Packing...

“What sandals are you taking? Are you even taking sandals or just flip flops? Should I bring my cropped linen trousers of my full length ones? I think we should split up the first aid kit – can you buy E45 cream and Imodium?”

The daily phone call from my fellow travel companion Ellie – something I have come to expect, and love. The struggle she faces attempting her cull her vast wardrobe into something manageable and most importantly weighing under 15kg is well documented and discussed. My other companion Kate is more silent on the packing issue (it has definitely become an issue.) Though, I have a sneaking suspicion that she will sit on her rucksack and heave the zip round – not that she would tell us if she did. Me? I tend to delay packing until the last minute and pride myself in being disciplined and rational. Famous last words.

Packing was always going to be the first hurdle. I am going to Morocco for six weeks and have to consider respecting local culture and yet simultaneously tackling the heat, mountain footwear, Saharan headwear and beach attire. Not to mention the fact that this is Kate, Ellie and myself, a liability in itself – we have studied the ‘Sex and The City 2’ trailer for fashionable inspiration. Gemstone head gear here we come. But the less said about that the better.

We are flying into Marrakech at 9:10am on Monday, I can only imagine what kind of awakening that will be. Abrupt, unexpected and fantastic. After the first three days the plan is loose. The general idea is to spend a week or so in Marrakech then make our way across the Atlas mountains to the Sahara. I can already assure you that the moment I turn around and see Kate and Ellie on a camel will be one of the best moments of my life.

Then it’s off to Essaouira (the only place I think of that can claim all the vowels making it impossible to spell) for lazy days on the beach and down to Agadir for a similar purpose. We never pretended that this trip was for any other reason than to relax, absorb and re-boot. Saying that, something tells me it won’t be that straight forward. None of us have done anything like this before so vital lessons have not been learnt yet. Sure we’ve been to places around the world but not like this. Never like this.

This blog is for all our friends, family and anyone else who wants to follow us on our journey. We will report on what is inspirational, beautiful and thoughtful but also on the more memorable, inevitable moments like when I read the bus timetable wrong and we get stranded, when Ellie gets charged for exceeding luggage allowance and when Kate burns.

I can see my packing in the corner looking at me. I should really get started. I’ve just realised that the pile of clothes is considerably taller than the bag and will never fit in. Good start.