Touring on your own - leaving the family behind..

[Phil1]

Been riding for a few years now but it's been mainly localish. Based in West Yorks and the furthest trips have been the east coast and back, Dales, North York moors, Trough of Bowland etc. 

 

All in the day and never stopped overnight anywhere. 

 

I don't particularly have a suitable bike for touring and get knackered after about 150-200 miles on the SV650 so I'm looking at moving to something more touring related. 

 

I'd absolutely love to go further a field and do some overnight tours possibly to Wales or Scottish borders. Long term to have a week or so Max around Europe. 

 

My main worry is that I have a partner and two kids and while they're not dead against me having a bike, they don't have any interest on coming anywhere with me on it. 

 

Has anyone else gone away for any longer periods of time without your significant others etc, and how did you initially broach the subject with them? 

Edited June 4, 2024 by Phil1

[S-Westerly]

Gone to Munich and back a couple of times to visit brother and regularly go to Northumberland. Wife just waves me off and wishes me well.

[KiwiBob]

Its simple .. You let her go away for a few days while you have the kids!.. She lets you go off on your bike

[veracocha]

It helped that I have gone to the west of Scotland for the last 30 years as a birdwatcher alone. The family are accustomed to me spending time in isolation and two years ago I returned to motorcycles. I have done the NC500 three times since March 2023 and will be there again in August. Throughout the year we have lots of small breaks together and always a holiday abroad which keeps things level. Having an understanding wife really helps me enjoy the hobbies that make life good. Those days away from her cooking are precious. 

[Stu]

It's a hard one to answer aas every relationship and situation is different 

 

I have been away a few times without the misses but not this bike! it was solely bought for the pair of us doing trips away 

 

But I should be going to Wales with the lads in September while me and the wife are away in July to Wales 

 

As for approaching it I just let her know what I am doing and when  but we have no kids 

[bonio]

Quote

Yes I go away touring for a week most years. When I started the wife would spent a fair bit of time visiting her elderly mum, who was 250 miles away, so it seems like an almost reasonable exchange. Nowadays her Mums passed away and I have to go see mine a fair bit, but she's still happy that a I get week away on two wheels.

 

[curlylegend]

1 hour ago, KiwiBob said:

Its simple .. You let her go away for a few days while you have the kids!.. She lets you go off on your bike

That's the perfect arrangement, is it not ?

It's always been the case though that some couples are more welded at the hip than others. I can think of some cases where it's just pure jealousy and suspicion on one or the other's par.  You'd think that's not a marriage that's going to last, but the one's I've known are still going fifty years later.

[Pie man]

Well, we're all different for starters, you shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to go away on the bike, if your wife and kids aren't interested, well that's fine isn't it. Just change the emotion, as I'm sure you do many other things together. Plus isn't there an old saying 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' 

I go away on the bike, always have. My wife on the other hand, she enjoys meeting the girls and going out to bottomless brunch dates with them, (at least once a month) they even have a girly week or long weekend away, ladies day at Aintree for example, all the stuff I have no interest in, but as long as she's happy.

We always find time for us and the kids and grandkids. 

 

I've just been away for a week to Germany, you'd think I've never been away. 

 

Why don't you try it, you both might just enjoy it. 

[Nick the wanderer]

We all went to the south of France once. Family went in the car and I went on the bike, best of both worlds.

[Bungleaio]

I recommend everyone has trips away on their own as well as going together, especially if you want to do something that the other doesn't.

[Steve_M]

I had a little potter around France on my own in 2008. All the kids had flown the nest and there were only four cats and my good lady at home to abandon. 

 

 

I really didn’t plan well enough- I booked a ferry and just set off. This in my days before satnavs and Booking . Com so I had a few ‘interesting’ route and hotel challenges.
 

I loved the riding, seeing new to me places. I hated the evening meal, eating alone (I still do - I was in alone in York last weekend and it was still the same). 
 

The experience did help inform the approach my subsequent tours - lessons learnt applied!

[Gerontious]

My experience of travelling alone have generally been positive. The biggest difference seems to be you become far more approachable. Other bikers will come over for a natter, often a quick glance at the number plate and a chance to practice their English.

Camping. (Which I continue to enjoy) I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked if I want to share a meal. And I quickly learnt that it’s always a good idea to say yes. As I’ve never been offered something I didn’t enjoy and almost always there will be wine and occasionally beer. People seem far more reticent when you’re part of a group and that’s understandable, but alone it’s completely different people are generally interested even when you don’t share a common language. One of the best times ever was a cheap campsite near Venice. And a family - none of whom spoke a word of English. And yet - it was great. Such generosity. It was because of them that I got my taste for home distilled Grappa. They were more than a little impressed at the way I knocked em back. 

[S-Westerly]

I usually travel alone and I don't mind it at all. Do what I want when I want. Don't mind eating alone too although it's not my first choice.

[curlylegend]

23 hours ago, Steve_M said:

I hated the evening meal, eating alone (I still do - I was in alone in York last weekend and it was still the same)

Am I missing something ?  Is eating alone such a problem for some people ?  It's a thing I've never been aware of.   

When I was younger and could afford it I often preferred my meal served in my room.  Especially breakfast, so that I could start the day without having to listen to stories of just how drunk someone got the night before, and wasn't it such a larff !!

[Steve_M]

10 hours ago, curlylegend said:

Am I missing something ?  Is eating alone such a problem for some people ?  It's a thing I've never been aware of.   

When I was younger and could afford it I often preferred my meal served in my room.  Especially breakfast, so that I could start the day without having to listen to stories of just how drunk someone got the night before, and wasn't it such a larff !!

We’re all different. Some of us aren’t as comfortable with our own company as others. 

 

I’m ok with breakfast alone as I can be anticipating/planning/preparing for the day ahead. The evening meal, though, not so. I guess that’s part of the reason I enjoy touring with my pillion. 
 

 

[S-Westerly]

Each to their own; it would be boring if we were all the same.  I'm perfectly happy on my own and at least when I talk to myself I can have a sensible conversation. 

[husoi]

I don't think this will apply to me at all.

Left family behind years ago