TGO 2014 - "....there goes a complete looney tunes ....."

Just as a follow up to my gear post: it occured to me that there was one essential missing.

It costs nothing!

If you read my account of 2011 TGO Challenge you'll get where I'm coming from.

http://aktovate1.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/my-2011-tgo-challenge-from-oban-to-st.html

In 2011, I think I'm right in saying that it rained every day for the crossing.

My second, very stormy, night was in a high bealach above Glen Etive:

"But despite this all and no sleep, the shelter stayed up and I remained in good spirits."

Later, I developed sore toes and a magnetism for heather.

Before decending to Spital of Glenshee I had sat down and twisted the water out of my

socks and then put them back on with my wet boots.

I was tired and had to be careful picking my way down the path but, as I wrote:

"So, there goes a complete looney tunes singing 10 green bottles"

The missing essential is nothing new or revolutionary, but without it any backpacking trip is

going to be prone to be an uncomfortable experience at best, and, result in failure, at worst.

It's attitude.

Forget the gear and the weight of it. Without this free essential you risk having a memorable

experience. Bad memories are not like good ones.

(Nothing new or original about this type of post but without the right attitude things that seem bad can seem much worse)