Ahhhhhh, you mean the wife

Hi

I'm new to HU.. this is my first post .

I'm somewhat of a world traveler... approaching a 100 countries with a good number having multiples of visits. I'm not however an overly experienced biker. I have done a half dozen trips of durations up to 1 month... mostly around Asia... mostly on +/- 200cc and mostly solo.

I have a few adventure travel axioms that usually hold true:

1. Your contact with the culture and people of your destination varies inversely with the square of the qty of travelers in the group.

1 traveler: 1/1^2 = 1 (maximum)
2 travelers: 1/2^2 = 0.250
3 travelers: 1/3^2 = 0.111
4 travelers: 1/4^2 = 0.063

So as you add folks to your group, it tends to very quickly isolate you from meeting and interacting with the local culture and people... which I believe is one of the great pleasures of travel. Once you get to 4, it's a totally different trip.

Note that cultural interaction is not the only objective for travel however, and so this axiom doesn't mean the quality of the trip decays the same way.


2. Similar to #1, one's contact with locals and other travelers is greatly affected by your mode of travel and accommodation. On one end of the scale, traveling in a car and staying at 5 star hotels tends to lead to a greatly reduced interactive experience. Traveling by motorbike and staying in small lodgings greatly increases interaction. Public bus/boat/train traveling is probably the best for meeting people.

3. Mode of transportation directly affects your ability to get off the beaten track. This is where motorbikes are #1 to me: you can go just about anywhere in a reasonable period of time... thus your "bang for your buck" is maximized. Cars/Vans/SUVs are also good, while public transportation is very limiting for access.

4. Having traveling partners does open doors of adventure on an economic basis. Many times I might like to hire a boat to take me a day's journey down the river... but can't afford it as a solo traveler. Groups of 3 or 4 can afford just about anything.

5. Finally, group vs solo travel can be paradise or hell, depending on each traveler's personality and interests. I find it very difficult to find someone who is a travel soulmate... but if I could, I think it would be well worth it over solo travel. Otherwise, solo travel is the most rewarding.

Some earlier posts suggested meeting solo people who are going your way, and to travel together for as long as it works. I greatly agree with this... but axiom #1 still holds true - the solo traveler always has the most cultural and people interaction.

It would be great to hear if other experienced travelers disagree with any of these axioms? I've often wondered if these axioms are specific to my personality?

Nice

I'm with DouglasJ. I traveled around the world for 3 years in total, in part with my best friend of +25 years. We rode together for 4 months in 2006, for about 7 months in 2012/13 and now we don't talk to each other anymore. After +25 years, you think you'd know someone, but you really get that knowledge only when you spend time with people day in day out. The biggest reason I'll never travel with another male is that you isolate yourself from the world, you turn inwards and have s / dinner together. It's really about traveling solo and being open to the world. I think with a woman that might be doable as you're more approachable. Still, being solo on a bike will give you a perspective you will never reach with another person. All my best traveling has been done solo. Often you will meet people, all the time actually, when traveling solo. It's my preferred way now.

One thing to remember as to differences in m/c travel.... When you backpack, you use public transit, stay in small lodges and generally follow a transit/hostel route many others follow. You will meet a lot more people (tourists) backpacking than riding. Your modes of transportation are the same. On a bike, you are not taking transit, your transport times are different that others and your hostel/hotel needs are going to include some parking facility or option. All considerations others don't have or need to make. So don't compare traveling on a bike to regular travel. You will meet a lot fewer tourists and lot more local people. And because of your mode of transit and non-standard hotel locations, you will have a vastly different and often better connection with people. Parking a beat up R80G/S in Asia or the Middle East is like parking a F1 car in a Western playground with 16 year old bots. How fast? How big is the engine? Where do you live? How much does it cost? Do you want some tea? Come stay at my house! Oh no! Not on the street, park it in the lobby!!

On the other hand, if you are out in the bush somewhere or in a small village in Pakistan, you will get 10 or so invites for tea, dinner etc. I don't think I was ever able to get gas in Pakistan without being offered tea.

Go solo, and people won't see you as a threat and be much more welcoming. The only places I ever felt unsafe were Honduras and Turkey.

But most importantly of all, go. Your life will be better for it in ways you cannot imagine.

Kevin

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http://www.nohorizons.net

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/

When You travel in Poland with Poland Tours, You can find many interesting places and beautiful landscapes. For many people finding genealogy especially with Auschwitz Tours is the aim of life. RealPoland | Travelling Pleasure | | Tours of Poland has helped me.

Together is always easier to fix something, and solve all other problems I always do trips in group of 2-3 buddys

I have taken each of my three sons on a father/son trip, with the boys riding pillion. These were our bonding trips, with the boys 14-15 years old in each case. The first son I took through Tibet, the second in a loop around Xinjiang, and the third through Himachal Pradesh (shout out to Saach Pass). Each of these trips was with a small group of riders I knew directly or indirectly (difficult to do China solo). I was connected by bluetooth headset to my sons for the roughly 10 day trips. We talked about everything and nothing and spent hours just absorbing our surroundings. Spending time with other members of the group was in each case very rewarding for the boys - it was a shared experience among men. These three trips have been among my happiest experiences in my life.

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CJ
2014 Monster 1200S, 2007 X Challenge, 2016 1200GSA, 2024 CRF300L Rally

Always alone. You'll meet and talk to more people that way, you'll learn to be more resourceful, you'll end up doing all sorts of things you probably wouldn't have done.

When you travel with someone every decision is, by necessity, a compromise; sometimes in your favour sometimes not. This might be good if your goal is building a relationship with the other person.

If you travel solo you're rarely alone, but if you travel with a partner you're often wishing to be alone.

Although I've been on Euro trips with mates, when it came to 'the big one' it was always going to be solo. It was what I wanted and I never imagined I would be able to find a partner anyway. As part of my preparation I went on two group trips, mainly to find out how I would take to riding outside the civility of Europe. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips and made some great friends. The first one was in Africa - The Gambia back to Spain. The second was in the Indian Himalaya on a 500cc Enfield (I can't recommend Blazing Trails Tours highly enoug). Fabulous trips and served to support my decision to set off once circumstances allowed. Kids grown up, mortgage paid off, I left London in April 2014 and am having a fantastic time here on Australia.
I spent 6 years planning the trip, mainly because I had nothing else to do while I waited. How has it been? Fabulous! Just me and my Suzuki DR 350. I've seen fantastic places and met fabulous people. Do I regret being alone? Of course I do, sometimes. It's only human to need other people sometimes. I especially miss having a lover. But I recognised these downsides before I left and decided to live with them. I don't regret my decision.
My advice to anyone considering their own trip is to stop procrastinating and GO.
Read about my experiences on my blog. MOTOPANGAEA | Adventure before dementia. Seeing the world while I can remember where it is.
Enjoy your trip.
Geoff.

I've done quite varied travel over the years by various means of transport.

At 17, I set out with a mate to go to southern Spain in a borrowed car for a few weeks. Your right about finding out about friends, we've been mates now for 35 years, he was my best man at my wedding and I'd still travel with him for weeks. Same wavelength. Doesn't ride road bikes though.

My wife doesn't do road travel. She thought she did, but her needs during journeys conflict with mine. This however doesn't become a problem unless you let it. She travels by air over long distances and we meet there. Works for us.
She did drop a few hints about dipping a toe back into Europe again on 2 wheels lately, not happening, I know it's not her thing. Would cause problems.

Another mate I travel with, with the bike this time too, is also ideal to travel with.
We get on, similar outlooks and very similar riding styles. Doesn't do outside the uk though.

So I mostly travel alone over distance, which isn't an issue and has led to some interesting experiences.
This summer I've been talked into taking a couple of friends over to the in laws in France. They both ride but I've already been told that they don't want to do too much distance in a day etc.
Great people, but I have the feeling it's going to be a long couple of weeks, but I'll go with an open mind.

There's a lot to be said for both solo and group travel, but it all depends on what you make of it.

Very interesting to hear your take on solo Ted, I'd never considered that.


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Many are talking about fall outs with old friends. It had me thinking. Maybe you weren't friends after all. A friendship is built in experiences and hardships not how long you've known someone.

A wise man once told me that travelling with someone will accelerate your relationship. And he was spot on. Be it with a friend, partner, wife, let cat or blow up doll etc.

If you were drifting apart, it will happen faster on the road. If you had the potential to be a great team, traveling will be the cement in that...

Some of my most trusted close friends are people I've met on the road and ended up travelling with. I'd trust these guys more than people I've been friends with since pre-school.

I'm really glad that I hadn't closed my mind to riding with others otherwise I wouldn't have these great friends in my life.

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

I think it's also got a lot to do with the person you are. I think you find a lot of home truths about yourself whilst travelling, and how people react to you speaks volumes.




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Perhaps part of the desire to go solo or in a group might also relate whether deep down you are an introvert or an extrovert ?

Generally introverts enjoy their own company better than extroverts, but tire more quickly of engaging in small talk with others than extroverts.

Extroverts on the other hand tend to have a need to seek connection to others more regular than introverts and usually feel uncomfortable more quickly when being alone.