Rules for long-term solo travel sanity
10 commandments I just made up
Don't worry. I'm not writing this because I've hit an existential wall and now feel the need to complain online to make myself feel better.
I'm cruising right along at feelin-pretty-damn-good miles per hour right now, currently sitting creekside watching the sun set against a vertical wall of granite dotted with pines. Most of these trees are alive and well, but some are dead and twisted, like my dreams of becoming a national touring jam band drummer.
I just had the sudden urge to walk into a stranger's campsite and start up a chat, as I often do. The husband and wife duo of John and Barbara from Santa Barbara (I'm not making that up) are cookin up somethin tasty, I can smell it. They'd probably offer me a bite if I interrupted their quiet evening, or maybe they'd politely shoo me away. But I'll suppress this urge and keep writing this post.
When I visited my friend JJ in Austin, he asked me what it's like to be untethered. I've been thinking about that as I move from place to place - with an itinerary that I often completely ignore when I smell a good pastry, meet an equally spontaneous person or see a road that I can't not drive down. Or need to follow a good story, of course.
As of right now, at the age of 32 in the summer of 2024, the ingredients for thriving on such a trip as mine are as follows:
Working on my project.
Working on my project some more, especially when I don't feel like it. I sometimes fail at this one, more on that below.
Moving my body every day, sometimes with intensity at high altitudes.
Eating healthy foods, at least 80% of the time. 20% pizza, pastries, fritos & the occasional cold beer.
Talking to anyone that looks interesting, pretty, friendly, fun or lonely.
Visiting friends at least once every two weeks, if possible.
Reading when I need to wind down or wake up, and writing when my mind is racing and I can't focus on reading.
Listening to music, laying on my back, looking up at the sky when I need to relax, but not tired enough for sleep.
Calling my friends & family whenever I get the urge. I don't suppress that one.
Maintaining an optimistic outlook by trusting in my plan, praying when I'm doubtful and laughing when I make a mistake.
Notice I didn't mention anything about sleeping and bathing. The two things that people fear most about long stretches without a real roof over their heads.
Oddly enough, and I'm telling the truth here, I often sleep better than at home. The lone exception is backpacking. I admit I don't sleep well in the backcountry when it's 37 degrees and I have a piece of foam half-an-inch thick between me and nearly frozen ground. Thankfully the pure exhaustion from boulder crawling at 11k feet aids in a bit of slumber. But I do sleep so well in that cozy truck of mine.
Creeks, hot springs, gyms, hotels and friends' homes provide more than enough opportunity for me to wash away the dust from the American West that gathers on my body like grease on bacon.
Two months of road-trip hair looks almost the same as it did that one time I paid $120 for a trim at a salon, Curls by Kyla.
JJ was surprised when I rolled into Austin lookin hella fresh, "I thought I'd be greeting the Tasmanian Devil at my front door."
The 10 commandments above require effort. Sleeping and bathing do not!
Intimacy should probably find its way onto that list too, but that's one of many potential outcomes when sticking to rule number 5. It ain't hard to be charming when you're genuine and honest and there's mutual affection and respect.
"You might meet your future wife on this trip," JJ told me. I hope he's right. An on-the-road romance could blossom into something more than a brief moment in time. That would be dream come true :)
I can't relate to solo travel loneliness or homesickness. I know that's a big problem for some travelers. I'm grateful I don't have that issue, at least not yet. The first country I visit with very little tourists and zero English will be a unique challenge, but I'm not sure if that place is on my list.
Although, who really knows what’s on my list? I certainly don’t.
I might end up in a tiny village in the south of India, swarmed by mosquitos and unable to ask for help fending off the pests. I probably wouldn't be laughing then. But at least I could bury myself in some street curry comfort grub - not sure where that fits in the range of healthy foods, especially if that risky meal wrecks me.
I knew I was built for this - a man on the move with a little truck, a tiny camera and a magnetic spirit - but I expected I'd run into more hurdles than I have so far. Maybe that's because I'm still in my home country, but I was just as comfortable in Europe last fall.
Side note: It was especially nice to avoid the gas pump there. I've topped off my tank 29 times in the past 53 days. RIP my wallet. Yes, I’m keeping a gas log.
Alright, I'm rambling. Finish this post, Logan.
My biggest problem is uniquely personal. I struggle to sit down and edit video, because there's so much to SEE and DO and people to MEET. I'm sitting on 15 videos that are burning a hole in my sanity. Ok, that's dramatic, but the pull to discover more and more often wins in the great battle between work and exploration.
I've decided to park myself in one place for a few weeks, a change up from my typical go-go-go. That place will be Denver, whenever I'm finally done with the beautifully strange world of Idaho. I'll get some work done in Denver. That's the lie I'm telling myself right now, and I believe that lie. See you soon, Mile High!
Everything I make is here — loganletsgo.com
buy me a coffee :)
