Freedom to travel
One of the things I have loved about this decade, is our relative freedom to travel, whilst still being young enough to take on adventurous ones, and a camping trip to Botswana certainly qualifies as that. As I’m sure I have mentioned before, my husband is a great adventurer in his 4×4, and has undertaken some fairly challenging trips into other African countries.
Botswana my African trip for the year
I have undertaken to do one over landing trip a year, providing they are not too challenging in terms of terrain, I don’t cope with driving along precipices or hurtling down sand dunes. This year we are looking at two weeks in Botswana, exploring a teeny piece of the Delta and other wild and open spaces. I will report back on this adventure when we return some time in early July
Giving each other the space to deal with the demands is the key
What I am focusing on today, is the pressure preparing for our trip, that is an unavoidable part of these adventures. In years gone by the stress leading up to a holiday almost undid any benefit of the holiday itself. Thankfully we matured. I’m referring to myself and my spouse here, in over thirty years together we have learnt to give each other a little space to prepare, physically and mentally, and not get caught up in each other’s drama.
Lists, like them or leave them
Both of us have different approaches to the run up to a holiday, neither of which is ideal, but somehow it all comes together anyway. He is practical, I’m usually more concerned with the things not vital to our survival and comfort, like do I have it in me to cope with a few nights of wild camping.
I’m a loose planner, I write a list, I like making the list, I’m just hopeless at referring to the list. My husband is an extreme planner, he makes lists, and lists within lists, and ticks each item off as completed. He plots routes, menus, and itineraries, with scary dedication. Thank goodness someone has the foresight to do it, my making a plan on the fly, would probably not get us very far.
.He starts getting ready in good time, whilst I need the pressure of a looming deadline to galvanise me into action.
Disparate stressors
We both fret, but about different things. He worries about extra fuel and carrying enough water. I worry about being away when bills need to be paid, am I going to find a reliable WiFi source to be able to sort this out?
He worries about getting on the road early enough, I worry about whether I will have enough time to make sure the house is clean and tidy for the housesitter, before we leave.
He worries about the right tools to extricate us should we get stuck in sand, I worry about keeping everyone safe from curious lions in our camp.
He worries about the mound of luggage that needs to be packed in the car, I’m wondering if I can sneak a few extra books in without him noticing.
Travelling companions
This year we are taking some family and friends with us, some of who have never holidayed in this way before. Ultimate Adventures will be guiding us so I know we will be in good hands having travelled with them before. Still it’s my family, and I want this to be as wonderful for them as possible.
My husband is fantastic at advising them on how to pack, what to take etc. He stresses when they are having a difficulty, like finding the correct documentation, to cross the border. I’m more flippant, feeling it’s their responsibility, and they are resourceful enough to sort it.
Well prepared makes for a relaxed holiday
I also know I can be relaxed because he is so efficient at organising these trips, he leaves nothing to chance and that is very reassuring when I climb into the car knowing that whatever the holiday throws at us, we will be prepared.
I’ll bear this in mind as the pressure increases over the next few hours as we pack that car and get ready to hit the very long road.
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