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All these years later his words still ring true. I can be working at some small fiddly task and thinking that after this I'll do these other things and then I can get back into that book again and then, DANG!! that hurt, wonder if I ought to get stitches. Serves me right; woolgathering. Again.

Excellent advice. For anyone who's traveling alone being in the moment is a lesson that the sooner learned the better off you are.

Every tumble/misstep/temporary getting lost etc, came when I took what I was doing or going for granted and started looking to far ahead. You want to be thinking about your next step literally.

And it is sad that when strangers see a young kid talking with someone that isn't a relative they think the worst. Sign of the times but sad nonetheless.