I crossed the US on the 4400 mile Northern Tier route "alone" in quotes because I seldom felt that way.

With my gray beard and aging, mellow demeanor, I think I was approachable and I met very nice people all the time, young and old, male and female. I met a young guy whose path crossed mine for over 1000 miles and we shared a deep bond by the time that section was over. I spent unplanned nights in strangers' homes, spur of the moment, shared meals with all sorts of people, like an MD, a trucker, a homeless guy for some examples. Going solo on that trip was an excellent decision for me.