Hi, I'm looking for someone who has experience with both styles of travel and would like to share their thoughts.
Some context: I've been a solo traveler for many years. I crossed South America with a backpack, a full year overland, always staying in hostels. It was an experience I'm really grateful for, but by the end there was the feeling I was never able to stray too far from the tourist trail. I was always tied to places reachable by public transport with at least a hostel or guest house nearby.
So, with my next project in mind (overland from Europe to China), I started considering a different approach. Back home, I bought a bike and a cheap tent, and over the last few months I've done several test trips, either day rides or with one night out.
The problem is that so far I feel like I spend the whole day chasing kilometers, without time to actually stop. My usual way of traveling is different: I stay in a place for at least 2-3 days, walk around, take photos, write for my blog. With the bike, that dimension feels missing for now.
That said, I don't want to give up at the first sign of difficulty. I'm wondering if what I'm experiencing is just a normal phase, something that eventually gets figured out or learned to manage. I already have a couple of longer trips planned, 1-2 weeks, to test this style more seriously. But I'd love to read about your experiences first, so I have some reference points when I'm out there facing doubts.
Thanks to anyone who replies.
by vincenzorizza
2 Comments
Isnt this completly up to you? apparantly you like to chase the km’s. Other people cycle 20 km a day and stay in the next town for 2 days before going another 20km. And there’s a whole spectrum inbetween that.
I’ve done 2-3 month hitchhiking and bike tours in Europe. I enjoy chasing the kilometers and avoid the international tourist areas/big cities unless I am visiting a friend who lives there in which case I just take a train there and a train out. Hitchhiking/biking in and out of a big city sucks balls.
Finding a place to sleep (stealth camping) outside Scandinavia is a stressful daily routine. But having said that, waking up the next morning in some random isolated place is amazing. I did some credit card touring last summer in Germany (stayed at hotels) and it sucked bc I could never get away from the tourist trail.
I have no need to write a blog or check out the local tourist attractions. I just want to eat, drink beer, enjoy this random bit of terrain, and be on my way.