I have never planned a motorcycle trip in my life! It feels a little overwhelming – where do I even start, what do I need to think about?
Either way: in a few weeks I’m going anyway – alone, for the first time, to a place that might surprise you a little. (If you haven’t seen the video, I can reveal that this place involves meatballs, and the history of flat-packed furniture)
Ever since I made up my mind, I’ve been thinking about this: Which way should I ride? Is there somewhere worth stopping along the way? And what on earth should Fryd (the motorcycle) and I bring?
Here are some thoughts – take them for what they are: a beginner’s guide to solo trip planning.
Which way should I ride?
I looked at the map a couple of weeks ago and was a little surprised. It was further than I’d thought – I had probably euphorically picked the destination without fully accounting for that.
From Skaraborg to Älmhult is about 310 km – Google says 3.5 hours if you take the fastest route.
In a car you might just want to get there fast, but that’s no fun on a motorcycle.
You want to “Experience the ride, not just complete it” – as Runa Grydeland from Off She Goes puts it.
Since I have no experience planning routes, I’m doing what the Norwegian mountain code says: “Listen to experienced people.” One such person is my colleague Jens, who knows the area well and spoke warmly about how beautiful it is
He suggested some great roads, and the plan now looks like this: Skaraborg → Dalsjöfors → Dannike → Värnamo → Älmhult. That’ll get me there at least – and then we’ll see how I feel the next day and what I can find to do.
A spa maybe? Nah, probably not. But it’ll be interesting to find out.
Is there anywhere worth stopping?
I have a habit of becoming extremely goal-oriented when I’m out riding – whether by car or motorcycle. The focus on getting there takes over, and it’s hard to actually stop for a break.
This trip is also going to be an exercise in doing exactly that.
Slowing down. Seeing if there’s something I actually want to look at. I might need a little help with that – and especially remembering to keep my blood sugar up. Remembering to eat is not my strong suit, especially when I’m focused on something.
A bit of googling led me to Hofsnäs Herrgård, which looks like exactly the kind of place where you can sit down with an ice cream and pretend to be someone who takes things easy. I’m adding it as a planned stop, so I can practice actually taking a break.
What on earth do I need to bring?
The personal stuff is pretty simple: underwear, toothbrush, medication, a couple of changes of clothes and shoes you can actually walk in. And rain gear!
I’m staying at a hotel, so no tent or camping stove needed, thankfully. But I will be bringing cameras, battery chargers, memory cards and my laptop to back up files along the way. The usual chaos, in other words.
Fryd got her annual service last autumn and hasn’t done many miles since – it’s still early in the season. I’ll do a general check to make sure everything looks good, lube the chain, and get Ola’s help if there’s anything more technical that needs doing.
Fryd’s panniers have inner bags which are perfect for packing, and I’ve been given a gorgeous Givi waterproof top bag by my dear friend OJ. That should do it. It WILL be tempting to pack a load of “just in case” items – I have a tendency to overpack. But space is limited, so it’ll sort itself out.
Have I forgotten anything? Any tips? Reply to this email or leave a comment below.
So – are we ready?
It’s a little nerve-wrecking, I’ll admit. But I think it’s going to be fun, educational and exciting.
I’m hoping for good weather – I’m probably a typical “cotton candy rider” wh prefers riding in good weather (aka: not raining). But I’m determined to go regardless – unless there’s a storm. Then I might need to think again.
And I’m actually a little proud of myself for doing this.
For some people, a solo trip is no big deal. For me, it’s something completely new. But I see a parallel to dog training here: set the bar low enough that the dog (or you) gets to feel success – and build from there.
Let’s go!
