20 work days ago I published a blog post called “41”. I’d had a stressful day at work and was just counting down to how many days I had left to go. Pretty disheartened. Felt unappreciated and under pressure. Anyway, I thought it was a bit heavy for my joyful travel blog so it has since been hidden away!

Anyway, 21 days until I leave work, after 3.5 years. I went to look at rucksacks and walking boots yesterday which was great and I fell on love with this really amazing bag which I’d been looking at a few months ago and is now in the Sale! 😍 It has got so many 4/5 star reviews and I’m really excited to get it 😂 it’s the Osprey Aura AG 50.

I got home and it started to sink in. That bag will be my portable home for months, for thousands of miles. I will have just that, and I have to trust it to carry and hold all of my essential belongings that I’ll need to pull this trip off. All of my little creature comforts will be left in a box half a world away! 🌏 Limited space, limited stuff, so many “What Ifs”! What if something breaks, shouldn’t I bring three spares??

I’m trying to re-waterproof my trusty old Salomon Quest 4D boots that I’ve had since Borneo 5 years ago – regardless of whether that works or not, there’s a lot of pressure on my boots being perfect. They have to carry me everywhere, keep my feet warm and dry and comfortable, including, hopefully, up to Everest Base Camp on a 12 day trek. I feel as if these things will become part of me as I will rely on them so heavily day in day out!

A lot ran through my mind and it all got a bit overwhelming. In addition to the fact that I’m getting all of these things because I am leaving, the day is coming closer that I will have to say goodbye to my family and friends and physically take those steps away from them, for who knows how long. 🥺

Obviously, I’m sure everything will be fine and you have to take things as they come, hope for the best and prepare for the worst (maybe not the worst…). It is exciting and will be a great opportunity and experience. It is also very scary.

So, 21 work days left, I’ll do everything that I can, and 103 days left (approximately) until it all really begins!

K x