I’d love to go on a really long cycle, but the longest journey I’ve done to date was only 4 days and I spent the nights staying in cheap hotels. I’ve only been wild camping once and I was absolutely terrified the whole night.
Would you rather find a stranger to cycle the world with or do you think the fear of wild camping would disappear over time?
by ReditReader9
8 Comments
I 100% prefer solo camping vs camping with a stranger. I’m more terrified of strangers than I am of the wilderness. Well not really terrified, I would just rather not deal with another person.
Honestly just do it,you’ll meet some amazing people along your trip,wild camping when there’s nobody around is alot safer than walking around big city’s.
Go for it it will be life changing.
this depands on you and the other person
Well, to be honest depends on the place. If it’s really far from “civilization”, then probably the only people you’ll meet, are fellow travellers. Most of the people I’ve met on my travels were really nice! Last time i met a really cool group in the shelter I was sleeping in. They had some self-made alcohol, guitar, they shared their food with me. That was a lovely night!
And all our friends at some point were strangers too! Let’s not be afraid of talking to each other, especially when the other person rides a bike too. It’s a great way to start a conversation, after that it will go naturally.
Only my personal opinion as an introverted old bugger but I think I’d rather not go at all than go with a total stranger.
Solo cycling is a unique state of existence and wild camping alone in some beautiful and remote spot is a solitude that you’ll rarely find anywhere else and should be embraced.
I’d say you are probably far more likely to be harmed by your random companion than you are by any imagined danger in the wilderness (at least in the part of the world I travel in).
Your fear of wild camping alone is an opportunity for great personal growth. Try a shorter 3-4 day trip by yourself wild camping every night. I guarantee you’ll find yourself growing more and more comfortable after every night.
I remember my first nights wild camping alone. It felt eerie and lonely. As time went on I grew to love the solitude, the freedom, and the feeling of self-reliance. Now I’ve wild camped alone several hundred nights and I look forward to it every time.
You get more comfortable while wild camping over time. Yes, being a bit anxious is normal, you’re vulnerable while asleep after all. I have this at times in areas I know there is wildlife that could do harm. Getting caught in areas where you can’t wild camping isn’t even on my mind anymore.
A big tip; if you camp at locations it is illegal to wild camp, use a setup like a tarp that you can set up in less than 10 minutes, set up right before the sun hits the horizon, tear it down right before the sun gets up. And most importantly, while you are doing your thing, keep the area clean at all times, you should be able to pack up and leave without trace in a couple of minutes. Never let something linger around, especially trash. Never make fire, don’t make noise, no bright lights after dark,… use common sense.
If you do get caught, most people will let you stay if they notice you are serious about it. I’ve been caught by farmers, cops, forest rangers,… I never had any issues. I’m an exhausted guy in need of sleep, completely alone, on a bike after all.
If you’re out during the hunting season, never stay in forests where they hunt. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories of people getting in trouble with hunters, for some reason they don’t like it. A mate of mine has been chased out of a hunting cabin by some guys with rifles for example.
The fear of camping will disappear! Doing my first bike packing as we speak. Only 50-60km a day loaded. I’m on night 3 resting at the camp site. Found some guys to recharge my power bank as well.