27 days to go!

 

I sit warming by the winter bonfire, lush green paddocks surrounding me, grey sky overhead and the cool winter evening air setting in.  My eye drifts to the caravan and my mind wanders over our preparations for our next trip north.  The checklists are made, the marking off has begun and the two of us are excited and somewhat impatient for the trek to begin. 

For a while it didn’t seem like it was going to happen – there just didn’t seem to be the build-up of last time which made me nervous thinking it was just an illusion.  Will assured me that was only because second time round was much easier; we know much more about what is ahead of us so less planning is needed.  When I saw the Nissan being pulled down, rebuilt, taken in for a new muffler and given a test drive I knew my worries had been for nought.  This year it’s Will’s turn to get the preparations under way and that he has! 

Last trip there was hardly a comment before we began our trek from Will, no one would have suspected we were about to head off on an adventure, but this time there is no mistaking it.  He mentions our trip to any who will listen and casually completes a job or two each week to make sure we’re ready to head off.  He’s even been heard to say it’s a damn shame we can’t just get up and leave now – that comment comes at the end of another cold wet day trudging through mud at work.  We’ve also started chatting about our holidays for 2017 and possibly 2018 (Cape York maybe) – who knew one successful holiday could bring about such changes – OK, yes that’s what I was hoping for but hey, there were no guarantees!!

So, with 27 days to go before we spend our first night away with two of the wonderful friends we made last year, Trev and Vina in Renmark, it’s hard to keep focused on the here and now.  But hey, while mindfulness is important so is enjoying the anticipation of wonderful times ahead.