Things I love to hate about backpacking

You start off with everything having a place in your pack. Then nothing has a place and it’s a crazy mess. Then that good feeling when you have sorted it all out again.
Washing your laundry in the sink, working out what you can wash things with and if you should use shampoo or soap. Wringing it out in towels, making a mess of the bathroom, working our the best place for it to dry. Wearing it when it’s stiff and crunchy from soap residue.

Not knowing where you are going, making a plan, having it wrecked and the new plan working out much better. Or so you tell yourself.

Saving money on little things, whatever it is and carrying that forward to spend it on something else.

Losing things, finding them, losing them again. Or losing things, buying a replacement - usually very expensive, finding them again at the end of the trip.

If you’re not digital: keeping count of how many rolls of film you have. Should it be six or will there be six?

Becoming one with your backpack because you have it fitting you just right and feeling like you could carry a camel in it. Having a new backpack that doesn’t sit right and no matter what you do you can’t seem to fit it.

Thinking that the fellow traveller that you share a room with is more likely to pinch your stuff than the locals.

Walking around once you know a place without a day pack or even a map.

For lone travellers, knowing that everything you do - good or bad - you’ve worked out and done for yourself. And feeling kinda good about that.