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When the mental battle is even tougher than the physical one
Season 6: Project Alaska
15 May 2022When you see me riding a motorcycle day in day out, for hours on end, and mostly over rough, rocky terrains, I think you can imagine that this kind of riding is physically demanding. And it certainly is, but to me, the mental part of solo adventuring on a motorcycle can even be more challenging. It can become a battle that you have to fight with yourself. When I look back on my motorcycle adventures so far, I can clearly remember the first time I was fighting a bigger mental battle than a physical one.
My first major physical and mental battle
It was during Season 1 and I can still recall exactly how I felt during that experience. None of this experience I captured on camera, as I was simply not in the right mindset to muster up the courage to record myself. I was riding at a high altitude in Tajikistan and the physical conditions were certainly tough. At this point, I hadn't seen snow yet, but it was already extremely cold. I was not wearing the right motorcycle clothing for such low temperatures. In addition to that, the road was rough and terribly corrugated for kilometers on end. At that time, I didn't have the right motorcycle for riding those roads, nor did I have the right skills to ride these corrugations. All I could do was ride very slowly in order to stay upright. I ended up crawling over the corrugations at a pace of 5 kilometers per hour. At the same time, the ice-cold wind was hitting my face. I felt like I was not making any progress at all. 'What on earth am I doing here,' it echoed in my mind. 'Why did I ever think, it would be fun to travel around the world on a motorcycle?’
The longer I had to battle this road, the louder I began to shout to myself inside my helmet. Well shouting, it was more like screaming. Yelling out loud the exact thoughts that were in my head. 'WHAT AM I DOING HERE!!' I didn't even recognize myself, this was so out of character for me. It was the mental struggle that somehow had to be verbalized. Not that this kind of screaming helped at all. On the contrary, it made things worse. It worsened my state of mind and I struggled even more. I learned then and there that anger and frustration do not make your motorcycle go any faster, nor does it make your riding any easier.
This all happened a few days before I crossed the border into Kyrgyzstan. In that episode you could clearly see me struggling with the altitude, the cold, and the rough terrain.
My most recent major battle physically and mentally
Now, a few years later, I ended up in another situation where I had to face a tough physical and mental battle. It made me realize how much stronger I have become over the years. Not only when it comes to clocking kilometers on my bike, but also dealing with situations on a mental level. I know that I would not have been able to handle this recent situation as well as when it would have happened to me years ago.
What happened? In Guatemala, in a jungle that is known to be full of jaguars, I got severely stuck in a terrible mud pit. Heck, I am convinced I even spotted a jaguar, shortly after I got stuck. I assumed they were not likely to attack me, but then again, I was a very easy target as I was practically a sitting duck with my motorcycle stuck in the mud.
The possibility of jaguars aside, the struggle to get my motorcycle out of the mud was my main priority. And even though it took a huge physical effort to wrestle a 150-kilogram motorcycle from the mud pit, the mental struggle was even harder. I knew there was absolutely nobody as crazy as me to travel down here. The chance of an accidental person passing by that could help me, I estimated to be 0,01%. I calculated in my mind how far I was away from the main road, how long I'd have to walk to get there, and whether I would be able to find help to retrieve my bike before nightfall. Luckily, I was able to wrestle my bike from the mud pit and continued riding. On my way back out of the jungle, I got stuck again, in another mud pit. Again, I had to push, pull and lift my motorcycle to get it out of the mud pit. After each failed attempt, I had to talk out loud to myself saying: 'You got this,' 'You can do this,' 'You've faced harder challenges before,' and 'Keep trying, you WILL get out of this.' This time, it took four attempts before I got Alaska finally out of the mud pit.
Be your own cheerleader
During the years, I have learned it is better to shout encouragements to yourself than to express the negative thoughts that are in your mind, as I had done in Tajikistan. When there is nobody around to talk some hope into you, you just have to become your own cheerleader. But convincing yourself that all is going to be fine, is not an easy task to do. And yet, it's the only way to get out of a terrible situation. Because once you give up mentally, it is going to be impossible to do the necessary work to get yourself out of that situation.
During moments like these, it is pointless to analyze how you could have prevented the situation you are in, or what you could have done differently. The situation has already happened! Better is to focus on getting out of there and learn from it. Grow your confidence and learn to trust your own capabilities and creativity to solve problems that may come to you unexpectedly.
It's that type of confidence that will help you to stay calm, not panic, and just work your way through a tough situation. And that type of confidence only comes with experience, from battling through and overcoming physical and mental challenges. You have to go through it, in order to learn and grow. Avoiding it will never lead to mental growth. And I'm convinced that those skills will not only be an asset during motorcycle adventures, but will get you very far in life too!
Your reply
Noraly, I'm watching Season 5 now, but I appreciate the fact that you share some of your tough times with your audience. I'm sure that, since you have become so well-known and recognized no matter where you are, that dealing with fame is a curse as well as a blessing. I don't do Facebook, but I certainly hope you have someone else reviewing any negative comments so that you don't waste your time dealing with trolls -- only the ones in Iceland and maybe Ireland! You do a fabulous job of filming, editing and sharing your adventures, so please don't get discouraged. Know there are people you'll never know who are praying for you and cheering you on no matter what. Take care and God bless!
KathyB
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As a lifetime solo female traveler I'm conflicted here. I grew up in a dangerous place and had moved to the US later - which I consider one of the safest countries in the world for women I tent-camp all over remote wilds of the US alone and this causes people to think I'm reckless and have no sense of fear. I get mad at naysayers. However, I'm older now, which doesn't make me an attractive target, armed, and I deliberately project an image of poor and sometimes crazy person, which makes me more likely to be left alone. (I'm not a people's person and my patience for projecting smiles and cheers had run out long time ago)
I do not believe in the fantasy about "safe world" (for women, especially) filled with "friendly people". Any safety in this world is luck, but especially so in certain countries. Back when I was younger there were wars and uprising all over that place where I grew up, innocent people, entire families, were burned alive slowly, tortured to death, mass-raped, cut in pieces, disfigured, gutted and their guts hung on the fences of their own homes. They'd slowly kill part of the family first, making others watch. Not to mention the things organized crime had done and killings all over, where they'd pick a random person and target them for initiation ritual. There was a "kill a student" week, "rape a woman" week, every week a new thing announced over grapevine. People I've known killed. I'm conflicted when I watch you travel through some of those parts or close and show it all as cloudless innocent landscape where a Western tourist comes for fun like if it was some safe posh and hip town. I know about the stories that are hidden there - and they are ready to come back out any time and happen again - as nothing will be forgotten and periods of peace are fleeting and temporary, I believe - and my mind does not react well. There's also a full scale war now in one of my childhood places, I grew up in 3 countries. Humans is the only thing I fear, and I fear them a lot, frankly. Not to mention crookery/fraud so rampant in some places. So sometimes I feel your videos are glossing over some things, or may be you're just very, very lucky - good for you. Everyone decides which level of risk they are to take, it's individual decision... Following the gut feeling is important, sometimes there're premonitions and if the gut feeling says it's right may be it's safe enough for a trip, as may be it's true what they say about all things being pre-determined in advance.
Wish many safe travels ahead.
castlelakecat
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You are my hero! You mother does great work!
DharmaWheeler
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Anther handy tool I carry when riding in the desert is a motorcycle tow strap. They are light weight pack small and very handy. Not only can you use them to drag the bike up inclines or ease them down descents you can use them to have a buddy tow you or even a car when things are really serious. They are cheap to buy. https://www.amazon.com/Tusk-Motorcycle-Tow-Strap-ft/dp/B01MUI0KYI
wwillcox
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You could try using your tie down straps to allow you to drag/pull the bike to a more favorable location. This lets you stand up straight and use not only your upper body but your legs and body weight.
wwillcox
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Positive affirmations are key. Introspection and the ability to harness the lesson even more important. Exame: 90% of sport is mental. Until Roger Bannister ran a sub-4 minute mile, no one thought it was possible. The very next year dozens of people ran a sub-4 minute mile...simply because they new mentally it could be done. The power of the mind to overcome the physical depends on your experience, positive frame of mind, and knowing you can do it. You do that all the time! "Experience is the heart of Wisdom. Never tire of being useful." ~L. DaVinci
Ride on Itchy Boots. RIDE ON!
ATX
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This is off topic, but I have noticed on some of your older videos how they are sometimes not frequented enough. In 90% of your videos every episode is its own story which makes it easy to stop and go as you go through them. You are pretty good about not demanding/asking for money isn't there something you can devise so people will be more inclined to go back over old episodes? A quiz maybe with either recognition or some autographed prize? Just something to get more use out of those old videos which are just as great as the current ones in my opinion.
Dennis Phoenix
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Thank you for your advice on mental struggles, I always am curious how people get through things.
Dennis Phoenix
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P.S. I forgot to mention Glacier National Park is also on that path, and I lived in Montana for years and can help with info on that area. Best, Ron
Ronman
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I don't know where to put this comment, I'll try here...Noraly, as you go thru the U.S., I suggest following the Rockies. You can avoid big cities, and there are lots more back roads. In my area (Santa Fe, est. 1610), there are three cultures (white, Native, Spanish), numerous Pueblos still being occupied, cliff dwellings with hip-deep paths through solid rock (go to the site the locals know, not the official park), and a caldera formed from a mountain that some think was once 10,000 meters high. North of here, you'll pass through the mecca of off-road riding, Moab, where thousands of off-roaders congregate. Or hug the mountains through Colorado. You'll miss Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland; in exchange getting the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and you can still swing by Olympic National Park if you want, or cut through Canada and Banff National Park on the way to Alaska. I can help with lodging in this area (contact me through RonPiano dot com). All the best.
Ronman
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