๐งIt may not come of a surprise for those who know me that I like hanging from a cliff ๐
What makes this anecdote different is that, this time, to get that epic photo, I had an unexpected hidden tax for my vanity: getting my sleeping bag nibbled by a goat!
Last july, after experiencing the san fermines in full length for 11 days, I needed a break from the hyper crowded streets of Pamplona ๐ and all the high emotions that come from running from bulls ๐โโ๏ธ ๐ a few times and live to tell the story. So I took a weekend off to do something less intense, like standing on a ledge somewhere in the mountains... You know... something... chill ๐
I ended up hiking to this beautiful place you see on the picture. Upon my arrival I saw this goat ๐ and snapped a picture of it ๐ธ all while thinking ๐ญ "I definitely want a picture sitting there" Little did I know I was taking a picture of the future culprit ๐
Goats do eat everything.
I was alone and and didn't have a tripod (it had been stomped and broke days before ๐) So I had to get creative. I placed my backpack ๐ in the floor to the appropriate height for a good frame and put my sleeping bag on top of it to support and hold my phone in the right position ๐ผ๏ธ then I went to sit face the abyss and use the Bluetooth remote to get some shoots.
โฑ๏ธ In a matter of seconds sneaky goat that had been lurking nearby ๐ฅท, reappeared and took interest on my belongings and decided it wanted a taste of my gear. ๐
I was relatively far I try to use the only rock I could find next to me to deter it, ๐ชจ but apparently my sleep system was delicious and the animal didn't not budge at all, ๐ฏ despite a surprising good throw. ๐คจ Then I rushed as quickly as I could, โก considering that I couldn't just be careless about my footing or I would fall off to the precipice โ ๏ธ By the time I got to chase the glutton away, the damage was done. ๐ฌ
There were two big holes on it. ๐ณ๏ธFortunately, the sleeping bag is synthetic and not down, so no bigger feathery mess at least. ๐
And well... technically it was still technically usable. โ๏ธ I didn't have a chance to replace it right at that moment anyways, so I kept on using it. โป๏ธ And I realized it wouldn't actually be much worse a super cheap sleeping bag to be honest. ๐ช
Of course, it would never be what it once was, but it was a good quality build nonetheles. ๐งต Besides, even though it had lost its insulating properties quite significantly, ๐ก๏ธ it still works for some conditions and now it's technically lighter ๐ชถ and more breathable ๐
I guess.
I do have couple of other sleeping bags ๐๏ธ for colder weathers and โ๏ธ winter seasons but that one is my still my favorite for its versatility and packability. ๐ฏ
I love that sleeping bag and I still have it to this day. ๐ I slept inside it last night as a matter of fact!
๐คข I've gotten a few bad looks for still keeping it, I've been told countless times to just get rid of it.
As while I may look like a hobo from the outside, after all, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. ๐
๐I may occasionlly suffer from a bit of judgement ๐ but most times I have now learn to carry it proudly ๐ฅน because of three things
1๏ธโฃ Now, whenever I see my sleeping bag, it makes me think of this beautiful place, it keeps a beautiful memory alive and crisp, and it keeps me mindful of the lessons I shouldn't forget.
2๏ธโฃ The story makes for a great ice breaker and conversation starter.
3๏ธโฃ A symbol to encourage others, I still carry it with me so I can be an example that, even without the best equipment, you can still live great adventures, what really counts the most is not the the sleeping bag but what lies inside. ๐ค
I guess the moral of the story is โ don't be alone ๐ญ or bad things will happen to you!
โ ๏ธโ ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Just kidding ๐๐๐๐คฃ the message I would leave you with is this:
Stuff will wear down, tear, break, get lost and even get chewed WHEN YOU USE IT and THAT'S OK its supposed to happen, inevitably, eventually, despite how much care caution and prudence you may have.
The important part is to remind yourself that, at the end of the day it's just stuff. ๐คทโโ๏ธ Arguably, in the first place, you shouldn't be carrying anything with you that you are not willing to let go of. ๐ค
The critical part to make things easier is that when things do break, at least you have fun ๐๏ธ, learn something ๐, make of the whole experience a great story ๐ฐ or preferably all of these. ๐
The essential part is to GO out there and LIVE
That hungry G.O.A.T. took a bite but kinda also gave me something too.
A lesson, one of the Greatest Of All Times...
With a bit of bad luck ๐ and good fortune ๐ฅ you may also discover that there is a goat out there waiting to give you a lesson! ๐
โขโขโข
lf liked this story โค๏ธ, consider liking it
๐๐โโ๏ธ
I would appreciate all your help so I can get a breathwork session ๐จโ๐ซ from and get to sigh ๐ฎโ๐จ better when something breaks hahah If YOU wanna learn how to enjoy standing on cliffs like me, ๐ป drop me a message and I will try to help ๐ซต
I have a few more stories of unexpected animal encounters that I have experienced throughout my years of adventure. Which one do you wanna hear next?