JohnP Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Since the sixties I have travelled though Western Europe with family and or friends with either tent, caravan and for the past nine years in a motorhome. For the last few years I have run rallies in France. This year however I am having to travel and holiday alone. I am a bit apprehensive about this. Have any of you done this (I think Patricia may but I could be wrong) and what advice would you give for someone in this situation. I am not looking for company, only advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 When my first wife died I travelled alone both by air to Spain and by motorhome to France and to the wilds of the Scottish Isles and I found the isolation of being truly alone as in the Outer Hebrides much more to my taste than being alone in a crowded location - but that's just me. After a year or so of nobody to share those special moments - like coming round a bend and seeing an eagle, or a pine marten, or a fabulous view - I began to feel different and began to feel that for me at least sharing was probably better on balance than being alone. And so it has proved to be. In the UK I did have my dog for company and maybe she kept me sane - she certainly helped for sure, but being alone is an attitude of mind and you have to do it to discover how you like it. There are also security issues to consider and extra door and window locks, enhanced alarm maybe, can help to give peace of mind when you leave the van even for a simple supermarket shop? Awareness of where not to park up also comes into it as when you have company one person can always remain with the vehicle if you need to stop but have doubts. I found a sat nav invaluable as it can be difficult piloting a motorhome in strange towns and cities whilst driving and there is no time to look at a map as well as drive. Distraction crimes also need thinking about like keeping the doors locked at all times and not leaving valuables in sight on the front seats or dashboard etc. and not stopping when someone passes and points at your wheels. I enjoyed a year alone but maybe that had more to do with my mental state and grief at the time than anything else and looking back I do think that had I continued alone I would have gone through the wanting company period and settled down as a committed lone traveller - possibly. Good luck John - it's a steep learning process than can at times be very rewarding and at other times quite depressing and some of us take to it and some don't. It's always dangerous to generalise, but from the people that I met and chatted to it does seem that the ladies amongst us seemed rather better at adapting to long term lone travel than us guys - but on the other hand I didn't meet those who don't travel alone to ask why not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francisgraham Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I travel alone quite often and I can give you some practical advice. I soon learned that one of the biggest problems when driving on the Continent is turning right where the road you are joining is at an acute angle. You simply can't see what is coming on your left. I try to mitigate this by swinging the 'van slightly left, so that when I'm on the stop-line I am parked at right angles to the road that I'm joining. This allows me to see what is coming from my left. I hope that I'm explaining this properly!The first time I came across this problem I just trundled up to the main road and found that I couldn't see a thing on my left. I took a chance and started to inch out, only to have a huge lorry blast his horn at me and miss me by inches. Never again!I'm assuming of course that you've a right-hand-drive vehicle, otherwise I've just wasted our time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 JohnP - 2012-04-20 9:36 AM Since the sixties I have travelled though Western Europe with family and or friends with either tent, caravan and for the past nine years in a motorhome. For the last few years I have run rallies in France. This year however I am having to travel and holiday alone. I am a bit apprehensive about this. Have any of you done this (I think Patricia may but I could be wrong) and what advice would you give for someone in this situation. I am not looking for company, only advice. Hi John I think you would get more replies in the main forum.. Patricia travels with her dog, and has a house in France I am sure if you move the post, She would see it, and would give you some very sound advice, There are one or two others who also travel alone. PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnP Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 Thank you to those who have replied. On PJays advice I will place the request in the motorhome section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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