Digital Wanderer

Today I was quite pleased with the service from Decathlon, who quickly agreed to send my order to another parcel locker (so I could make it in time to pick up my mountain hiking boots).

And even from Air Baltic, who agreed that I'd be allowed on the plane with a typo in my last name on the booking, even though their website says that fixing a typo costs 50 euros.

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How I used to pack:
A list, three days of thinking about what else not to forget, packing your bag a day in advance, putting in the right amount of clothes.

How I pack now: an hour before leaving I toss in whatever clean underwear, t-shirts, and socks I have, check that my documents, money, and meds are all there, and order a taxi 15 minutes before the train.

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Took a bike trip to Braslav, positive experience. The swamps are terrifyingly gnarly, the nettles are over our heads, and instead of forest roads there are bumps and knee-deep mud puddles. Horseflies and red flies bite even through repellent. Everything we love about MTB. Crossed the border easily, almost with no line; all you need is insurance, a cheap Balta or Ergo.

Stayed overnight with relatives, so I can't help you there. When we were heading back, they didn't inspect our stuff. The gravel roads are often terrible, torn up due to the abundance of cars and agricultural trucks. Whenever possible, we turned off onto a meadow or into a swamp. As I've said more than once, a washboard-style dirt road is my least favorite thing.

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