Your wife told you to find someone else to travel with? Woof :)
She obviously is dead set on NOT going with you!
But that is fine. You go alone. If you want...some people really do not want to travel alone but if it was me in this position, I would go alone and enjoy the heck out of it. You will meet many people to chat with along the way, it won't be so lonely as you 'need' a companion I am guessing to enjoy your trip.
very tough situation tho.
and if the trip starts to bomb in any way for you, ya got wheels, you can turn around and head home :)
best of luck in this!!