Yesterday morning, two backpackers from Alabama came to Crossfire. "Happy" and "Donuts" - had just come from the city down the highway one way, and are heading on this week to the city down the highway the other way.
Intriguing. Any other backpackers out there?
My sister-in-law backpacked through Europe, I'm pretty sure, but I was only newly dating Spike when she came home, so I'm fuzzy on the details.
(I should ask her more about that, now that I've known her for a couple of decades. Maybe it's time I get over that initial shyness.)
Here is what I learned. Today's backpackers carry tiny little laptops with them. They also pre-arrange some of their sleeping arrangements through websites dedicated to backpackers with texting capabilities. Or they sleep in a park, like backpackers of yore.
And they can live - two of them - on $22 a day. $23 with the exchange.
They were lovely people. I enjoyed meeting them.
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I don't think I'm backpacker material. I can rough it - that's not a problem - I've seen my share of international bathrooms. (Which, ironically, rarely have a bath or running water, and may not even be a room. Even "toilet" can be a gross exaggeration.)
But I need a plan. I don't have to be in charge of the plan. I'm open to the plan changing. I can be flexible about the plan. I just like to know that there was a reasonable attempt at a plan.
No, I'm not backpacker material.
I'm more of a road trip kind of gal. Unless it's to St. Petersburg. That's my dream destination (having fulfilled my Alaska dream a couple of years ago). St. Petersburg will require travel by plane and train, as well as an excellent interpreter.
I will get there someday.
Without a backpack.
