Same here. Always wanted to get out on the road but for years my kids said "Mum, you will get lonely and start complaining not having anyone to talk to" Now Ive decided as soon as I get my van I am off. I have so many friends who are travelling solo I wonder why I waited so long to get moving.

G'day Lilly, I am a solo traveller, although at the moment i am grounded while i wait for my new caravan due first week in dec. I am single and like my independence. But i am not lonely, having a lot of good friends in my village.

Hi Lilly ..

Yep .. there are lots of solo travellers out here. The lovely people on this site are but a drop in a large ocean. Until one is on the road, its difficult to appreciate the numbers ..
Many belong to different solo groups that may be attached to various van/motorhome clubs and others (like me) that simply enjoy being able to move freely and at my own pace.
I was quite surprised by the number of Solos on the road ..

Jon

(currently in Mareeba, Qld)

thank for your replys
  yes i was alway's concerend about traveling alone as a women... that was untill i did  a trip  a  couple of years ago on my own  and seen some many solo on road  men and women all lovely people all willing  to give a hand if need  be or some  information about things needed   so from then on i wasn't worry about been solo on road   ....   dosent matter if you free camp or caravan park it ot both  we have a lot of company on the road .... and i cant wait to do it full time  

Here's a few more lilly: http://www.pigswillfly.com.au/?p=1696. Obviously a lot wanting travelling companions

yes doug you could be right or maybe it just wanting to have chat to someone who thinks same as them  ..i know in my case my family is fine with my plans in fact grand kids are allready  booking school hoildays with nan where ever she may be ..but lot of family dont understand why we want to do this solo  and it lots of different reason  for lot of different people   i know it just worry that mum or dad cant look after them self  lol.. but we can and we will till we can not any longer

In answer to how many solo travellers are out there, dont forget the youngsters! We often choose the unpowered area in many caravan parks, and especially in Tas, found we were surrounded by young single travellers, many from overseas, with little tents on the back of their push-bikes or motor-bikes... some girls actually had a car (safer). I always enjoy chatting to them and hearing about their adventures when we met in the caravan park's camp kitchens.

I'm also a solo, still working, but looking for a van, for small trips in my holidays...get all school holidays off.

Thinking next year might be my last at work.

It's been a while since we camped or caravaned, but we aren't a we any more, he died almost3 years ago...so I'm a solo now.

It's a van because I'd be too concerned with towing and reversing...and I've driven vans at work so go with what's more familiar.

I have to say since I have been thinking of this there has been a frisson of excitement entered mylife when thinking of the future...something to look forward to...something to plan for...I can turn

left or right or drive straight ahead or stop at a patchwork shop and stay as long as I like...or 

I can park outside until they open the next day...or drive by and go for a coffee. I won't have to be anywhere...how much freedom is that. I can't imagine it really.

Cheers
Robyn

Well, it's exactly one year today since my retirement. The time has flown (and so have I, on a couple of good overseas trips). Got a few jobs to do around the house, sort out some health issues (prostate, mainly, but localised and treatable, and a crook shoulder) and then I'm OFF! Going solo ('er indoors does not fancy the camper trailer life) and I can't wait. The search for a tow vehicle starts in earnest tomorrow morning, the CT shortlist is ready (for WA readers, I'm leaning towards a Red Earth off road CT) and I have almost all the gear I need (excluding two batteries and some solar panels). Where? Who knows? There's a hell of a lot of my native WA that I have yet to see, then there's the Outback Way, the Savannah Way . . . you name it. I certainly hope to spend next winter in warmer climes up north. I have a pile of guide books/brochures and a burning desire to hit the road. Hope to meet some of you out there! Cheers, Tony

Hi Lilly,

Was great to read your post and the reasons for you wanting to travel solo.

I am planning on travelling oz in 12 months time (lots of research to do).  It was always a dream of mine and my late husband to travel around oz, unfortunately my husband passed before we could make our dream a reality, so I have decided to do the trip on my own.

I was a little worried about how my kids would take my decision (and also how much I would miss them), but I needn't have worried.........they both said "Go live your dream mum". 

I am so thankful for modern technology and that with webcams it will be so easy to keep in touch.


Cheers

countryroad, my sentiments exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself. Hope to one day meet you and Cee somewhere along the road.

that right gerty dancer    you see lots of young one doing the trip before they settle down have kids house all of that  ...dont think we had chance back then  ..i work with lot of young one's i am all way telling them to go see the world  before they tie them self down   .... but in one way im happy to be doing it now  there no time frame  now for me i just go where i want stay as long as i want   ..... live the dream as they say 

-- Edited by lilly on Friday 30th of July 2010 10:17:36 PM

Hey there Girls n Guys,

Well after reading this topic it would seem that a good majority of solo travelers appear to be persons of the female gender of our species......may be I am one of the very few of the male species that has the opportunity to get out there and live my dream.

As for why I'm doing it solo, I am a cantankerous old bugga at times and have given into the tought that I will grow old and probably die a solo....the old Burl Ives song which name eludes me but is worded; "...Lay me down with my stock whip and blanket in the shade of the coolibah tree..."is most applicable for me.

(My recent life story is here... http://grumpystravells.webs.com/theblackdog.htm have a look around the site while you're there)

I find the driving and traveling a remedial and relaxing past time, aside from this I have always loved driving and have had the good fortune of seeing the bulk of the Eastern part of Australia thanks to the military but usually at 80 Kph out of the drivers side window of a Landrover...............now its time for me to see it at MY pace from a different perspective.

As for my methods, bugger the van, I'd rather tow my boat, you can't go fishing in a caravan they leak and will most likely sink..... However they would make rather attractive Artificial Reefs and fish attracting devices once they are on the bottom, (S******s & Laughs to himeself)

Well thats my lot so hopefully we will get to meet somewhere along the road someday.

Cheers
Grumps

In answer to the query how may solos are out there.  Years ago the CMCA (Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia) noted that 10% of their members were solos and of that number 60% were women!  I have been living this lifestyle for 13 years now, starting with a 1981 Hi-Ace and now with a 1994 Winnebago on a Mazda T4000 Truck with 10 speed gearbox and exhaust brakes.  I get away from Tassie most years for between 4 and 6 months and couldn't imagine not living this way. Two totally different lives. People ask me (being a woman) what I would do if I broke down. Well what would most men do?  Join the RAC and take out the ultimate cover. To those still wondering about it, just get a camper (and a porta potti) and probably a spring-up shower enclosure and solar shower bag and go north in the winter and south in the summer and start living the good life. Currently in Bundaberg Q and slowly going south.

Hello L..... Good to see you made it on here. Exactly what I intend to do after jealously watching you this last couple of years enjoying the wonderful lifestyle.

When i started my solo travels about 3 year ago now i was worry about been alone on road but i join N.R.MA.so if i broke down i be ok ...i did free camping and i think if u follow your instincts in most cases you will be OK ... But most of all i was suprised how many solo's there were out there and i found as many men as women were doing it alone for lots of differnce reason ..some had lose there love ones sadly... some had divoriced and just didnt want to go there again... and some had there loves one at home but hey had to do this for them self.. So my kids didnt worry to much i would send email home every day if i had service but now i send one about once week so i have growned as well as them lol .. my grandkids email me lots to see where i am and send picture to them i love it out on road seeing different places and meeting lots of different people solo or couples and i cant wait t get on road full time ....... now i go and enjoy i try to stay safe at all time's and that all i can do

I've had my current little pop-top van for 10 years. I'm a member of a caravan club which is good to go bush (free) camping not too far from where I live in NE Vic. I have done trips of up to a month in caravan parks. I can't go away for too long as I still have a mother alive (she's 100 now) and there's no-one else to chase her. Eventually I'm hoping to do the longer trips when I'm free to do so. I love this forum site as its giving me so many ideas. The free camping as a solo female sounds much more comfortable after reading the ideas here. I have enough gear to last for 5 or 6 nights without electricity, so a night a week in a c'park sounds ideal to recharge everything.