The three rules for an extraordinary motorbike journey

Most female motorcyclists (and male colleagues) love to travel. But motorbike travel is not just about counting the kilometres. I am of the opinion that even a small ride of a few hours not far from home can be considered an adventure. Of course, there are some conditions that should be known in order to make it extraordinary.

1.Lose yourself: plan moments to take roads you didn’t know about

Yes, you read that right. Get off the route that the navigator shows you, maybe pick up a map, take that little road that, although bumpy, inspires you. I have seen the most beautiful landscapes precisely by taking a wrong turn, following the route of the clouds, running away from a storm or simply ‘going by feel’. You only have to face these moments with people like you, explorers, Indiana Joneses who want more than the safety of Sunday routine, always on the same roads.
To lose oneself is to find oneself, it is a continuous discovery. On one of my many trips I discovered, for example, a military cannon emplacement not even on the maps. What do you discover?

2.Connect: talk to locals to get to know places hidden from the masses

A traveller differs from a tourist when he respects the places where he is. Enter an inn, a tavern, a sports bar of those frequented by locals. You see them straight away and normally, perhaps, you would not stop. You order a coffee and chat with the locals. Every time I have done so, they have given me great advice, both about where to eat well and which way to go.
Connecting is a sign of having an open mind, qualities travellers must have.

3.Be curious and ask questions about places and history

With the world on our smartphones, we no longer have an excuse not to be curious. Find out about the history of the area, the traditions, the structures. Asking questions and getting answers will make you see things from a different perspective.
The motorbike allows us to reach and experience places intensively. What forest are you going through? Who lived in that house? What happened in that hamlet? Why is that marker there? I often make assumptions, think of possible stories from past lives. It’s a good way to clear my mind of everyday thoughts.

There is another rule that I have taken for granted: leave your watch at home! On a motorbike trip, try not to let time rule you. Stop when you want to and not when time dictates. Time is a privilege of the few, I know, but on trips try not to pay attention to it.

Do you have any other tips you would like to share with female motorcyclists? Tell us in the MissBiker community!