I had a little scare a while back with missing camera gear. I set off on a trek to a waterfall to do some planning shots. The walk taking about an hour. On arriving at the location I open the camera backpack and no Nikkor 28-70 F2.8G lens!!! My mind started to race wondering where was it. Had I not packing it, no I knew I did. Then I remember!
Just as I was setting off it looked like rain and I went to take my jacket out but had second thoughts and put it back. I started see myself having taken the lens out putting it aside on the ground and then having left it there. $3500 worth gone! I spent some time shooting with my Tamron 70-200 but all the time thinking and worrying, then started the hike back. The whole walk back was beating myself up frustrated and annoyed at myself yet also hopeful.
When I finally got back to the car guess what was sitting in the luggage space. Yep I hadn't put it in the bag at all. So much relief I had not lost my beloved and expensive lens. Something I could not have replaced. After a coffee to calm down the day got better. An 8 year quest for a good clear Lyrebird photo was finally achieve, and some nice art rainforest shots to boot.
So sometimes you just have to keep breathing and trust things will work out in the end. But lesson learnt always double check before setting out. And yes a return to the waterfall did yield a satisfying image. But that is for another time.