Alright folks, let me tell you about this little hiccup I had today. So, the title pretty much gives it away: “valero pulled out of trip.” Yeah, Valero, my travel buddy for this upcoming photography trip, bailed. Last minute. Classic.
It all started a few weeks ago. We were both buzzing about this landscape photography workshop in the mountains. Stunning scenery, professional guidance, the whole nine yards. We booked our spots, planned our gear, and even started coordinating outfits – okay, maybe not outfits, but you get the idea. We were stoked.
Fast forward to this morning. I’m packing my bag, double-checking my camera settings, and generally getting psyched up. I shoot Valero a quick text: “Ready to roll?” Then BAM. The dreaded reply: “Dude, so sorry. Something came up. Can’t make it.”
My first reaction? Annoyance, plain and simple. I mean, come on! We’d been planning this for weeks. But then, you know, life happens. I figured I’d get the full story later, no use dwelling. So, I took a deep breath and started figuring out plan B.
First thing I did: Called the workshop organizer. Explained the situation, asked if there was a waitlist, if I could maybe transfer Valero’s spot to someone else. No luck. Last minute cancellation policy and all that. Understandable, but still a bummer.
Next up: Accommodation. We had booked a double room at this cute little lodge near the mountains. I called them up, explained the situation, and thankfully, they were super understanding. They switched me to a single room (for a slightly lower price, score!). Crisis averted.
Then came the fun part: Gear. I had been planning on sharing some of my lenses with Valero, since he’s just getting into photography. Now I had to decide whether to lug them all myself, or just stick to my essentials. Ended up packing the extra lenses. Figure I can always use them, and who knows, maybe someone else on the trip will want to try them out.
Finally: Mentally preparing myself to go solo. This was probably the biggest hurdle. I’m generally a social person, and I was really looking forward to having a buddy on this trip. But hey, sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches. I reminded myself that this was about improving my photography skills, and that I’d probably meet some cool new people along the way.
So, yeah, that’s the story. Valero pulled out, but I’m still going. It’s a bit of a curveball, but I’m determined to make the best of it. Solo adventure, here I come!
Lessons Learned?
- Always have a backup plan (or at least be prepared to improvise).
- Don’t rely too heavily on others when it comes to your goals.
- Sometimes, going solo can be a good thing.
Wish me luck, folks! I’ll be sure to share some photos from the trip when I get back.
