Alone in the Boxster on the Royu

The other day, my husband was talking with an acquaintance. When he said, “I often go on long tours up to Tohoku,” he was asked, “Do you go with your family?” and he replied, “No, of course I go alone!” which surprised them. When he got home, he said with a grin,

That’s obvious. Going solo is the best way, lol.

He often says, “Touring is best done alone,” and every time I heard that, I thought, “He really hates group activities. Still, he’s such a free spirit… (-_-)” with a bit of a cold eye. But now, I understand his feelings much better.

Recently, he drove the Royu Driveway alone in the Boxster. It was just the time when the sunset was stunning and the weather was perfect. Driving with the top down, he was so moved he almost cried.

Of course, it’s great to have a passenger and chat about how “this is a great car, so much fun,” but when it comes to Porsche, I think it’s even more enjoyable to drive alone, facing the car one-on-one.

When I go alone to Royu, I often use the time to practice my course lines, reflecting with thoughts like “Ah, that was totally off just now” or “Oh, I didn’t need to downshift so much there.” Having a passenger next to me at times like that makes it hard to focus fully on driving (What exactly am I aiming for, anyway? lol).

Also, this time spent honing my skills to become one with the Boxster is a precious moment for me to calmly face myself amid the daily chaos of raising kids.

So, to get back to the point, I now really understand why my husband says he wants to “go touring alone.” He rarely talks about work at home, but I’m sure he has his share of challenges. I think that time spent alone, fully engaged in dialogue with his beloved car, is a valuable recharge for him.

You Go Touring “With” Porsche

My husband often says this:

Magazines and websites often introduce “recommended driving routes,” but none of that really clicks with me. That’s not a real driving guide. Usually, they just highlight “must-see scenic spots” or “popular restaurants,” focusing only on tourist info about the destination, with no info about the roads to get there. They just list the order of roads to take. But I’m different. I purely want to enjoy driving my car itself, so the destination is secondary. What matters is how enjoyable the roads are to drive on the way there. For me, the road itself is the sightseeing spot. Food is secondary. I just want to keep driving as much as possible.

Well, I’m not quite that extreme, lol.

Still, when I told him, “I really get why you want to go touring alone now that I can drive the Boxster,” he said this:

Exactly. When I drive a Porsche, it’s not “going touring by Porsche,” but “going touring with Porsche.” It’s not just driving a car called Porsche; it’s like going out with a partner named Porsche. I’ve driven many cars, but none speak to me like a Porsche does. The grip you feel through the steering, the road surface, the noises, the engine and exhaust sounds, the brake feel—they all seem to be telling me things like “You can go faster,” “Slow down a bit,” or “Not yet.” I feel like Porsche and the driver talk to each other and become a team driving together. That’s why I prefer going touring alone.

I see. Indeed, Porsche feels like it has a soul, like a true partner. I wonder why that is…

Someday, I want to go on a long tour “with” Porsche too.