Hey everyone, I know this is the same as hundreds of threads i have seen on the HUBB before but thought I should sink my teeth in and finally make my first thread and get some advice while showing face on here for the first time.

Basically I have August off work and im going to be off to see Europe for the first time on my own. My question is is it normal to be a bit apprehensive about setting off on my own for the first trip? Anything I can do to settle my nerves?

Cheers and sorry for wasting time!

Martin

Dont worry martin, they only have one head and they eat and drink the same as we do in england.

Phew!! I knew i was worrying about nothing.

Seriously, what is it your afraid of ?

I can't think of a better place to voice your travel fears. If it's encouragement you're looking for....well..you came to the right place as well.
Most of us here are "half-nuts" anyway! You would realize that if you read some of the stories on here.
Let's address what's making you nervous.
Lack of support from friends?
Lack of funds?
Leaving things behind?

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Rule#2 "Never go ANYWHERE that YOU are considered a source of FOOD!

I cant put my finger on what it is exactly, it may just be not really knowing what to expect.

I know this is the place for encouragement i have spent endless days reading stories and researching anything and everything in envy. I think it may be the excitement that i will finally be going away after all this time dreaming off it. Then maby have a story of my own to share with the rest of the 'nuts' on here!

One thing is my lack of language skills when being abroad making it a bit lonesome, easy to overcome?

I wouldnt worry about language skills, a phrase book works wonders. Neither of us know much beyond school German and Doric and its nearly a lifetime since we left school and we get by with little or no major problems, we did once however end up with 3 pizzas instead of 1 but hey ho they were nice.

Remember your log in info for this site and if in trouble just get to the nearest internet cafe or activate the internet on your mobile phone and get help from the community on here.

Above all else enjoy the trip, I am just so jealous you have a month to travel and leaving Scotland and the midgie behind. enjoy

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Only dead fish go with the flow

The first time I came off the ferry to France my legs were shaking.
Apprehension has happened, I'm sure, to all of us at one time or another.
It's normal and natural. We all started somewhere.

You can never predict what will happen, just be flexible and above all do not attempt to run to a tight schedule. Usually I have hopes of a particular destination but even that is not rigid.

as to language skills. take pencil and notebook for writing and drawing. I got on fine in Germany and apart from good morning and thank you in German I don't speak a word of any foreign language except for a smattering of French. In the Czech republic I bartered for a fair exchange rate ( I did not know they were out of the euro zone ) to get a meal one wet Sunday evening. I drew a diagram to show a Polish peasant woman the 'Flytrap' as I could not find it. It was where I thought it was but hidden up a bank behind trees.

Never ride outside your comfort zone, be it weather, time or speed. and always ride defensively. That way you will enjoy your ride.

Hi Martin what you refer to is also called the what if syndrome,and let me tell you its perfectly natural,infact if you never had any apprehensions i would be worried.When i started my 32,000 mile trip back in 2009 it took around seven days to go away,after that the sense of freedom is overwelming,so make your plans and go for it, you will never look back. Trooper

Martin,

You've really gotten some great advice and offered some truly valid perspectives already from other HUBB members, so I'm not sure what I can offer, but I do have some experience in dealing with people and their fears.

For 15 years I was a flight instructor and had to deal with people who were anxious, nervous or downright scared on a daily basis. Some were real basket cases. Ultimately, however, I think my students found it helpful to know that fear was absolutely part of the process, is important to the process and is a somewhat desirable condition early on. There is only one thing that makes it disappear in time and that is experience, and only one way to get experience...GO DO IT!

In my career, I probably kicked over 200 students out of the nest and sent them on their first solo flight. Everyone of them was scared. My job, however, was to judge the level of that fear and to determine how they would be able to manage it should something unforeseen happen. It was always a high stress time... for BOTH of us. But you know... they all rose to the occasion and often told me that it was one of the greatest experiences they ever had in life. They just managed their fear and DID IT.

I hear from you the same kind of self-questioning that each of my students underwent. I never sent them solo until I felt that they themselves, whether they verbalized it or not, had already decided to do it. It sounds to me like you're ready to do this. Boot... OK Martin, you're outta here.

My advice? Fly within your limits and have a great time. As you gain more travel experience your limits will grow and you will suddenly realize that the fear has faded, replaced only by true joy. You'll come to see that your "first solo" was one of the greatest moments of your life.

Enjoy your fears. They will soon fade and you might even wind up missing the feeling at times.

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Samuel Longiaru
Kamloops, BC Canada
1975 BMW R60/6
http://thetwilightproject.net

As I read the thread you created tears actually came to my eyes.

As did several death defying experiences I have had.

Thank you so much for being so forthcoming - you have elicited excellent

advice from us of the HUBB. I really like what the flight instructor offered.

Here is my humble say.

After more than 50 years of motorcycling, I still feel fear.

Fear is one of my friends.

Today, my fear manifests itself as a slight uneasy feeling that causes me to

be more aware of what might be around that next curve or over that next

hill. Fear rides with me, as a silent partner, until there is actual danger afoot.

Then, my fear like some erstwhile Paul Revere alerts me that I might want to

slow down,look around and do a watch, wallet and testicle check.

For me fear is my intuition that keeps me safe.

xfiltrat ride hard, ride free

courage here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GiKA...eature=related

and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcDCv...eature=related

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com
Discover how to legally Buy, Tour and Sell a motorcycle in Argentina