Thing is, it sounds easy, but I was TERRIFIED. Driving alone 180 miles and camping somewhere? After a hard emotional week? Really?
I haven’t done anything of the sort for over 2 years, and I was worried about all sorts. Who would help me pitch the tent? Who would help me cook? What if the car broke down? What if I got lost? And so on. I am a natural born worrier. (I wish that spelt warrior! I’m working on it
)
These photos were taken with my HTC Sense phone camera.
Once I'd pitched my tent, I sat down with my take away wood fired pizza (nom!) outside the tent and wrote in my journal. It felt good to be outside, and savour the opportunity for alone time.
What I learnt:
1. Listening to my worries, and knowing my little quirks helped me deal with the scariness of the trip better. I worried about the route, having adequate directions, getting lost and what to do when I got there. Knowing my worries meant that:
- I intentionally chose a campsite close to a village that I know. I researched it on the website, and was glad to know they have wardens there.
- I planned a stop in the village to get my bearings, i.e. set the SatNav (GPS) to take me there, and not direct to the campsite.
- In addition to having a SatNav, I wrote down all addresses, post codes, and figured out directions on Google Maps. I “drove” down the winding country lane in Street View to find the entrance to the campsite. I am a visual learner, so I recognise landmarks easily.
- I thought through all eventualities before I left. If I got lost, or the SatNav broke, I had my phone with internet capability and a paper map in the car should all else fail. If I broke down, I would call up the breakdown assistance and pay them directly (I don’t have breakdown cover).
- I checked the oil levels in my car, and was reassured that it had recently passed it’s annual MOT (safety test).
2. Decisions based on fear don’t lead to much growth. Had I decided against going alone, I would not have experienced the immense benefits of travelling solo, and would have delayed learning that I CAN DO IT.
3. Going alone helped me regain confidence in my ability to do something difficult that I’d set my mind to. I tapped into my inner strength and that felt empowering.
4. Too much choice is a bad thing. We know that already from the paradox of choice, but I now have a concrete example. It took me a while to decide where to pitch my tent. And I felt pretty self-conscious wandering around the campsite aimlessly.
5. It’s good to start small. I started with a short weekend trip where I knew I’d be seeing my best friend and lots of other people at the wedding. Maybe next time I can go alone for a full weekend, with just me, my camera, journal and thoughts.
Going away alone gave me some much needed time to reflect, gather my thoughts, and write in my journal. I was pretty busy from Saturday morning until I left on Sunday, but even the car journey was therapeutic – singing (loudly) to myself to my favourite music.
Over to you:
Do you travel alone? What have you learnt? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
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I'm really pleased to read and see that you made it, in spite of all the common anxieties that were plaguing your mind. In my opinion; a warrior isn't someone who's slayed the dragon - they're the one who battles on in the face of adversity. ;-) It sounds like it would've been too easy to find an 'excuse' not to go.
ReplyDeleteYour post has done a lot to ease my own concerns over camping... I thought that only caravans were allowed designated sites and I assumed you'd literally 'have' to camp out, well, anywhere! But I guess I have a kind of 'Hollywood View' of many things... :-P
YES, I do exactly the same thing in Google Street View!! Even when I'm planning a walk somewhere; I 'walk' from the car park in search of that first stile or gate! :-D I used to struggle before it was released (have you ever found yourself on it?). Even with a Google Maps, print-out, I'd mis-read junctions and turnings (as I sometimes do on foot, referencing from an OS map...).
Excellent post and well done, Linda!! Do you think you'll carry many of these anxieties with you the next time?
Thank you Olly.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am a warrior after all. In fact, we all are. For facing our fears and anxieties and working with them. For getting up again and again if we are struck down.
I was so close to demanding company on the trip, but we decided it was for the best that I went alone. I'm so glad I did, because I learnt so much, and got some much needed space.
Ah, I see. This was a tent only site, and there are many of those. I stayed at North Lees campsite, you'll find it via Google, it was lovely. There are also sites with space for caravans and tents, and then caravan-only parks! I've never camped "wild", preferring the access to a toilet and running water!
I've never found myself on Google Street view, but never thought to look. I've seen the Google car drive past a couple of times, years ago. Maybe I am on there somewhere! Have you found yourself on it?
It's an incredibly useful tool, especially if you like to know where you're going, and what landmarks to look out for.
Thank you again. I carry many anxieties, but they will get easier to manage, once I know how to handle them. I find "listening" to them helps, because it allows me to reduce the feelings a little, and I think that's fine. It's part of who I am right now, and I'm ok with having to plan out my trips in detail. Also, a successful trip gives me good evidence that I CAN work with them.
Again, very well done to you! :-)
ReplyDeleteToilets and running water on a camp site? See, that's also news to me. Even though when I stayed in my granddad's caravan as a kid, we had access to those same facilities (not that I liked using the shower much).
If you saw the car then there's probably a good chance that they have you somewhere, albeit with a blurry face. I WAS on there... They updated the college area a few years ago after the building work was finished. But that's now been replaced by more recent images of Ashley Down Road that even I don't recognise.
My sister's still out walking the dog near home so they haven't yet updated everything! :-D But I did hear once that they will keep it refreshed every few years, which sounds like a full-time job for someone. It's a shame that some view it as a form of 'intrusion'.
Yep, listening does help and, with practice, I've found that you learn to simply listen to them, instead of allowing them to dictate and order. I might send you an e-mail because I've had an amazing day today. :-)
My past two big trips I have travelled alone. I only booked accommodation for the first few nights, and then did the accommodation bookings as I went along. My fear of being locked into a plan was greater than my fear of the unknown. Having gone around the world this way I now realise it can get exhausting making decisions on the road, but its a great way to experience stepping out into the unknown and trusting yourself. I think the method you choose has a lot to do with what you want to learn and experience on the trip; travel is a great teacher. Maybe next time I will do something more structured so that I can relax and enjoy the places I am taken too. I think you learn more being independent, but may be able to see more sights in a structured tour.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, thanks for reading!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think solo travel has a lot to teach us about independence and resourcefulness. That we will be ok. Good for you going around the world, I'm not quite ready for that yet hehe, but building up through small weekend trips.
For this trip, I preferred to have a concrete plan to minimise the anxiety associated with travelling alone. I think I would do that again, as it helped to calm me, knowing what I was doing next.
Sounds like you learnt a lot travelling alone, thanks for sharing your story with me.