First trip of..youth/discovery..on your own?

[HEyHEY]

For me, when I was 18 I took a train trip across Canada. I had spent six weeks in boarding school before in Ontario..but this was different, I could go and do whatever I wanted....I even had my first legal drink on the via..with an old sailor who cleaned out the entire supply of rye from Vancouver to Edmonton. The biggest discovery on that trip was getting over my fear of Qubec...as a BC boy, I thought no-one in Montreal would speak english and I was afraid of some form of retribution for being English....silly me, buying into Western folklore that way..

But the trip was amazing, I met great people, saw the country, and all on my own to boot. Would love to do it again.

So how about you?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. You were 8 and had a legal drink????

:shrug:

LOL, great for you!!!

[HEyHEY]

2. ah! I mean 18!

:-)

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. WHEW!!!!! Here I thought you were a complete degenerate....

}(

[Earth_First]

3. When I first took to the open road following a band: Phish

In 2000 I set out with my backpack filled with the essentials for a 3 week hitch-hike along the tour. I learned more about myself in those 3 weeks than I have yet to experience, however the road calls constantly.

[HEyHEY]

4. yeah, it's hard

I can't stay in the same place for more than three months withough being ancy

[jimshoes]

6. I lost my virginity in Val D'or Quebec

on my 18th birthday while on a camping trip to a nice lady for $15.00 US. I'll always have fond memories of the Moose Hotel. The local folks were really nice to us which kind of surprised me. I too thought the Quebecers would be snobby to two young Americans.

[carpediem]

7. I flew to London for 2 weeks by myself

didn't tell my parents -stayed in a hostel and cheap hotel. Went sightseeing etc. I was around 20 years old. It was a really liberating experience knowing that my parents didn't know I was overseas. I even called them from a phone booth in London (near the tower of London) and pretended to be calling from Chicago(where I lived at the time).


In retrospect and as the parent of 2 daughters and 1 son I think it was a little naive and crazy to travel overseas for 2 weeks as a young female by myself. But it sure was a great trip - I got to decide what I wanted to see and do.

[HEyHEY]

9. Why didn't you tell your folks?

[carpediem]

10. I'm not sure. I love my parents.

But even though they weren't overly controlling, I felt I needed to break from them. In some ways I still do. They wouldn't have approved of me going and spending the money on the trip. BTW they are both die-hard repubs.

It was just something I needed to do.

[HEyHEY]

11. Ah, I get it

When I was 20, I told my parents I was staying in New Brunswick..only to show up on their door 6,000 clicks away three days later...it was a good laugh.

[Miss Authoritiva]

8. College, spring break, took the slowest Amtrak train ever

from New York to Miami. Got strep throat. Got a bad sunburn. A waiter slipped and dumped a tray full of food over my head. But youth being youth, I had a great time anyway.

[tigereye]

12. getting on a plane to Seattle I guess

to visit a college friend - twice actually. I had never been that far away from home before, rented the car myself and drove to her house. It was very cool - there is something very liberating about being on your own. As a parent I miss that feeling... it is much harder to just pack up and go when you have a kid.

[SarahB]

13. Still waiting

I went from kid to grown-up in 6.8 seconds. I have a lot of catching up to do in life.