So 2014 is approaching and I'm sure we all have our lists of resolutions at the ready to kick in after our hungover New Years day. One of my passions for those who may not have caught on by now is traveling. Adventures and backpacking to me are like a drug; I need an even better one every year to give me that high I so often seek. For the last five years I've been traveling all over the place, from the busy streets of Chicago to the ever changing roads in Western Europe, and have enjoyed every second of it.
The funny thing is that every year I pick a random place(s) to go to and just do it, no questions asked. I set aside the money that I hope will cover my trip and I just head out by whatever means I have at my disposal. Budgeting for trips in my case is a double edged sword; not only do I need to save for what will become my annual caper, but also for my "oh shit" moments which tend to happen without fail. As long as I can cover my trip, that extra backup stash is usually paid for over the following months after arriving back; covering my travels AND what seems to be my odd luck at getting caught in some really unusual spots is just too much to plan for. The question isn't if something odd will happen, but how much it will cost me. My clumsiness or "traveler's luck" will never deter me from my annual getaway!
If I've learned one thing from my journeys is that having atleast one goal always helps. My last trip to St. John's Newfoundland saw the accomplishment of one of my goals: to be at the furthest eastern point of the whole American continent. I still had fun and soaked it all in, but I went with a very basic objective. With that in mind, the thought came to me: why don't I make a bucket list of places I want to travel to?
So here I am, the new year approaching in a matter of hours and I'm already planning my '14 trip... actually my next 52 trips. I've decided that one thing I want to do this upcoming year is to write about one place or region I want to visit every week in hopes of making my "Backpacking Bucket List" BBL for short ;-) The one requirement that these upcoming destinations will need, is for me to have a week at the least, to visit them; I don't think anything can be seen or experienced in less than a week, unless you're a robot or some super human who needs no sleep.
So starting Friday the 10th of the new 2014, I'll begin my wish list of locations with the hope that it will inspire others to join in on the world of adventure; if anyone else has any ideas or locations as well, I hope that you'll leave me a comment or suggestion to make it on the bucket list.
Happy 2014 to everyone and much love to you all!
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