1.
Before you'd even leave the house, the struggle was real.
2.
If/when you actually managed to pack your bag, you then spent the night going through worst-case scenarios in your mind.
3.
Setting your alarm felt physically painful.
4.
"So, it's like Google Maps, but on PAPER?!"
5.
Encountering unexpected roadblocks was the norm.
6.
Within minutes of setting off you'd start to question your fitness.
7.
Then it would rain and all maps and notes you had got soaked and you were pretty much screwed.
8.
Then, of course, came the camping.
9.
Which was only made more fun when it rained.
10.
The only thing worse than sleeping IN the tent? Carrying it.
11.
Then came the never-ending struggle of cooking.
12.
And the inevitable injuries that came with it.
13.
You'd get so tired you'd even lose your ability to use the word "literally" correctly.
14.
And develop rather unconventional injuries.
15.
But you'd try really hard not to moan about it.
16.
The only thing that could make it more pleasant was when your entire group would refuse to do any of the work.
17.
Invariably this would happen.
18.
But then there were always problems that you didn't see coming.
19.
Keeping morale up was an issue.
20.
Even this guy couldn't cheer you up.
21.
By the end of the trip you'd be looking less than your best.
22.
And you were often left with some tough decisions.
23.
Once you got home you almost couldn't get your head around the real world.
24.
And you learnt to appreciate the little things.
25.
Nothing felt better than this.
26.
And occasionally you'd have terrifying flashbacks.
27.
Seriously. DofE post-traumatic stress disorder is real.
29.
OK, so it might not have ALL gone to plan.
30.
But when this FINALLY happens, it all becomes (just about) worth it.