First ever solo trip changed me

I just like to share this and I want to know if you can relate…

The past few years have been rough, so much so that I attempted suicide in spring 2022. Since I was a kid I’ve always loved to travel, especially just “being on the road”. Recently I had my first long vacation since the pandemic started. I did a solo bikepacking trip from Denmark to the Netherlands over EuroVelo Routes 10 and 12, following Baltic and North Sea coasts. Not counting 1-2 day tours, this was only my second bikepacking trip ever, after my bike trip to Santiago de Compostela with my grandmother when I was 17. I’m now 42. She passed away this year.

I did this tour to find myself again, experience a lust for life again, and also to honor my grandmother. I was anxious that I would feel lonely and would regret my choice, but it turned out to be one of my best vacations ever. It changed me for the better. It got me hooked.

The absolute highlight was when I stumbled upon a church in the town where I booked accommodation after my first day of biking. The side door was open so I entered. I was there alone. The evening sun was shining through a back window towards a door in the front of the church. When I approached it, this beautiful balcony and vista of the sea emerged in front of my eyes. I felt utter gratitude in that moment. This feeling has stuck with me since.

I almost never do stuff without friends but for this trip it was the absolute right choice. I did have quite some social contact on the way but my moments of wonder were almost always entirely for me alone. Also I become anxious if there’s no clear travel plan, but I forced myself to book accommodation a mere day ahead of time. I just knew which routes I wanted to follow (more or less). Turns out this all went surprisingly well and gave me much needed flexibility.

I did 447km in 4,5 days from Copenhagen (DK) to Lubeck (DE), where I took the train to Hamburg to rest one day and took a second train to Bremen (DE), where I started a 420km trip to Groningen (NL) in another 4 days. The German part (excluding the cities) was the least exciting and the often most confusing and dangerous to bike. Still I don’t regret even 1km of the trip. It feels like the unpleasant bits are as much part of the experience as the pleasant ones. It makes the end feel “earned” if you catch my drift.

I lost three spokes along the way but got help where needed. I managed to never really panic even with some body, bike and battery issues at the end of a long day (though staying calm took effort). And being solo I connected to strangers much more easily. Especially in the Netherlands and Denmark.

I feel like I was gone for a month instead of a fortnight because I had so many new impressions. I miss it already. I want to find another (established) route for a second solo trip but I hesitate about taking my tent or stick to booking hostels, bnbs, etc. I also think I need to redistribute a bit of the weight of my bags to the front but not sure how. And maybe get more handy in fixing my bike (I only know how to repair or replace a punctured tire).

Any recognizable emotions, any tips or strategies?

by Beijaflor81