Heading out on a road trip today and smiling to myself as I reject offers of company. As a single woman, having adventures on my own is been part of my personal growth. Facing struggles by myself and learning to be independent makes me stronger. It is hard for me some days. Having help in life always makes things easier. However, doing things by myself gives me a huge rush!
Solo travel has taught me:
1. Adaptability and self-reliance: Once you step out of your home turf, you’ll inevitably encounter unfamiliar situations and foreign environments. No matter how much advance preparation you’ve done, there’ll be unforeseen circumstances due to various reasons (weather patterns, cultural practices, etc.), which will require you to improvise and think on your feet.
2. Social and conversation skills: When you’re out and about, on your own, you’re more inclined to strike up a conversation with people along the way. You’ll be able to engage in a way that wouldn’t be possible if you were traveling with other people.
3. Self-reflection: Solitude offers a direct pathway to connect with your inner world. Traveling to a new environment takes you away from the worries and demands of your life, making it even easier to delve in deep reflection.
5. Self-knowledge: When you travel to a new place, you get to leave behind the labels, titles and identity that you take on back home. Instead, you can work with your soul essence and your truths. No one knows you in your destination so you have the chance to experiment
I am taking the new 2019 Mazda CX-3 and heading to Kelowna for this trip. Driving about 750km round trip all by myself. This adventure has been planned for a while now and I have been looking forward to having this time on my own. With my quad breve latte (my favourite coffee drink) and a long list of music uploaded to iTunes. I am very happy to not have to worry about back seat drivers on this trip. Very glad to not have other people in my car telling how to drive, what turns to take or when we need to stop and pee.
The reason for this excursion is to attend the RV Owners & Lifestyle Weekend. Two and a half days of education and classes about RV life. The metaphorical journey with my travel trailer and the literal journey has me doing this 100% on my own and I am not going to change that now. It is a massive adjustment to the way I live and has been challenging. But it is another thing that I can add to my list of accomplishments that I have tackled solo.
As I do this all on my own – back seat drivers pop up everywhere. As I make life choices and decisions by myself it seems like everybody wants to give their opinions, even when I don’t ask for them. I know that they mean well and it comes from a place of caring, but it is still frustrating to hear it.
You are all familiar with these people. Wikipedia defines them as: “A passenger in the vehicle who is not controlling the vehicle but who excessively comments on the driver’s actions and decisions in an attempt to control the vehicle.”
The idea of a back street drivers in life and not just in our cars is the theme behind this post. You see, the CX-3 is a subcompact car that many people told me is not a good choice for a road trip like this. They have commented on its small size, less powerful engine and that fact that it will not provide a very comfortable ride for such a long trip.
But what exactly do I need in a vehicle? Not just snap shot of one road trip but what would this vehicles primary usage be? Just like in life, what I need and want is going to be very different than what others need and want. So why do so many people feel like they need give there two cents, even when we never ask for it?
Obviously, towing my trailer is not even a consideration with this car. Leaving my 29 foot travel trailer parked I am thankful to be saving money on fuel with this Mazda. This GT is rated to get up to 7.4L/100km on the highway. Way better than any truck towing my 6600lbs RV. The base CX3 is rated to use 6.6L/100km and the which is slightly better than the Nissan .
I can understand peoples hesitations to drive such a distance in a car like this. Really, the little Mazda CX-3 is an ideal city runabout car. Take out the fact that I have a trailer to tow, this is the perfect vehicle for someone like me. I put a premium on good looks and style. I have no kids so if I don’t travel alone it is only a friend or my dog, Jasper. The seats split and fold 60/40 and I can put everything I need in the back hatch.
The 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with available i-Activ All-Wheel Drive is peppy and fun to toss around. Nimble and responsive on busy streets or passing at higher speeds. Going 120km/ hour and climbing the steep inclines on the Coquihalla proved to be a bit of a struggle for this little car. Putting my foot down for acceleration took a second before responding. Though it jumps up to speed quickly, unfortunately, the engine starts to sound like it is working very hard to keep it going.
Roads like this are not the norm for most people. I can see how larger engines and/or a more luxurious vehicle might have a better time with power and insulation but this CX-3 managed fine. The target market for this car will rarely face road conditions like this. City streets and urban areas will be no match for this functional little car. can confidently say that this little car did ok.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS CAR:
– Kodo design is gorgeous
– With seats folded flat there is 1484 litres of space.
– Sport mode perks things up!
– Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel-drive system
WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT THIS CAR
– Back seat is limited with both head room and leg room. Especially if you have a tall person in front with their seat pushed back.
– When you put your foot down hard, the engine is loud and sounds like it is really working hard.
When shopping for your next vehicle, make sure you don’t listen to the wrong people. If you are going to be the one making payments and doing all the driving, then you want to make sure that you love the vehicle you are driving. Look at how you will be using your vehicle 80% or more of the time. The 2019 Mazda CX-3 offers a lot in a little package. For all the specs on this latest model you can go direct to Mazda Canada or Mazda USA
Make sure that your life is not pushed in the wrong direction because of those back seat drivers, either. This is your life – your journey and you need to make the best choices for you.
