Do others of you suffer from something of the same problem? I’m beginning to wonder.

Now, regular readers will know that there is nothing I like better than a bit of backpacking and wildcamping. There’s nothing quite like long walks on long days followed by long evenings in magnificent settings. But sometimes …

I think this current bout of wallowing in self-pitty started in the Pyrenees. This year’s walk was superb in many ways but it also had some problems. First off, this was not a linear walk with obviously defined day stages. As a result things became a bit of an amble, or ramble, at times. Secondly, I was walking in more popular areas and spending more time around the GR10 than I have for a while.

The real problem with all of this were people carrying day packs. They seemed to glide past so easily, even allowing for the lighter load that I was carrying. Particularly in the Néovielle area we seemed to be the only ‘proper backpackers’. Everyone else was skipping along and spending the night in a refuge.

Suddenly life in the refuge seemed attractive. And this has been made worse by Helen and Colin from Stockport who – as I write – are walking some of the same trails, armed only with a little day-pack.

It’s a long time since I have done a long, multi-stage, walk from hut-to-hut or hostel to B&B. But I wonder whether it’s worth a try for the next long-ish trip. Time to revisit the South West Coastal Path or what’s-his-name’s trail along the Welsh marches? Time to feel as if I’m walking on air again?

All of this is a lovely thought until I think of hostels and those who snore. Nope, it’s not worth it. That’s one of the big reasons I carry a tent.

I’ll just have to resign myself to slogging on while others skip on past.

Time to get out the tarp again I think. There have been too few opportunities to use it this summer.

Do you think it’s possible to dehydrate Horlicks?