Sunday Blog 258 – 8th November 2026
After finally escaping the two week bicycle tour of country NSW supporting darling husband and his merry band (see last week’s blog of lessons learned) five days in Sydney were essential. But somewhere along the way from Dunedoo to Dubbo to Darlinghurst I had accrued more crap (e.g. red felt boots half price from Molong) I had more that I could fit into my existing luggage.
You may recall my backpack with wheels purchased for my July France trip which, for a brief moment I considered to be my best luggage purchase yet. Hope dimmed before I’d reached the end of my driveway to catch an uber to the airport, as the zips strained open from the many books crammed inside.
I’d left this backpack home for the NSW trip, preferring my simple at-home backpack. But what to do with the extra luggage? Why, buy another backpack with wheels, of course.
While carefully examining back packs on the shelves for smart sleeves, telescope handles and wheels, another customer heard me talking to the saleswoman about what I wanted. She held up her purchase; a small, neat black backpack with many handles, a smart sleeve and wheels. She crowed over it, and before you could say “peer impulse buy” I was rushing to get my own.
This was truly it, I said to myself as I left the store bubbling over with consumer optimism.
Only the next day when I tried to wear it as a backpack at Sydney airport, the wheels were situated so that they pressed with excruciating exactness on two trigger points on my hip. Even walking six steps was agony.
Chastened, I took the backpack off my shoulders, zipped the straps back into their neat place at the rear of the pack and reverted to using the telescopic handle. I tried not to slump as I wheeled what was now essentially a small wheelie suitcase through to the baggage check area.
It is a good size though. Small but not too small. And black. And it has a smart sleeve. And once I got it home I had to admit it looks almost identical to two other bags I bought at different times, when I thought they too would complete and perfect my baggage requirements.
Perhaps I am doomed to wander the shopping desert chasing luggage mirages all the way into my next impulse buy.
Still, I’m home, and glory be.