HOPEFUL HEARTS...LIVING AGAIN AFTER THE LOSS Community Group

We are a group of people who have grieved the loss of a spouse, partner, or lover and are searching for a life without our mate. Some looking for their own identity as an individual or finding a life for themself. Some looking for companionship or a serious relationship with someone new. And some just feeling lost and unsure. We offer encouragement, support and virtual...

373 Members
1,289 Posts
0 Online
Death & Dying
/ HOPEFUL HEARTS...LIVING AGAIN AFTER THE LOSS Support Group

First Solo Driving Trip

deauxgirl
deauxgirl
I'm leaving tomorrow morning to drive to Florida for a friend's wedding on Sunday. It would be a 2 day drive, but I'm taking 3 days and stopping in St. Augustine to explore. Day one I will be by myself, stopping in Tallahassee, I'll have a friend meeting me day 2. It's always been my husband and I on driving trips. We would share the driving and it's kind of scary to do this alone. I know we have to do things that make us happy and do things outside our comfort zone. I've really gotten into art the last couple of years and I'm going on an art walk in St. Augustine, Friday night. It will be so much better, because I will have someone with me. I do think, I would be ok alone, but 3 days traveling alone, would be a stretch. She's driving there, so I still have the drive to do. Coming back on Monday, I'll have the 2 days to drive back, and be at work on Wednesday. It's a trip, my husband would not have liked. I want to drive down the east coast, and stop, if I see anything interesting. I want to stop and take pictures and just enjoy the time. He always wanted to get to the destination fast. I feel guilty, that I feel I will have a nice time without him.

Paula
letmehelpyou
letmehelpyou
Good luck! It sounds like fun. I love St. Augustine, just the right amount of class and funk. I do hate driving alone but I have learned how to pace myself and do it. Unfortunately, I can get lost in a paper bag so GPD is essential. Travel safe!
Hugs,
Val
Caroline04
Caroline04
Wow, Paula, good for you. That takes a lot of courage to drive so far alone. Hope all goes well and you enjoy the sights. Have fun and be safe!
sassiesoftail
sassiesoftail
Safe travels. I have done several trips and the unfortunate thing with me is that I cry easily in a car. Sometime I even cry on my 15-20 min to work.
Enjoy yourself, Hugs, Sandi
sandeestttn
sandeestttn
my first solo driving trip, I drove 700 miles. I had a plan to stop every 200 miles, or 2 hours. Get out of the car, walk around, get something to eat. got CD books and music to listen to. I enjoyed the trip there. But hated the return trip.
jeanatds
jeanatds
Sounds like a wonderful trip Paula. I think I put about 5k miles on my car the first year, it was such good medicine for some reason. St. Augustine is on my list for the holiday season this coming year! Travel safe and try to remember how much you deserve to have a nice time.
Comfortablynumb
Comfortablynumb
Great adventure, Paula.
Make sure you are stopping and stretching in some safe places. Sitting for a prolong period of time can spoil otherwise promising vacation.
Good luck, report upon return :)
russ1153
russ1153
I just got back from Florida and its a 20 hour trip for me. The first day I did 12 hours and listened to a book on tape. The second seemed harder as I was already tired when I started. The trip back was hard at times though I drove 14 hours thefirst day to make a short second day. Hope you get good weather as the south has some storms today.
Russ
deauxgirl
deauxgirl
Back from the trip, and it all went pretty smooth. Rainy most all the time, except for the wedding and it was just windy. The days in the hotel alone, were sad, tried keeping myself busy, with Facebook and TV. I surprised myself, driving back, and drove over 500 miles. Daylight savings time, hit perfect.

Paula
Comfortablynumb
Comfortablynumb
Good for you, Paula
kynessie
kynessie
Good for you.....enjoy!! I'm going for second long distance trip in May. I'm driving from KY to TN. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

Nessie from KY
pathoflife
pathoflife
Paula,

I was wondering how your trip went, so it was good to see your post that all went well. Driving in the rain is no picnic, though. After my first couple of solo trips, I found that I really enjoyed the travel experience. I looked forward to seeing new things and stretching that area of my independence. I believe in much earlier posts, I mentioned that after my first trip, I marched myself to the big box store and bought a GPS with as many bells and whistles that I could afford. It certainly gave me a sense of control and freedom--even if it may have been a false sense of control. Of course, with the arrivval of the smartphones, Google maps are also available to the solo traveler. Kudos to you for trying new adventures. May you have many more in your future. Enjoy! TJ