Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement. This has made me feel a lot more positive and you are right in saying if I don't do this I will always regret it. I will keep you posted.

MissAdventure,

I bet I speak for most of us gals when I say we're so often scared of the unknown! I know I am. I'm about to set off in the opposite direction, leaving Australia in just a few weeks. This isn't my first solo trip, and it's probably not even the longest, but I'm so very nervous about it

Things that have helped me in the past:

1) Be scared, be nervous, but if you want to do it, pack your bags and at least START the trip. If you're out there a few weeks and decide it sucks, you can always turn around. At least you will have tried.

2) Make connections with people before you go, and during. Hit up well known traveller's places to meet people on the road, sign up for Couchsurfing.com to meet locals as you go, and always remember there's a new friend waiting around the bend.

3) Read about other women doing it! Check out womenadvriders.com (I'm a contributing editor), which is full of neat women adventurers.

4) Make plans to meet people along the way. For example, if you leave in the next few weeks or months, we can meet somewhere in Turkey or Pakistan or India

5) Do something that MAKES you start, because that's the haaaardest part... Sell your car, rent your house out (though your man might not appreciate that one...), plan a bon voyage party- just something to keep you accountable and make you hit the road.

Well I don't know about you, but that helped me a bit, since I'm nervous of the ride, too!

Take care, and let us know how it goes.

Elisa
travelbugblues.com