When we began our trip I didn’t think the way I approached our journey would be very different from my husband’s needs but after so long on the road there are a few tips I’ve learned and would like to share with other women.

• I’ve never been one for ‘lotions and potions’ (even before our trip I hardly ever wore makeup) but a small bottle of face and hand lotion goes a long way to making you feel better after a few nights of camping. Take a small luxury or two like this with you on the road.
• I could not survive without my Mooncup. It makes every month so much easier. No searching for bulky pads and tampons and no carrying them around. There’s no garbage to dispose of and you can wear it all day without worry of Toxic Shock Syndrome. I use it even when we aren’t cycling but it’s a particular godsend for when we’re on the move. If you are planning a trip and haven’t used one before, make sure you have two or three cycles to get used to it.
• If you are an outgoing person, be aware that in some countries you will need to reign in your smiles and normal cheerfulness when dealing with local men. I found this out to my peril in Syria and Turkey. I was dressed modestly so I do not feel that contributed to this situation. The vast majority of people were no problem at all but once in a while I would give someone a big smile as I do with everyone and then would find that men would want to hold my hand, give me a kiss on the cheek or things of this nature.

  Unfortunately, the image of Western women abroad is formed by a lot of bad American movies, pop videos where women are dancing around in skimpy clothes and even free access to adult TV channels. Friendliness can be easily misinterpreted so if you are with a man let him do the talking until you get a feel for someone’s character and if you’re on your own then try and find a woman to talk to or seek out a well-dressed businessman.

  Be extremely cautious of truckers. We found they were prone to be the worst offenders (too much time alone on the road??). If you feel at all uncomfortable, never hesitate to flag down passing traffic. These men know they are doing something not-quite-acceptable and will clear off very quickly if you attract attention.

• Take extra pairs of underwear! They are not heavy and give you freedom from having to do a wash every day. I usually carry 5-6 pairs.
• From Sarah of Erck.org comes this tip: “I recently got back to the USA after spending one year touring the world by bicycle for my honeymoon! One thing I really really loved during my trip and couldn’t have survived without is the WhizAway. It’s sort of a little purple rubber funnel that fits against your crotch and allows you to pee while standing up, or into a bottle. I found this hugely useful in roadside peeing situations, times when we were stuck in the tent because of bug attacks, and in super dirty bathrooms.”