The truth about riding solo

[TeeJay]

Some of us are just built to ride solo.
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=11547.msg167277#msg167277

Thanks tok-tokkie......this helps a lot!

[DirtyHarry]

Some of us are just built to ride solo.
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=11547.msg167277#msg167277

Wow Tok-Tokkie I also didn't know about the Asperger Syndrome.
How can you handle the Wilddog forum with all the ongoing chit chat?

[Dux]

For me personally it is the perfect way to clear the grey matter , normally day rides but I have done solo weekend rides , if I do ride with a group I tend to gravitate towards the smaller groups of about 3 to 4 riders . At the end of the day it is different strokes for different folks I suppose .

[DirtyHarry]

Hi DirtyHarry
I remember the circumstances that lead to your Namibia ride and enjoyed your RR trials and tribulations. This was most probably the best thing you could have done to give yourself a break.
I bought my bike in Pretoria in Jan 11 and drove 1700km down to Cape Town over 3 days - solo. It was an enjoyable ride through Potchefstroom, Groot Gat and Carnarvon. The ride itself was great, but I did miss company during the stops. You stop at a grubby Spar in Bloemhof and have 10 PDIs approaching you, wanting to watch your bike / food / money for booze / steal your things. You don't have anyone else to talk to, so you fight them off and then worry about your things whilst buying lunch. I eventually rode to the bridge over the river outside the dorp to enjoy lunch.
Fortunately the company of nice people at night stopovers broke the monotony - especially sleeping over at friends on a farm in the Carnarvon district.
It is a mixed affair, but if you have the company of someone you get on with, riding with someone is better - for me. Motivating yourself to go on a ride is sometimes an effort, but if you can make an occasion of it by having someone to join you the ride becomes an event
My 2c...

Yeah Jacobsroodt, we all seem to be different.
I might be lucky. I can enjoy both. I can talk kak the whole evening with other people but I also can be on my own without the feeling of being lonely or bored.
Funny enough there was not one single situation during the 16 days of my solo trip that I thought I could not handle myself. From that perspective I did not miss company at all.
The only time when I hate to be on my own is when I have dinner in a restaurant. I have only done that once in Swakop, so it was fine.
I could have done the trip with my wife or with some mates and it would have been epic in a very different way.
I am very glad that I have tried to ride solo and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Riding solo is something special.

[cloudgazer]

I just started re-reading Dirty Harry's RR.
Damn - so inspirational.

I'm torn between doing Namibia or Zimbabwe next year.

[Vis Arend]

Do Nam, here is some mouthwatering foto's.

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=69245.0

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

I like rideing solo.
I just feel more alive alert and stop more for photo's and people.
And the biggest advantage is not having to plan ahead. Just do what you want to without having to consult a group.

[DirtyHarry]

I just started re-reading Dirty Harry's RR.
Damn - so inspirational.

I'm torn between doing Namibia or Zimbabwe next year.

Thanks CG.
You know where to go 
Nothing beats a solo ride in Namibia.

[Jacobsroodt]

The only time when I hate to be on my own is when I have dinner in a restaurant. I have only done that once in Swakop, so it was fine.

[/quote]

Tip: If you want to attract attention in a restaurant or pub, take along a map of the area you are travelling through and pore over it intensely. Someone WILL come over and start chatting. I have tried it a few times - it works well. In fact I have met some very interesting people by doing this. Most recently, in the Lighthouse Restaurant in Swakopmund the owner of a Suzuki dealership in Johannesburg walked over and started chatting. It was great

[cloudgazer]

The only time when I hate to be on my own is when I have dinner in a restaurant. I have only done that once in Swakop, so it was fine.

Tip: If you want to attract attention in a restaurant or pub, take along a map of the area you are travelling through and pore over it intensely. Someone WILL come over and start chatting. I have tried it a few times - it works well. In fact I have met some very interesting people by doing this. Most recently, in the Lighthouse Restaurant in Swakopmund the owner of a Suzuki dealership in Johannesburg walked over and started chatting. It was great
[/quote]

yup that happened to me.
Was in a pub in himeville looking at my routes through Lesotho. A group of riders came over we started chatting - and I ended up riding with them for 2 days.

[Malibu]

As a girl rider, there is a lot to fight through to ride solo... I remember one year D and I (2 girls) were on the road to the Waterberg for a ride, we had a vehicle with trailer pushed onto us, and essentially were told that it was unfair to the men as they would worry if we ride for that distance as girls... 

Mark would seriously frown if I left him behind, and I have to admit that I LOVE riding with him, he is my partner in so many ways and riding together is just the easiest thing ever.  (I'm the easy one.) 

Not that it is important, I think when riding with the perfect riding buddy the ride is still perfect. 

[Gérrard]

You're very right. Although Lyn rides pillion, we ride in solitude and are completely at ease with one another. Untill now I've refused to get head phones as I don't want to be disturbed while lost in thought.

[Malibu]

Head phones, no, they ruin everything! 

I actually like my own company! 

[Geriatrix]

I actually like my own company!  

You have good taste.

BTW, one of the big attributes of Asperger Syndrome is that the people concerned tend to have a very high intelligence.

[Malibu]

I actually like my own company! 

You have good taste.

Gee Thanks!