Thank you for writing this, Emily! I've been following you on social media for a while now, and it's so nice to have a weekly thing from you to look forward to. :-)
Re book recommendations: last year, I came across Pamela Petro's memoir "The Long Field" (it's also a kind of travelogue). She looks into Welsh history, culture and language, and weaves her own personal story into this exploration. It's so, so beautifully written, and I've learned so much about the beauty of a place, its culture and people - I think you might enjoy this book too!
Ah - this book is already on my list! I heard an interview with her on Jeremy Bassetti's travel writing podcast (which I also recommend), and it sounds like exactly my sort of thing. I'll let you know when I've read it - and I'll probably end up reviewing it here. Thanks for the recommendation.
Incidentally, I think some of the finest writing about Wales in recent years has been by incomers who have fallen in love with the place. (Though do bear in mind that I don't read Welsh, so am probably missing out on a lot.) I'd particularly recommend Mike Parker, Whitney Brown, and Imogen Rhia Herrad.
I loved reading this Emily! And your answer to that question is a much more eloquent expression of what I'm often trying to explain. I mention in talks about 'real vs. perceived danger' which I guess is the same kind of thing. Alone somewhere remote feels eery, but (sadly) at home is where the danger is. I also think it's good to think about the advantages of being a woman - when I was doing my coast run, various people I stayed with explicitly told me they wouldn't have welcome me into their homes had I been a man. Being seen as less threatening perhaps allows people to connect more easily.
Love your answer here! Although I haven’t yet traveled far & haven’t had these wonderful experiences, I can’t stand when people say that cycling is so dangerous, as I bicycle everywhere & so many friends that don’t cycle think I’m putting myself in so much danger of being hit by a car.. yes it happens but many more people die in car accidents.. they all drive cars & don’t give it a second thought .. expressing their fears to me feels so negative & I resent their voices in my head..
I would love to hear how you handle any negative “voices “ if you have any .
Ah, I could write a whole article on handling the negative voices (and I probably will one day). On this particular matter, I spend a lot of time reminding myself of the facts (and any statistics I've come across, e.g. cycling is more likely to extend your life than shorten it; 50% of ALL head injuries happen to people in cars). I remind myself that fear is usually irrational, and make an effort to separate how I'm feeling from the actual facts of the situation I'm in. I tell myself that people's concerns about my safety represent their own fears and prejudices. I remember that I am usually the most qualified person to judge my situation, and that if I'm not, THEN I will ask for help or guidance.
Great first (for me) newsletter. I would agree with you about lone travelling. As a lone female, I've come across nothing but kindness from people, once I got over my misgivings and started interacting with them
Great book recommendation, I shall definitely be looking out for it
Completely true about fear of being a lone traveller, what real chance is there of a complete Stranger deciding to attack, rob, rape, murder you. It’s microscopic. What I do on rides and want to stop is to wait just for 10 mins after finding a suitable spot before sleeping and if anyone stumbles by I wait and then move away 10 or 20 more minutes. I use a satellite tracker too so people I trust know where I am.
That's a good tactic. I also keep an eye out for signs of other visitors (rubbish, flattened grass, etc.), in case the quiet corner I've found turns out to be a popular gathering place after dark.
Oooh, I hadn't heard of this, and it sounds brilliant. There are so many books about riding across Asia now, but very few from this era. I'll look out for it. Thanks for the recommendation.
Thank you for writing this, Emily! I've been following you on social media for a while now, and it's so nice to have a weekly thing from you to look forward to. :-)
Re book recommendations: last year, I came across Pamela Petro's memoir "The Long Field" (it's also a kind of travelogue). She looks into Welsh history, culture and language, and weaves her own personal story into this exploration. It's so, so beautifully written, and I've learned so much about the beauty of a place, its culture and people - I think you might enjoy this book too!
Ah - this book is already on my list! I heard an interview with her on Jeremy Bassetti's travel writing podcast (which I also recommend), and it sounds like exactly my sort of thing. I'll let you know when I've read it - and I'll probably end up reviewing it here. Thanks for the recommendation.
Incidentally, I think some of the finest writing about Wales in recent years has been by incomers who have fallen in love with the place. (Though do bear in mind that I don't read Welsh, so am probably missing out on a lot.) I'd particularly recommend Mike Parker, Whitney Brown, and Imogen Rhia Herrad.
Enjoyed that, thank you!
I loved reading this Emily! And your answer to that question is a much more eloquent expression of what I'm often trying to explain. I mention in talks about 'real vs. perceived danger' which I guess is the same kind of thing. Alone somewhere remote feels eery, but (sadly) at home is where the danger is. I also think it's good to think about the advantages of being a woman - when I was doing my coast run, various people I stayed with explicitly told me they wouldn't have welcome me into their homes had I been a man. Being seen as less threatening perhaps allows people to connect more easily.
Love your answer here! Although I haven’t yet traveled far & haven’t had these wonderful experiences, I can’t stand when people say that cycling is so dangerous, as I bicycle everywhere & so many friends that don’t cycle think I’m putting myself in so much danger of being hit by a car.. yes it happens but many more people die in car accidents.. they all drive cars & don’t give it a second thought .. expressing their fears to me feels so negative & I resent their voices in my head..
I would love to hear how you handle any negative “voices “ if you have any .
Looking forward to reading more! ❤️
Ah, I could write a whole article on handling the negative voices (and I probably will one day). On this particular matter, I spend a lot of time reminding myself of the facts (and any statistics I've come across, e.g. cycling is more likely to extend your life than shorten it; 50% of ALL head injuries happen to people in cars). I remind myself that fear is usually irrational, and make an effort to separate how I'm feeling from the actual facts of the situation I'm in. I tell myself that people's concerns about my safety represent their own fears and prejudices. I remember that I am usually the most qualified person to judge my situation, and that if I'm not, THEN I will ask for help or guidance.
Thank you Em! A joy to read, as always.
Great first (for me) newsletter. I would agree with you about lone travelling. As a lone female, I've come across nothing but kindness from people, once I got over my misgivings and started interacting with them
Great book recommendation, I shall definitely be looking out for it
Completely true about fear of being a lone traveller, what real chance is there of a complete Stranger deciding to attack, rob, rape, murder you. It’s microscopic. What I do on rides and want to stop is to wait just for 10 mins after finding a suitable spot before sleeping and if anyone stumbles by I wait and then move away 10 or 20 more minutes. I use a satellite tracker too so people I trust know where I am.
That's a good tactic. I also keep an eye out for signs of other visitors (rubbish, flattened grass, etc.), in case the quiet corner I've found turns out to be a popular gathering place after dark.
Oooh, I hadn't heard of this, and it sounds brilliant. There are so many books about riding across Asia now, but very few from this era. I'll look out for it. Thanks for the recommendation.