Being Brave

I have now had LOTS of great conversations about solo travelling whilst I am on my journeys. People want to know how and why I do it, where I have been, what my friends and family think etc. And I am happy to tell them, as I enjoy talking to people and hearing their stories too. Then I am often told that I am BRAVE to travel alone. I am now pretty much into the swing of solo travelling (and loving it) and have had time to reflect on this. I’m sure I’m not brave.  I am just organised! You need to know what you are looking to achieve and do your research carefully. You make your list and get on the internet (or just read your guidebooks if that is more your thing). A big priority is to make sure you are going somewhere safe, and another is to check that the things you want to see/do are actually open/available, that you can get to them, and that the climate is going to be as expected (just to name a few aspects). Maybe it’s a little brave (but definitely worth it) to do what I recommend and just book your first few nights of accommodation… then go find where you want to stay for the rest of your trip – checking it out in person beats any other method hands down.

But on this last trip I was brave!  I was staying in a co-living/working place with a handful of other solo travellers and the day after I arrived there was an open invitation to join a hike. It was described as:

“Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. 8.77 miles. Up and down 2150 feet. Includes a segment that could be dangerous.”

You get the idea. I had my walking boots, but other than that, could meet none of those criteria. So, I thought it would be great to do the first hour of this hike and then turn back and do another hour back down by myself. Mike, who was organising it, thought that would be fine. Said boots went on and I set off with the others armed with a small bag with water and local bananas for sustenance. My companions were from Germany, Holland and America and we were a 20+, 30+, 40+ and 50+ group! Really quickly we were above the town we were staying in, and the views were fantastic and the conversation stimulating. By the time an hour had passed we were way up high and already the exhilaration from the climb and the stature of the mountains were amazing. I was ready to turn around, but my lovely companions encouraged me to stay with them, were happy to share their water and supplies and go at the slower pace I was sure my presence would impose on the group. So, I said yes please.

I walk quite a lot. For a couple of hours here and there. Not up mountains. Never have I walked such a beautiful and at times dangerous path. But my companions were well equipped, and we were never lost. The chats were great, and the scenery was stunning.  We saw alpine flowers as we got higher and some kind of hawks. We just kept going up and up and although it was hot, there was often a kind breeze. I felt brave, but (mostly!) safe.

Coming down was scary, due to scree and boulders that made the going underfoot really tough. I definitely held our group up, but my companions were patient and supportive.  We eventually all made it to a little café in the village a few miles up the valley from where we were staying and enjoyed a pitstop.

We set off at 10am and returned at 4pm. My Fitbit said I had walked 30,413 steps (12.67 miles) and burned 3,313 calories! I was able to be brave because the circumstances were right, and I had an unforgettable experience.  Thank you Mike, Jenni and Angela. And beautiful Gran Canaria. 

Being open to new experiences in new places with new people is how you create amazing memories when you travel solo.  “Go with the flow” and you never quite know where you will end up.