Aren't you afraid?

What happens if your van breaks down? Have you ever done this before?… Are you taking a pistol? Bear spray? Do you have a satellite phone? You can always stay in a motel if you're scared. Best to stick to the major roads and highways. What if you get lost? Do you know what you're doing? Women really shouldn't travel alone. Do you know how to build a campfire? Have you checked the air in your tires? There's a lot of road construction in Montana in the summer - what if you hit a Detour?

Just a slew of the thoughts that ran through my head before my first solo road trip in Gypsy.

Some of you may know this, but many of you don't. I've recently moved through a challenging divorce after a 32-year relationship. Something I wouldn't wish on anyone. In the spirit of the new chapter I find myself in, I bought a camper van! I named her Gypsy (because she’s my Freedom Van). And it was finally time we hit the road. 🛤

In the face of fear, I consulted with a trusted friend who checked under Gypsy’s hood and crawled underneath her, giving her a good once-over. Everything checked out fine. He also suggested several back road options and various places with good dispersed camping. I mapped out my route. I planned my meals. I filled my fridge and my gas tank. And I tried out my whole setup before I left, spending a night with Milo in Gypsy, parked in front of my house - she is so cozy, I slept like a wee babe. I made sure my family and close friends knew where I was headed and the way I was traveling, more or less.

And guess, what. It was awesome! It was just me, Milo, and the open road. And no, I wasn't afraid - quite the opposite really. I felt liberated, free, alive.

The thing is, as much as you plan and prepare, you can't know exactly how things are going to roll on the road. Even good road trips have bad days, and unplanned Detours are always a possibility. As a solo woman traveler, I've learned to be better prepared, to trust my intuition around sketchy people and places, and have become more confident in navigating the old-fashioned way with maps and recommendations from family and friends. Solo travel still feels pretty fresh to me, but the more I venture out on my own, the greater ease I feel.