RISK PERCEPTION

Issue 751, April 2023, Richard Millington’s article on Adventure Travel was an interesting concept that made me think about our own motorbike travels and ‘adventures’. I went online and found a few definitions of the word adventure: ‘unusual or exciting experience’ more often being ‘risky or dangerous’. As a self-employed, 50-year-old mother of four, I wouldn’t say I particularly like to take big risks and I certainly don’t try to put myself in unnecessarily dangerous places as a rule. However, depending on how you see it, I took up riding two years ago and undertook a week-long trip last summer across Europe on my own. Was that risky, dangerous, unusual or exciting?

Well, that all depends on your perspective, of course. Certainly I suffered my fair share of raised eyebrows, and I will admit to not being the most technically minded, nor am I trained in the art of kung fu self defence so, yes, it might have been a bit risky. But as your article pointed out, Europe is not one of the most dangerous places to visit in the world, (I might have thought twice about Mexico).

The main draw for me and what I most appreciated was freedom. Freedom from having to think about others and freedom from having to be anywhere specific at any particular time. That meant that I didn’t plan my stops in detail, but I did have camping kit, including a tent and the ability to pay for board if needed. I knew that France would only let me camp with the owner’s permission, and I had enough of a rudimentary grasp of the language to allow me to ask for help if needed. Does that sound like enough PPP for you Richard, to prevent the other PPP from occurring?

Well anyway, I had a wonderfully interesting time, got home safe and sound, and one day I’ll find enough time to write about it properly!

Morven Macleod