I agree! I've gotten to know Liz over the years via social media and phone conversations, and we finally met last year and became fast friends. We found that we shared many of the same experiences as motorcycle travelers timidly starting out, working through our fears and doing that thing we really wanted to do – get on a motorcycle and explore. If you are, similarly, trying to figure out whether you're brave enough to work through the fears that have stopped you – well, we're here to gently push you toward your dream. If you've done it, you'll recognize yourself in these 7 Steps for Adventure Travel, so wonderfully illustrated in her book, which is discounted for this tour – 25% of signed books from her website and reduced ebook price to $6.99 for the tour from Amazon and other ebook retailers.
Now… here's Liz's 7 steps for getting past fear and hitting the road.
Hitting the Road: 7 Steps for Adventure Travel
Excitement tinged with fear framed where I stood looking forward on August 1, 2003. Forty-nine, single, healthy, unbound by work commitments, I was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime: a two-month solo motorcycle odyssey across North America.
Recognizing I had migrated into roles which no longer fit me, I had left a thirty-year relationship and a successful corporate career in the preceding eight months. I was footloose and fancy free.
I had a new bike, been riding for more than thirty years and was confident in my skills. The opportunities ahead of me were endless.
So why the fear?
That little self inside of me was keenly aware that a tectonic shift was occurring. She was concerned for her survival, scared and throwing thoughts at me about things that could happen. She even questioned my judgment. The anxiety wasn’t based on motorcycling at all.
Not all adventures are on this scale. Some are smaller, some are grander. In all cases, following these simple steps opens the door to adventure.
1. Follow your heart. When your heart speaks, listen. It’s telling you something for a reason. Ignoring it or turning back only creates anxiety. You will hear from naysayers. Remember, they are projecting their own fears on you.
Walls designed to protect me had built the perfect marriage and the secure career. In fact, they had constrained me. My fear wasn’t about going for a ride; it was about leaving an illusion of security.
2. Realistically assess the situation. Sit back and think about the reality of the situation.
While I had initial concerns about physically managing the trip, I knew I could ride a motorcycle, read a map, had good gear for various weather conditions, had a cell phone, was resourceful, was not on a set schedule, had sufficient financial resources and wasn’t traveling to foreign countries where I couldn’t read the road signs or ask for directions. Besides, I could always turn around and go home.
I even had an offer that to pick me and my bike up if it became too much. That was out of the question!
3. Prepare. Plan, but avoid overdoing it. Leave room for those magical, serendipitous experiences.
Know a few basic proactive steps – like how to check tire pressure, oil levels and adjust your chain. Consider what maintenance you’ll need, when you’re likely to need it and where you can get it. Depending on the length of your trip and travel conditions you may need things like oil changes or new tires.
I knew I had two months and had some places I wanted to see: my mother’s birthplace in northern Saskatchewan, the small Alberta town where my father grew up, the Badlands, friends in San Francisco and the Grand Canyon. I connected the dots and had a general outline.
4. Expect amazing people and experiences. These are the treasures adventures are made of and show up with perfect timing.
I met Verna over breakfast on Day Four. Seventy-five years old, she’d been camping solo across Canada every year for the past ten since her divorce. Although I was beginning to catch my stride, her joie de vivre left an indelible impression.
5. Go. Perhaps “Let Go” is more accurate. This is the hardest step. All you need to do is take one step at a time.
Even though I was excited and looking forward to the adventure, I had to give myself a nudge to move off. I got up each day and went for a ride. The next thing I knew, I was at the Pacific Ocean.
Even now, before an extended trip, there’s last minute resistance I have to get past. I know that as soon as I start up my motorcycle, the Universe is in order and I’m ready.
6. Enjoy. Enjoy the gifts of each moment.
When you catch yourself worrying about the “what-if’s”, come back to what is. Most of the things we worry about don’t materialize and while our thoughts have taken us into an unlikely future, we’ve missed the beauty of the present.
Riding through the Rocky Mountains, a mountain stream carrying ash and pine cones appeared alongside the road, in an area ravaged by forest fires. In the middle of blackness and destruction, water rushing over the rocks was already carrying the seeds of new life with it. What a poignant message!
7. Repeat. You will have such an amazing time, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.
You discover a lot about your strengths and shadows on such adventures. Nothing you do is ever wasted time. Experiences become mulch in which the seeds of new growth germinate.
Little did I know it was the beginning of a whole new life. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade that experience or the intervening years for anything.
Thank you, Liz! You can find out more about Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment: Fifty Inspirational Stories of Adventure and Self-Discovery. and where to buy it on her website, and hey, check out this great morning show interview with Liz on Global Toronto. You can also follow the rest of her book tour – I will!
WIN A FREE EBOOK!
Just post a pertinent comment on this blog post between now and 3:00 pm EST Friday May 11, 2012, and Liz will draw randomly from those who post a comment. Do remember that the comments will have to be pertinent the theme of the post – perhaps offering your own story of getting past fear.
A Single Woman’s Motorcycle Tour of Minnesota Back Roads
by Gail Zanette
I had the pleasure of travelling alone, through the wonderful state of Minnesota for 9 days this past August on my Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. I truly didn’t think that I would enjoy the experience as much as I did. My concern was that this trip would be lonely, boring or downright dangerous. That lasted about 5 minutes. There was just too much to see and experience.
First, I used exploreminnesota.com as a resource. They kindly sent a nice information package including maps, brochures and particularly a booklet on Minnesota Scenic Byways. I plotted out all the byways on my map and headed out on the road.
I started out from Thunder Bay, ON, Canada on a bright sunny morning and headed towards Ely Minnesota north of Little Grand Marais. The north shore of Lake Superior is a site to behold with it’s dramatic rocky shoreline and blue waterscapes. Highway #2 north, is a beautiful quiet windy bike road through dark looming forests. The little town of Ely Minnesota was hosting the Boundary Waters Blues Festival. I was treated to 2 days of great music, food and friendly folks. The people at the Adventure Inn and Ely Chamber of Commerce where so helpful in finding accommodations on a totally booked weekend.
A wonderful couple from The House of Balls, an art studio in Minneapolis, brought their colourful truck with a fiberglass cartoon character sprawled across the roof, golf balls everywhere and dolls creating beautiful flower-like designs. Recently having been at the Burning Man Festival in California, they also had a fur covered bicycle with a great stainless steel face that blew fire. You had to see it. I guess some people have too much time, but so much fun.
There was a moment starting out the next day, when I realized I had no idea where I was going, just south west. My initial hesitation led to discovering all the Public Water Access signs along the way. There I would find a small park which usually had a boat launch, picnic table and outhouse. They were a pleasant little oasis during the day…read some, walk a bit, take pictures and then hit the road. Here is where I learned to walk-a-jog-a-jig…almost sounds native – combo of walking, joggin and jigging (probably should be jiggling)
Ely, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Brainerd, Bermiji and International Falls where the main cities I explored. Between them, my path led down zig zaggy circles around Ille Lac Lake, Leech Lake, other beautiful lakes and byways. It was not about distance, it was about scenery and there was plenty of that. I cruised down any interesting road that tweaked my curiosity.
Around four in the afternoon, I would start looking for places to spend the evening. Women where the single most helpful group. I stopped in a gift store in Deer Lake, north of Grand Rapids. The pleasant lady who owned it was quite helpful when I asked if she knew a good cheap, clean place to stay. Two other woman in the shop chimed in, culminating with one lady saying ” Go to the Pine Grove Hotel, I work there, tell them Sue sent you” and I found exactly what I was looking for.
On a beautiful sunny morning, I was riding down the Great River Road marvelling at the Mississippi River when a road construction sign loomed ahead. How bad could it be? I found myself in the midst of burning slash piles the size of my house, dodging tractor dirt clumps the size of footballs, finally to arrive at a detour sign. How bad could it be? The detour was no better than some gravel driveways I know . I travelled through some of the most scenic farm land of beautiful lush crops. I had no idea where I was but calmly thought – every road ends somewhere. Ahead, I saw a for rent sign in front of this funky trailer on a beautiful treed lot. I thought,” I could live there”. A little further on, there was a country intersection with a gas station and small Cafe. After re-fueling, I had a great lunch observing the staff in the restaurant who where all joking and generally having lots of fun with each other. As I was sitting there, out came the cook with a help wanted sign and placed it nimbly in the front window. I thought, “I could do this”, I could run away, live in the little trailer, work with this fun group of folks, leave my world as I know it. The fantasy lasted only as long as it took for reality to kick in, but it was a great fantasy while it was happening…I saw myself there.
Helmet Howling
When a person sings in a full face helmet, the acoustics are fantastic…I mean, you sound really good. Plus wearing a full face helmet hides your singing lips from on-coming traffic allowing you to sing your heart out where ever and when ever. I found if there was any rare imperfections in the road surface, I could develop a vibrato to build my songs around. Song writing has never been a skill of mine, but it was fun to try and put words to different musical styles, from blues to reggae. Wish I could have recorded some of it. I was good.
Also, I learned that when you burp in a full face helmet, it makes a clang kind of sound like a cow bell…go figure.
Motorcycle Exercises
During a long ride, you can tense up those core muscles through your mid section, squeeze the handlebars for an arm workout, or squeeze the bike for a leg workout. Between singing and exercising, you will never be bored and you’ll keep up your cougar-like physique.
In general, freedom was truly making your own decisions at your own rhythm. Who would not like dinner and a martini out every night, only to return to your nice snugly hotel room and read yourself to sleep. I spent days wandering through great second hand shops in Bermiji. I had one empty saddle bag full of treasures when I rode into town.
Don’t get me wrong, to share an experience like mine would behave been great, but if that’s not happening, and you enjoy your own company, the freedom of the road is so worth every second. After nine days and 2,735 kilometers, I could have just kept on going.
So thanks Minnesota for treating me so kindly. Thanks to the kind fellow up at Effie that stopped and asked if I was lost.”I got a big room and an air mattress” he said. That made me smile.
Thoroughly enjoyed this article. My life was changed by a ride like you describe here. I particularly like #5 “…soon as I start up my motorcycle, the Universe is in order and I’m ready”. Nice article.
I loved the stories! I respect these women on a whole different level to explore the roads on their own. I especially love the “what if”, we to many times are held back because of it and then realize it easily was no big deal. I recently wrote an article
Liz put on her site about over coming fear. I realized once my fear wad no longer a factor I have become much more fluid in being in control of my bike.
By the way, Happy Birthday Liz!
Great post! I love that these ideas can be applied to moving forward on ANY adventure in your life — fear is the great “inter-fear-ence” in the best-laid plans!
Sooo cool that you guys were digital-b4-real-life friends. That’s happening to me all the time these days and is one of the most fantastic things about the internet — meeting people I never would have met otherwise. Like you, Carla! 😉
“leaving an illusion of security” — boy, do I relate to that one! Thanks for sharing your story, Liz, and good luck with the book tour!
Loved this article and I look forward to more on Liz’s virtual book tour. My plan is to ride across the US in May or June 2017. That gives me 5 years to gather all the info. and tips that I can and save enough cash and vacation time from work. It is good to hear that others had fears too before they made the leap but that the leap was worth it.
Love this post.
Sometimes the simple and true things in life are so easily overlooked while we needlessly struggle to find much more complicated answers.
Thanks for sharing your inspiring words for motorcycling and life.
seems like ecery time you’re down the road to up comes with that first step. Just like you said make a plan, expect some surprises the go do it. That’s life. What a trip.
thanks for this.
I took my first solo ride (at age 55) last summer after putting on 40,000 miles on trips with hubby. I am looking forward to reading this book for ideas. My trip only fueled the desire to remain on the road.
Thanks Donna. All we need to do is have the courage to take one step. It’s amazing how much difference that one step can make. You have walked these steps in your journey.
Liz
Thank you. Your words are so wise. We’ve come to expect that everything needs to be complicated and it need not be so. It also doesn’t need to be grandiose.
It’s all very personal.
Liz
Great plan Judy. Planning and practicing is fun too! Cash and time are important. We all have fears – even after many years of riding. The important thing is to not let them take over.
If you haven’t yet read Carla’s book American Borders, it’s great preparation for your trip.
Liz
Thanks Fiona. If only we could always remember that what seems like security is an illusion. Very easy to get caught up and forget. Nothing like a motorcycle ride to put things back in perspective!
I love “inter-fear-ence”! So true!
Very cool how people are connecting. Sense of community is growing while the world is shrinking.
I’m very grateful to have met Carla – virtually and in real life!
Liz
Thanks Cheryl. : )
You also talk in your story about how getting over your fear of being vertically challenged,influenced other areas of your life. Thanks for sharing it!
Liz
Thanks Bud. It’s true. Even now after all these years of riding and knowing that I’m going to have a wonderful experience, I still encounter internal resistance. But I know that if I can just get past it and get to the starter – lol, all is well.
Liz
What a wonderful story Gail. I found Ely a couple years ago and loved it too!
You’ve described so well the exhilaration and serendipity of solo travel. It’s so enriching and must be experienced to understand.
I’ve felt the same way about it being so special that I want to share it with someone. But then, it wouldn’t be the same experience. : )
Kudos to you for doing it!
Liz
As a brand new rider myself, I related with many points in the above article, especially the part about not overthinking things. I find that even at this new point in my riding ‘career’, I make more out of an outing than actually is, and while I never sacrifice safety or being aware of my surroundings, when I let go a bit, I find that I’m able to thoroughly enjoy the ride.
Thanks for a great article, and I hope to do some long journeys someday, too!
I love this book, meeting Liz and riding on one of her tours changed my life in 2005. Now I think nothing of getting on my bike and just going somewhere, anywhere. Sometimes I ride solo and sometimes with my partner but the adventure is always great. Love long distance riding and stopping for the unexpected surprises. Thank you Liz
Practice and preparation is key for any adventure. Before I did a multi-day solo bikepack (minimalist mountain biking)on the Arizona Trail, I practiced riding at night in the foothill trails and jeep roads of nearby mountains. I rode with lights, practiced selecting a good spot, setting up my tarp + sleeping pad + bag at night, and working through fear of possible “night travelers” from the Mexican border.
It worked! On the multi-day trip, I was tired but slept well, alone in the desert.
I enjoyed the first stop on the tour. I am beginning to see the connection between life and motorcycle riding. As I get back into riding this spring – my first spring as I got my license and bike last August – my confidence is coming up and I’m beginning to relax and really enjoy the ride. Hearing about our first stop speaker’s reservations, fears and anxieties really resonates. Sometimes it just means so much to know that others share your emotions too and we can each move forward through those emotions.
Thanks Lisa. It’s easy to overthink – and before we know it, we’re worrying about things that will likely never happen, and missing out on the ride. You’ve got the right approach. Trust your skills and your intuition and enjoy the ride!
Liz
You are so welcome Jean. What a difference one ride can make. I remember that as particularly courageous of you – undertaking a trip longer than either of you had ever done. And it was quite hot. So pleased to see how you’ve taken to it and what it’s meant to you.
What an experience that must have been! Thank you for sharing it. Very brave. Kudos to you.
Liz
Thanks Kelly. I’m glad that post was meaningful to you. That speaker was me and the reservations I was talking about was after 30 years of riding! Rest assured that your feelings are normal and the best way to keep your confidence up is to get out there and ride!
Here’s to a great riding season!!
Liz
Good on you Annette!!! My educated guess though is that your desire to get out on the road is only going to strengthen.
Have a great season!
Liz
Love your words. The Road to up comes with the first step. Hard to do when you’re down but it’s the only way out. Thank you for sharing that.
Liz
Enjoy! Liz and Carla, that sums up in one word how I feel reading all these posts by women who are taking to the road.
I’m looking forward to the tour’s next stops – and honored to be part of it!
Diana Bletter
Author of the forthcoming memoir, The Mom Who Took Off on Her Motorcycle.
Diana,
Thank you. It’s great to share the Road – and the tour – with you!
Enjoy is a good word. There’s such good energy from these women and their posts!
Best,
Liz
Congratulations to Writer Vixen who has won a Kindle version of Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment. Her comment on the Motorcycle Misadventures blog post by Liz Jansen Hitting the Road: 7 Steps to Adventure Travel was randomly drawn from all the respondents. How very true – “these ideas can be applied to moving forward on ANY adventure.” Wishing you all the best on your Road.
A Big Thank you to Carla for being such a welcoming, engaging host! Much appreciate everything you’ve done.
Also happy/lucky to catch you between Adventures! Have fun at Overland Expo!
Liz