Solo Soon

[patlaap]

Well, after 21 years this time, looks like I’ll be solo in a few months! Amicably tho.. bad thing is that we bought a new 2020 Newmar KSDP 40’ and sold our house. She said I could have the MH and Jeep cause I want to travel. Not looking for sympathy! I’m 72 and want to see as much of this beautiful country I can before the Lord takes me home.

[Capacitor]

With a 40’ and solo, you need a dog!

[laj]

let the good times roll

[patlaap]

Originally Posted by Capacitor

With a 40’ and solo, you need a dog!

She wants our dog, so guess I’ll have to get another.

[DebbieMH]

Take your time ... enjoy each day and safe travels.

[Ttinuse]

I am in a similar situation and about to go solo for a few months in a 40' Monaco with a Honda CRV toad. I've done a few short trips to get a feel for not having a co-pilot and I think the 5000+ miles I plan to go between now and November will go well. I'm 66 and it's good to know that with luck I could be doing this in my 70's.

See you on the Road!

Originally Posted by patlaap

Well, after 21 years this time, looks like I’ll be solo in a few months! Amicably tho.. bad thing is that we bought a new 2020 Newmar KSDP 40’ and sold our house. She said I could have the MH and Jeep cause I want to travel. Not looking for sympathy! I’m 72 and want to see as much of this beautiful country I can before the Lord takes me home.

[Bobby F]

Originally Posted by Ttinuse

I'm 66 and it's good to know that with luck I could be doing this in my 70's.

I'm still amazed by how many people I meet on the road who are in their 80's.

[DebbieMH]

Originally Posted by Ttinuse

I am in a similar situation and about to go solo for a few months in a 40' Monaco with a Honda CRV toad. I've done a few short trips to get a feel for not having a co-pilot and I think the 5000+ miles I plan to go between now and November will go well. I'm 66 and it's good to know that with luck I could be doing this in my 70's.

See you on the Road!

A bit of advice ... slow it down some. Traveling solo is different than when you had a co-pilot. You now don't have anyone to get you a drink, check navigation, find the next truck stop with the best prices, get up and check on something when it goes "bang", etc. I used to be fine traveling 400 miles a day when my husband was my co-pilot. Now, I have found I really like to keep my mileage more under 300 per day ... and two or three days travel need a couple days of down time. Anyway ... good luck on your 5,000 miles!

[Isaac-1]

I agree traveling solo is different, I do about 1/3 of my trips solo / partially solo with my wife flying one or both ways to the destination area as she still works full time. A few key differences, these may seem obvious:


No one to do the co-pilot stuff while driving, ie look up information, call ahead to make reservations for the night, read that sign on the side of the road, grab a drink or snack while you are driving... (when traveling solo, I always make sure I have some sort of snack and drink within reach of the drivers seat before I start driving).


You will have no spotter pulling in and out of rv sites, etc. so when in doubt get out and look.


I find when traveling solo that I have less pressure to stick to a certain schedule, this one is hard to put into words, and more of a mental state of mind without a second person there, this can lead to either a slower or faster pace of travel. It may mean, I feel like pulling off the road, and propping my feet up for an hour in a rest area, or it may mean I woke up early at the crack of dawn so might as well get an early start on a travel day. There is more to it than that, as it tends to also mean more flexible meal schedule, etc. also.


You are on your own to do everything, driving, making reservations, grocery shopping, cooking, destination planning, etc. with all the good and bad that goes with it both ways.


p.s. I also find it important to get out and talk to people when traveling solo, as I personally find myself going through some sort of mental stress after 3-4 days of not speaking to another person, or at least not speaking beyond minimal conversation (ordering fast food, paying for gas, etc.).

[Bobertgoes]

How is the trip so far?

I would have sold it and gotten something much smaller. Smaller fits in places easier. I am super small now, almost too small, but I can go almost anywhere the truck will go.

Yes, people ask me, when are you getting there, how far will you go today, what is your sched. I have no answer. I stop when I stop, stay where I stop, wake up when I wake up, drive when I drive, eat when Im hungry.
I haven driven 20 hour days, and 1 hour days. It all depends on where I am going, when I need to be there, or if I change my mind along the way.

[Ttinuse]

Thank you for the advice. It is trying to have to work out everything but as you suggest I have been keeping my distances low. For this trip I'm also reserving pull thru sites and rarely boondocking. I figure once I get the hang of it more I'll get off the beaten path but for now the ease of pull thru camping can't be beat.

So far the trip is going well with few mishaps. A lady merged into me on the interstate but luckily the damage was slight. My frig is acting up and only runs on 120V but with the short travel it isn't a huge problem.

I'm halfway (in miles, not days) through the trip and still having fun .

Originally Posted by DebbieMH

A bit of advice ... slow it down some. Traveling solo is different than when you had a co-pilot. You now don't have anyone to get you a drink, check navigation, find the next truck stop with the best prices, get up and check on something when it goes "bang", etc. I used to be fine traveling 400 miles a day when my husband was my co-pilot. Now, I have found I really like to keep my mileage more under 300 per day ... and two or three days travel need a couple days of down time. Anyway ... good luck on your 5,000 miles!

[Ttinuse]

So far the trip is going well. I had a few mishaps but nothing major (knock on wood).

I haven't considered downsizing, I really like the comfort of a big rig. Naturally if things weren't going so well I might reconsider.

I planned out this trip to make life easier for me. I typically travel less than 300 miles and have a campsite waiting for me. It keeps the stress factor low. I am about halfway through the trip, on my way toward Florida. I have reservations until Nov, not sure what I'll do after but I have a feeling I won't be able to find a place in Florida.

Originally Posted by Bobertgoes

How is the trip so far?

I would have sold it and gotten something much smaller. Smaller fits in places easier. I am super small now, almost too small, but I can go almost anywhere the truck will go.

Yes, people ask me, when are you getting there, how far will you go today, what is your sched. I have no answer. I stop when I stop, stay where I stop, wake up when I wake up, drive when I drive, eat when Im hungry.
I haven driven 20 hour days, and 1 hour days. It all depends on where I am going, when I need to be there, or if I change my mind along the way.