Lost my rider too and my wife wont, go so last year and this year, I'll go by myself if I have to. In 2006, I drove from St. Louis to Jacksonville, FL. solo, stopping at rest stops to sleep a couple of hours if I got tired. Drove the entire tour solo. Then drove straight 22 hours from New jersey to St. Louis home. I met many others on the tour with their cars and by themselves. Everyone is friendly and didn't have any lame excuses why they didn't make it. This thing is HUGE and you'll regret not going.
See you there!
Rob