It is nice to share the experience with a friend or acquaintance, but it can easily overload emotions being with somebody most of the time over an extended period. Traveling alone, I think I meet more people and get some pretty unique opportunities. A traveling companion can be a wealth of information, especially if they have knowledge of local riding. A good mix of riding with others and riding alone will help you determine your preferences…

Solo ride is the best. I've done rides with groups and hate waiting for them. Once in a while I will find someone that tries to keep my pace, they cannot. Madeleine Velazquez - Home

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Madeleine Velazquez
http://www.missrider.com/

I agree with everyone above.

Its very hard to find someone who wants to do the same destinations, at the same time, on the same budget, who speaks the language, who knows how to fix their own bike, who........... etc etc

I've been riding dirt and road bikes for about 15 years. This trip I've been riding ALONE for 4 weeks from Santiago, Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Paraguay and now Santa Cruz in Bolivia. I am craving to meet someone friendly, doing the same trip as me. Being in bed at 11.30 New Years Eve was a low point for me (very lonely), but easily the lowest point of my trip so far was the last 300+ km of the worst road ever in Paraguay in 40 degree heat and no water for 6 hours.... then when I eventually hit the asphalt, I crashed at about 100km/h tearing open my forearm. I nearly died that day (28/12/14) but was rescued by a local. I nearly gave it all in that day. I paid the guy who helped me $500USD for helping me.

I guess, my point is that you are better off with someone incase of emergency and to avoid loneliness even if your trip varies slightly. I've backpacked all over the world (mostly alone) and often meet people in Hostels but very few this trip.

My KLR650 has been at Kawasaki for two days. I've been riding dirt and road bikes for about 15 years. (I love riding 'em .... I just can't fix 'em) I can't even change a tyre, so after my accident, I'm trying to stick to the more popular routes for the last 6 weeks of this trip. Hoping to meet loads of people at Uyuni (the Dakar on the 10th January)

I'm loving the ride but probably wouldn't set off to ride in a non-english speaking country again alone

Cheers

Bartman
p.cornish@hotmail.com

The only big trips I've done so far have been in Europe and the USA. Both times I rode solo and had no problem with it at all... I'm not one of those people who needs to be in company constantly, so it was actually pretty great to get some time alone with my thoughts, the changing scenery, twisty roads etc.

Now that I'm contemplating my first more adventurous multi-month trip I'm torn on this topic though. On one hand, the thought of spending months in constant company with anyone other than a friend I know very well sounds potentially horrific! On the other, I could imagine that having a friend with you in far-flung places would increase your confidence to interact with the people you meet along the way.

When on my trips so far, I've had a few 5 or 10 minute chats with people I've met along the way... but I couldn't see me randomly deciding to spend all evening drinking with anyone I've met or anything like that.

Maybe this is just a case of me needing to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit more when interacting with strangers though... more than needing a traveling partner.

Anyway, this thread has been food for thought... so thanks all!

For me it is easier to connect with locals without any friends or travel companions around. This way I am forced to connect with locals and it is also easier for them to come and talk to me.

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www.whereishemuli.eu
Riding round the World

Facebook:WhereIsHemuli

As one of the original respondents said, this is such a personal question.

I'm nearly three weeks into a 3 month tour around South America, solo. Previously I'd done a week in California, and 2 x two week trips in Europe, both solo.

A few thoughts that might help:
- How do you view your journey? Is is just travelling or is something more than that - more of a challenge that you set yourself? If it's the latter, then overcoming loneliness is a lot easier, because I've you're a driven/motivated person, you can just tell yourself to accept it as part of the challenge, deal with it however you can, and crack on.

- Ditto earlier comments re language. This is the biggest barrier, not people, to loneliness. But even picking up a borderline conversational level of a language can make a big difference. As a Brit travelling solo in South America for the first time, this has been the biggest shock to me.

- Think about your route - some countries people are naturally more friendly that others. I'm in Brazil now, and people are great and English is a little more widely spoken than Argentina, where I've just come from.

- Where you stay at night makes a big difference - hotels are generally pretty soul destroying places for more than a few nights in a row. I mix it up with youth hostels, but even then I'm in a different position to many on the backpacking trail who form friendships by going to the same places and sharing transport. That said, if you pick carefully you can find hostels where you can do guided tours, excursions etc which mean you don't find yourself eating alone night after night Camping isn't necessarily as sociable, but equally it falls into the 'challenge' box above.

Hope this helps

Ed

I've made life long friends and have wonderful memories of people I've travelled with. And I also have one or two experiences where things didn't work out so well.

I think a long term DUO is difficult unless you're really lucky and you're both on the same wave length. Even then, things can get sticky.

Travelling with someone is like a marriage. It really is. It's almost a bit weird when you think about it. When you're pissed off, tired, ill, ratty and your far from home, your travel partner ends up being on the end of it. And vice versa.

If you're going to travel with someone I think you should know them first if you're making a long term commitment.

Be prepared, packed and able to travel 100% SOLO. Then if things get a bit too much you want your own space then you can separate. Even if it's just for a couple of hours, days, weeks etc. You HAVE To be prepared to go alone. It's important.

If I ride in a group I'd rather be in a 3 or 4. That way you can rotate travel buddies or go off solo without leaving anyone 'stranded'.

It's an impossible scenario to predict. If you're heading out long term with someone and your gut feeling tells you they could be a problem. DON'T DO IT... Niggles and annoyances are multiplied 100x when you're relying on each other.


A couple of years ago I did a canoe trip down the Yukon with a British guy I didn't know very well. We were alone together in the wilds of Canada for weeks on end. Just us and a canoe in the middle of nowhere.

HE DROVE ME CRAZY. He didn't get up until mid-day, smoked weed and passed out in the canoe, filled his water bottle with Whisky and got arrested for being drunk and abusive.

I could of whacked him over the head with a log and left him for the bears. No one would find him out there. I actually found myself thinking about it. THAT'S how things can get if you aren't careful about your travel company.

If the end, he ran out of money, whisky and weed and his dad paid for him to be flown out half way through the trip. Then I met a great Canadian guy in another canoe and we had a FANTASTIC time together. We're still good friends now.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Yip
I have done a few trips before. I always went solo but occasionally met up with others along the way, not by design just by chance. I prefer it that way. And I prefer to arrive in a town overseas and feel the need to get acquainted with strangers in bars etc. I like the unpredictability of that approach. You need to be careful of course but isn't that the mantra in life even when you're at home?
Travelling with a friend will show both of you if you are really friends. Travelling with a stranger just for the sake of saving money is not an approach I'd choose either. Keeping costs down is a good idea but suffering the rituals of a nobhead just to keep a few euros in my pocket is not for me. I'd rather stay at home.

I think I've meet your drunk. lol
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

Hi backofbeyond. I'm interested in your user name because where I come from it has a very interesting origin and I'm guessing you are aware of it. If not ask away and I'll tell you what I know about it.
BTW, agree with all you say in your post.

My first ride, Singapore - London in 1973 was with a mate. I knew him well beforehand but had never ridden with him. I'm glad we travelled together as we encountered some serious situations (sickness, accidents, run ins with authorities, a coup, a political crisis and I stolen motorbike among others)

In 1986 I travelled in India for a couple of weeks with a mate - two-up on a 500 BSA single. Bad move. He was not a motorcyclist and turned out to be a bit of a liability. I should have cancelled the trip as he had promised to get his licence before we left, but didn't. It was only my loyalty that allowed the trip to go ahead. I reasoned it was only a couple of weeks so it wasn't long however he was a nervous pillion which is not a good thing anywhere, especially India.

For the last eight years I've travelled alone in Indonesia, except for one day trip. I love it and wouldn't travel any other way although just recently I met a pretty spunky Indonesian lady aboard a Yamaha Bison. She ticked all the boxes as she'd clocked up some serious ks around Indo.

If you'd like to check out some of my trips go here: Relaxamatic - - WorldNomads.com I've been published in a few mags so you won't be wasting your time if you're looking for a decent read.

I've pm'd you about the topic but if you think it's suitable for a wider audience then post it up here.

Mentioning your 1973 trip brings to mind my experience that year, how it can go wrong and how your life can change as a result. We were two couples with serious relationships on two bikes going UK to Greece over a month or so. It was a trip that had been six months in the planning and we'd overcome some serious objections from my girlfriend's family. They'd only eventually agreed because they'd met the other girl going and thought she was sensible (!).

We lasted as a foursome as far as Frankfurt (one day's ride) when the "sensible girl" decided she'd had enough and flew back, never to be seen again. My girlfriend "survived" the trip but we split up shortly afterwards - partly due to my two wheel lifestyle. The fallout from that trip has rumbled down the years and there's even a loose connection to what I'll be doing this weekend. A few years ago I wrote the whole story down as a book just to try and get the jumble out of my head but the result isn't something I'd want anyone short of a mental health professional to read.

On the other hand I still travel with the rider of the other bike and in a couple of weeks time we'll be starting a seven or eight week trip around the US. It'll be (as he reminded me) the 45th anniversary of our first bike trip together, so I've had a commemorative T shirt printed:








My wife is riding pillion on my bike and it'll be her longest bike trip by some margin. The warning bells from 1973 are ringing loudly in my ears.

Love the story and the tee-shirt.

"Back of Beyond" was the title of a film shot in outback Australia in 1954. It followed the footsteps of the Birdsville mailman, Tom Kruse. It's available on YouTube. The film won international acclaim as it captured the wild, remoteness of the outback bringing it to life for a wider audience. The original phrase is attributed to Sir Walter Scott.

Love the story and the tee-shirt.

"Back of Beyond" was the title of a film shot in outback Australia in 1954. It followed the footsteps of the Birdsville mailman, Tom Kruse. It's available on YouTube. The film won international acclaim as it captured the wild, remoteness of the outback bringing it to life for a wider audience. The original phrase is attributed to Sir Walter Scott.

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