I assume this thing is still on

Here’s what happened:

I realized (duh) that our Big Trip is…not too far away. And while I had reserved accommodations at our first two stops back in February, knowing that they were popular anyway and this summer would undoubtedly see heavy travel…that’s all I had done (aside from the plane tickets). And given we will be in this place without a car and, like all European destinations, you pay more for train tickets the closer you get to departure, I decided that I needed to set aside my whatever-we’ll-get-there-sometime-and-what-we-see-we’ll-see philosophy for this trip at least and actually – gulp – plan, rather than just “prepare.”

So that’s what I’ve been doing. Immersed in train schedules and the ins-and-outs of British rail cards and passes, asking advice on travel forums and doing all kinds of calculations and even buying tickets for experiences ahead of time (?! What?), the whole trip is just about reserved. Every accommodation – check – most of the train tickets – check – tickets to see Viking things and puffins and such.

It’s actually kind of a relief, and it’s definitely helpful to my state of mind. That’s done, my brain can say, and move on.

Let’s go.