Did you backpack, late teens/20s?

[Miljah]

Watching the irritating Levison Wood doing 'the Nile' on catch up! 😊

Then got to thinking about those year/s, backpacking.

I went Interrailing at 18, in 1979, Western Europe.

I then did a trip to Australia in 1987, aged 24, via India etc. I was away 2 years. I travelled some more. Inc Egypt, as backpackers, with 3 mates in 1988? When you could.

It hasn't made me a better person, etc, but, god, at 56, I'm so glad I did it.

I have always worked in a staid, settled, naice MC gal HCP profession, where the vast majority want a mortgage, not Montana, and who can blame them?

But I am so grateful for my own 'hinterland', bearing in mind, partner and mortgage were madly unaffordable when I was 24, ( tho, yes, in Morden, in 1986, hence it was easier to walk away!)

Yep, two years in SE Asia and Australia when I was 21, then 3 months in Indonesia at 23 with my just turned 1yr old

Yes, went to Australia and New Zealand post university. Saved for 3 months temping jobs whilst living at home and took out the student loan to buy my flight (back in the days when tuition was free and a bar job could cover living expenses if your parents paid your rent).

Had an absolute ball, tried so many new things, and my only regret is not seeing more. I will absolutely be encouraging DD to see as much of the world as she can.

I didn't as I was career focused and bought my first doer upper when I was 23. Making up for it now travel wise, just not with a backpack . My husband was a backpacker though, he did it for a year and being the organised person he is, has albums full of photographs from his travels which are great to look back on.

My boyfriend ( now husband) and I went back packing around Australia after we both graduated in 2000. It was a fabulous opportunity and we had so many great experiences and adventures to look back on.