three days to go

Kent St in the City is becoming my haunt. Today, my project is to buy my backpack. I plan to walk to the Trek and Travel store, at one extreme of the outward-bound precinct, and trawl through the options as I head back to base at Paddy Pallin on the corner of Bathurst St. But then, just as I start out, I'm drawn into Larry Adler and clearly for a reason: Jane who is manager there led Outdoor Ed camps for 20 years and is willing to spend whatever it takes - more than 2 hours - with me patiently trying on a variety of styles, each time with a 5 kg sandbag. Belt first, shoulder straps second and chest strap, third. Then the minor straps which all need adjusting to get the perfect fit. I am embarrassed to complain that the Slimline fit which is theoretically for women, cuts into my chest. 'I'm chunky in the shoulders and upper back,' I volunteer. Those faraway years of surfing in my teens.
'There is a new Ultralite pack by Deuter, but it's for older people."
'I'm turning 50 soon...'
'But you're not 60. Try it anyway.'
'Why would you buy a heavier pack if you didn't have to?' The standard (men's) version is in light light grey with strips of lime green. My colours. And it weighs about 1080 gms, a half-kilo lighter than the alternatives...I keep it on for 40 minutes while looking at jackets, poles and whistles and forget about it. That means it's my pack.