is all too true. Only those who are able to see/think outside themselves are ever able to truly appreciate the wider beauty of all the different tastes, sights, smells, sounds, colors this universe offers.

So, here's my wave/salute back to you, whether we cross paths on our bikes, or not. Happy and safe riding.

[ARtraveler]

Solo riding is a time for contemplation, enjoyment of the surroundings, and hopefully getting rid of the cares of the world. In the days before communicators were in vogue, spouse and I would drive hundreds of miles, enjoying the quiet.

The most recent 4,400 mile trip from AK to AR was done in a cage. Eight days of being alone would have caught up with me. The scenery was beautiful, but glad I was able to share those things with Linda.

I guess there is something to be said about both sides. :yes:

[MonPaul]

I got rid of my bike a few years ago and didn't miss it until I left a big city and moved out into the country. So that's when the Spyder came along and now I just enjoy exploring back roads and seeing where they go! I will tell myself "that looks like a good road to get lost on" and I usually do ;)

[UtahPete]

What did I learn about myself? Mostly, I rediscover myself and my sense of self-confidence, resiliency and self-sufficiency, which tends to get lost in the daily challenge of constantly negotiating social relationships and 'fitting in'. The need for that has greatly diminished since retiring to rural Utah.

[Gwolf]

I used to do about 30 days and run from 12,000 to 15,000 alone every summer. I learned that digital pictures are a lot easier and cheaper than the old 35mm film. Other than that I mostly looked at all the wonderful sights and found new roads to ride on that I did not know where they went.

[Yazz]

I've ridden by myself since the early '90s. What have I learned about myself?

I get lost easy and don't mind it. I end up going down neat roads, have interesting experiences and end up in the darnedest places.

I like to ride down a road till it Ts, then hang a right.

Garmin is my friend.

I don't like constraints, like a time schedule, what time to get up, etc.

After a couple days on the road, a routine sets in and I get into the zone. Just going down the road, stopping for gas or a snack when needed. When riding, I'm hyper-aware of everything going on around me, but my mind is still, just a very calm feeling.

Neatest thing that happened... I was riding down a highway on my F3S, moderate traffic and saw a BMW loaded up a head of me. Think curiosity hit both of us. I sped up, he sped up. He slowed down and got behind me, checking me out? Then he passed me and we both waved with our right hands. Ok, you might have to think on that one. Sometimes it's the little things that mean a lot.

[LeftCoast]

I am finding that my desire to “get there” has slowed down compared to when I’m caged. It’s helping me to smell the roses along the way

[Bob Denman]

:agree:
In a cage: it's all about the destination
on a bike: it's all about the journey.
:2thumbs:

[wingit3611]

I have been doing the sole touring since 1980. I called them my sanity trips when I was working. I am just like a kid with a lollipop when I get back. Amazed at our beautiful, wonderful country and the people you meet along the way. And knowing the world can not drag me down.[/SIZE]

[Gwolf]

When you ride with a group, you have to ride where they ride and stop when they stop. If one needs fuel, they all have to stop. You can't stop to take a picture or turn off to see something you read on a sign, like some roadside attraction or waterfalls. Riding solo you go at your own pace and stop when you feel like it. More freedom riding solo.

[billythekidd]

What I have learned about myself.... I like being with me. I like riding alone. I almost always ride alone and the discoverys are great and the roads seem to never end.

[MakoShark2]

I do ride alone sometimes but mostly small trips.

One of the reasons to get a Spyder was to ride two up comfortably and I do enjoy the company of my better half. It's always nice to be able to share the experience with another one.

But I do understand the appeal of riding alone. You'll add that spiritual dimension to the ride.

[PistonBlown]

I'm happiest in that perfect state of oneness with road, spyder and landscape.

I don't ride to think, I ride to ride. For it to consume all my senses. A perfect moment stretching out in front and snaking through the landscape.

[jbim]

Indeed a great question. Although I am considered as "always" thinking, I find that on solo ventures I don't do as much. I seem to be focused on the job at end, keeping safe. I finish my days too tired to do anything, including thinking. It's like being in a bubble while the world goes by but my own time has stopped. I suppose it's my kind of meditation.

"running across" other riders is one of the great joy of riding.

Be safe.

J

[Flanker]

I'm with Denman. Although I live a a rural agricultural area---I try to concentrate on my riding, and surrounding & developing conditions at all times. Long rides? If it's more than 100 miles I'm taking my car; the Spyder is just a toy. The following applies to both the Spyder and my car.

Distracted driving is epidemic in my area; I see drivers looking down into their laps constantly, there is a large home for the elderly in my village---some drive OK, but there are a LOT more of the OTHER kind. Large University a few miles away---many drivers from there have apparently taken "aggressor forces" driving courses. I'm cut off dangerously close in traffic once every 2 or 3 weeks; requiring quick manuvoring and/or throwing out the anchor. If BRP or Ford would come up with an M134 option slaved to a helmet sight, or better still a 7 round :cus:hole seeking missile pod-----I'd buy it. nojoke

Oh yea-----deer up the yin yang; vultures in the road, or on the road side, turkeys are large dumb birds too, dogs and coyotes, escaped cattle----you get the drift. No navel contemplation for me!

[UtahPete]

I'm with Denman. Although I live a a rural agricultural area---I try to concentrate on my riding, and surrounding & developing conditions at all times. Long rides? If it's more than 100 miles I'm taking my car; the Spyder is just a toy. The following applies to both the Spyder and my car.

Distracted driving is epidemic in my area; I see drivers looking down into their laps constantly, there is a large home for the elderly in my village---some drive OK, but there are a LOT more of the OTHER kind. Large University a few miles away---many drivers from there have apparently taken "aggressor forces" driving courses. I'm cut off dangerously close in traffic once every 2 or 3 weeks; requiring quick manuvoring and/or throwing out the anchor. If BRP or Ford would come up with an M134 option slaved to a helmet sight, or better still a 7 round :cus:hole seeking missile pod-----I'd buy it. nojoke

Oh yea-----deer up the yin yang; vultures in the road, or on the road side, turkeys are large dumb birds too, dogs and coyotes, escaped cattle----you get the drift. No navel contemplation for me!

So, to answer the OP's question ..... what?

[Joe T.]

Basically, I soon realize what a boring SOB I am!!!


Joe T.

[oldgoat]

I really like this thread

Have learned that I'm a 100 to 150 mile per ride man. My old body can't really take more.

I live on the west end of the island of Montreal. Traffic is horrendous as are the road surfaces. There are pleasant rides off the east end of the island but that 30 mile ride just to start the ride would be a nightmare. So I always head west & am in sparsely populated countryside in 20 mins. I am nothing if not consistent in my rides. Around 3hrs & covering the same general area each time, though in a clockwise direction one day, anticlockwise the next, then figure of eight wise. I find the scenery interestingly varied depending on my direction. We have such beautiful churches everywhere.
I like to watch the progression of the crops from April to the end of July (the end of my riding season these days. It costs $660 to plate the Spyder for a calendar year but we only get 7 months of riding weather & this way I get a $300 refund on the plate. I also stop riding 4 weeks before wifey & I fly somewhere & drive around the western states. I figure that month would give me time to heal up if I have a mishap on the Spyder..wishful thinking probably but she only gets the 1 vacation & I don't want to mess it up for her)

I really try to pay attention when riding but my mind is always wandering off as I daydream. Luckily very little traffic. When on our "Interstates" I pay strict attention to everything around me as a matter of self preservation

I have discovered over the years that I am not nearly the skilled 2 or 3 wheeled driver I imagined myself to be. I have to concentrate on concentrating ! I don't suppose I have more than a year or two of riding left. I'll be well into my eighties then so I enjoy watching the changes in the fields & the variety of smells, even the not so pleasant ones. I do draw the line at dead skunks though.

[LeftCoast]

So, to answer the OP's question ..... what?

I’m pretty sure he’s saying he doesn’t have much time to let thoughts intrude on his ride.

[LeftCoast]

Basically, I soon realize what a boring SOB I am!!!


Joe T.


Lol, I put a reluctant like on this one, I doubt you are that boring!

[LeftCoast]

I really like this thread

Have learned that I'm a 100 to 150 mile per ride man. My old body can't really take more.

I live on the west end of the island of Montreal. Traffic is horrendous as are the road surfaces. There are pleasant rides off the east end of the island but that 30 mile ride just to start the ride would be a nightmare. So I always head west & am in sparsely populated countryside in 20 mins. I am nothing if not consistent in my rides. Around 3hrs & covering the same general area each time, though in a clockwise direction one day, anticlockwise the next, then figure of eight wise. I find the scenery interestingly varied depending on my direction. We have such beautiful churches everywhere.
I like to watch the progression of the crops from April to the end of July (the end of my riding season these days. It costs $660 to plate the Spyder for a calendar year but we only get 7 months of riding weather & this way I get a $300 refund on the plate. I also stop riding 4 weeks before wifey & I fly somewhere & drive around the western states. I figure that month would give me time to heal up if I have a mishap on the Spyder..wishful thinking probably but she only gets the 1 vacation & I don't want to mess it up for her)

I really try to pay attention when riding but my mind is always wandering off as I daydream. Luckily very little traffic. When on our "Interstates" I pay strict attention to everything around me as a matter of self preservation

I have discovered over the years that I am not nearly the skilled 2 or 3 wheeled driver I imagined myself to be. I have to concentrate on concentrating ! I don't suppose I have more than a year or two of riding left. I'll be well into my eighties then so I enjoy watching the changes in the fields & the variety of smells, even the not so pleasant ones. I do draw the line at dead skunks though.

Sorry I didn’t run across you in June when I was there for the F1 race although I did see an F3 while I was there. Montreal is in a beautiful location, I would have loved to have seen it when it was still wilderness. There is construction everywhere so no wonder you ride the fastest way out of town. We drove from Montreal to Quebec and the countryside was beautiful.

[Raprider]

Brilliant question! I'll have to think about an answer the next time I'm out ryding :roflblack:

Seriously though...it depends...
When riding solo, my mind typically jumps around...beauty of the scenery, de-stressing tactics (most recently via my recent retirement), short and long term plans yet to be realized.
When riding with my wife, I tend to focus more on "our" enjoyment...hey, did you see that...are you okay for a while longer or need a break?
When riding with one of the groups (which I've been doing a lot more of this season), it's more a focus on the rider in front and behind, the road itself, when is the leader gonna stop for a break, etc.

I'm happy with any of the above, but I definitely get more relaxed when solo.

[Jeriatric]

I enjoy the people who engage you when riding solo.

At a gas pump, a motel, car/bike wash or stopping for a bite to eat.

Seems there's always someone with a story, a comment or question.

I always give them their time.

They knock the dust off the solitary moments!

Then I'm ready to saddle up and hit the road again.

America...............it is beautiful!

[Valkrocket]

Great Post.:2thumbs:
My thoughts: Solo riding clears my head of all the current problems and daily worries that turn into ulcers and mental anguish if left to fester within. When I go out in the wind I gotta concentrate on riding and being hyper aware of my surroundings and road conditions. All those problems seem to melt away the further I ride. By the time I get home I'm recharged and ready for what ever life wants to throw at me next. About 15 years ago I rode cross country, upon returning 3 weeks later folks asked me "What was it like?" I replied " travelling in this beautiful country in a cage is like watching a 3D movie with all it's beautiful scenery unfolding all around you, but riding out there on a bike(spyder) you are now part of that movie enjoying all the smells, sounds, sights and even a different feel to the road beneath you."
"Riding Two up is completely different, as I now have more responsibility with my better half on the back. Spyder handles a little differently and I focus even more on the road than riding solo. I find myself enjoying the occasional conversation as we share the wind and our surroundings together.
And yes, as many have said before me "The Ride Is The Destination!
When I was younger, I had neither the time or the money to enjoy life the way I do Today. Bushrat hit the nail square when he said "Too soon we grow old; too late we get smart!!! :banghead:

Glide-on Brothers :riding:

[PistonBlown]

I have "sine die" pending a route from Barcelona (Spain) to Nordkapp (Norway), alone or accompanied.

Ridden in Spain (including Barcelona) but never managed Norway (or Sweden) though I have ridden in Finland. Nordkapp much further north than I've ever managed and well into the Artic Circle, that's quite a trip you're planning there. I've been to Antarctica but never quite managed the Arctic Circle. Love to see the route you've got planned.

[Morturf]

The road less traveled... And it made all difference.
This is a great post. I just got back from a 2600 mile one week run to the southeast. Rode the dragon. When I left home I told the GPS to stay off the interstates and it was great. I camped, yes camped in the cold fall weather. And I loved every minute of it. I know that if someone was with me I'd have drove them crazy. I took really crazy backroads and saw some great country. As somebody above mentioned, the engagement with new friendsat gas pumps and eateries is always entertaining. I like just covering some miles and seeing the sites. My minds isn't on the drudgery of daily life and business but the moment I'm in. I got home day before yesterday and and I'm still smiling!

[RICZ]

No one's bladder, stomach or gas tank to worry about but my own when riding solo. I'm much more approachable by other riders and strangers when by myself. I take whatever roads I like to wherever I like. But my favorite rides are with a good good friend whose abilities and preferences match mine and it's especially good if there is bile to bike communication between us.

[BajaRon]

That I can sleep and ride at the same time....:ohyea:

[fullyallamathic]

I'm retiring from the fire dept in 17 months and this sounds exactly like how I wanna spend my retirement!! Lol

[Northofthesix]

Over the years most of my short trips have been solo, all of my long trips were in groups, anywhere from 2 to a dozen guys... my first long solo trip was when I drove my Spyder home from Thunder Bay Ontario home to just outside Toronto, about 1400km/ 900 miles. It was amazing!! I had to extra-concentrate since I had never so much as sat on an RT before (flew to TBay to buy a 2018 demo RT sight unseen) and most of the trip I was talking to myself to figure out how to take the next curve without being thrown off the bike ("RELAX, boy, RELAX!!)... but what was amazing to me was how IMMERSED I felt. How freeing it was to stop whenever and Wherever I want, take pics, have a water, lose a water.

I do two major trips with a bunch of guys every summer, and cover thousands of miles along the way... a real assortment of Spyders, Harleys, a Goldwing, Triumph Speed Triple, a Kawasaki Concours, an Africa Twin... and last year a buddy joined us in his Corvette! We rent a cabin somewhere and use it as a base to explore. A couple of the guys plan all the routes and the rest of us follow the leader. Fun for sure, really enjoy the camaraderie along the way... but this trip in September solo was amazing in an entirely different way. It was .... mine. Not shared, but a trip that, except when I would call home to check in with my far better half... was just me and my Green Goblin... everything else was peripheral. If that makes any sense.

[Morturf]

Isn't this a great thing! Glad you guys have shared these experiences.

[Navydad]

In 2013, a year after early retirement, I set out on my 2004 BMW 1150RT for a ten day trip to Texas Hill Country. My wife travels with me, but she was still working so a solo trip was born. Turned out I was out for seven weeks and just shy of 6000 miles. Some days I rode 300 miles and some days I was lucky to do 50 miles. I stuck to two lane roads and had less than 500 miles on freeways. I seen countless small towns, ate in countless greasy spoons, and chatted with countless locals. I found out that no matter where you go in this great country people are just people and they want the same things that most of us do. A chance to enjoy life without being told how to live their lives. I never felt threatened or met anyone who wasn't friendly and willing to tell me about the area where they lived. Granted I steered clear of the big cities for the most part. I mostly tent camped with a motel tossed in every four days or on rainy nights. The first week I was a bit worried about things at home even though my daily calls found things doing fine. The second week I was getting homesick. By the end of the third week I was not interested in going home and just kept adding destinations to the itinerary. At the end of the seventh week after being well past Texas and heading back east I found myself in Georgia. The weather was starting to cool and My wife was asking if I was planning on being back to Ohio before the snow flies. Actually the plan was to head south to Key Largo and put in with a cousin there, but I managed to pick up a case of the flu somewhere along the way. It was a cold, miserable 450 mile ride home, but home never looked so good. I'll never forget some of the great folks I met along the way such as the folks at the Yamaha dealership in Kerrville, Texas who fixed me up with new tires quickly and for a great price. They even washed the poor Beemer. The lady that owned the diner in Cherokee, Alabama and who refused my payment for a delicious meal. The folks in Eutaw, Alabama who invited me to join their family reunion when the saw me sitting under a tree enjoying a cold Pepsi. All of the folks who took time to tell me about the great little towns they lived in. It was a great and sobering experience and I want to do it again.

[pegasus1300]

I love people and I love to travel with my friends. But when I can I love to go it alone. The first day I spend a lot of time thinking about the proper technique for turns getting set up just right, reminding myself to look farther down the road, remembering to drink more water, what did I forget, why did I pack so much, I have so much to do. Day two I am excited for the road, what's next, I begin to slow down my thinking. I no longer think I have to hurry along to the next stopping point, in so many miles, ride for such and such a time. On the 3rd day I see the road, feel the air, is it soft or hard, do I smell dust, water, rain, sage, cedar, pine, aspen, rock? how is the light today? God has given me a great world to live in and enjoy and in spite of all the world's problems and my own personal trials it really is a great life especially out in the open on the back of my Spyder. I look forward to seeing and talking with new people. They always ask me about my bike or now the Spyder. I always ask them where theirs is and then listen to their stories of when they rode, or what they did instead. I ask locals where to ride and get some great ideas. A local archaeology buff once told me about a buried Indian village from a 1000 years ago. If you didn't know it was there you would never guess. Stopped in Bicknell because I was gassing up in Hite and a biker coming from the other direction told me about Pickle Pie. Yumm. Now on the 4th day I am into the rhythm of the road. Yes I do listen to music as I ride but I can also feel the rhythm of the road and hear the song of the bike and drink in the panorama that unfolds. I am so grateful that despite heavy family, work and church obligations over the years that I have been able to ride as much and as long as I have, and I hope I have many more years to ride. NSD

[LeftCoast]

Nice to see this thread get bumped. I love every story posted. It is the essence of why we ride.

[troop]

I'm 62 yrs old and have been retired for 6 years. All of my best riding buddies are younger and still working. If I want to get out and see the country more than 1 or 2 times/year, my only option is to go solo. The problem is that I'm getting resistance from my wife. I tell her I have a tracking app on my phone, travel during hours of daylight and don't venture out at night. She's still not convinced. Still working at it and see some hope at the end of the tunnel ;)

[starrider60]

I'm glad I read this post. I found out that I'm not so strange after all. I usually ride alone since my wife passed away. Unusually get about 16,000 miles a years. Most of my destinations are 500 miles. Then I will ride around and see the sights. Started riding scooters at 12. Still riding at 76. Life I good :2thumbs:

[bikerbillone]

Starrider, hang in there my friend, sounds like life is good on the Spyder. Was a widower in 2003, married again 9 years later, going on 87, still on 3 wheels, life is still good. Happy trails.

[Nobodyjj]

So do I!

[cptjam]

Rode solo from Arkansas to Las Vegas Feb of 18. Missed Ann. The best thing I bring on a ride is SpyderAnn! I don’t go on trips with out her. The best accessory a man can have is a wife who rides!!

[RICZ]

The best accessory a man can have is a wife who rides!!
I will second that. Well said.

[2dogs]

Found out I like to ride alone often. Just me and the open road. Travel at my own speed, sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Stop when I want, eat when I want, get a motel when I want to sleep. No destination in mind and at times I can see from horizon to horizon and I'm the only person around. Almost seems like time comes to a stand still. Those epiphany moments can be staggering and they make the world a beautiful place to behold. And then,,,,,,,, somebody comes up behind me and passes me at mach 3 and blows the entire moment. LOL Back to reality and where's the next fuel stop.

[grumpyoldretiredcop]

I take long trips alone and with my wife of 30+ years in about a 50/50 mix. It's nice to have companionship on the road, but at times it's just as good to be on the open road in the Nevada back country, not caring where I'm going or where I'm going to stop tonight. Stop when I want to, see the sights, smell the flowers... or the coffee. There's a contemplative, almost meditative quality to that time. It reminds me of when we rode long trips and were so far out in the country that all we could get was AM radio with Paul Harvey, or a Navajo radio station.

[seaweed]

Gee I miss listening to Paul Harvey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ARtraveler]

Gee I miss listening to Paul Harvey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now we know the "rest of the story." :yes:

[Many brands]

One thing for sure. I want my wife along. I check into a motel for the night, and it is -- sooooo -- loanley. On one to share the ride's events, the beauty of the ride, just me -- alone.
I dont like it.. Day rides are fine

[bikerbillone]

Brands, oh so true.