We made it to our first stop. It took blood and sweat (no tears, for a change), but out holiday has finally started. La Douce France...
Finally
This is our first real holiday in three years. We needed it so badly. But up until we arrived here, in the little village that would be our first stop, nothing was certain.
We didn't know how much my back would be able to take. And it was close... really close.
The Plan
The plan is to go and visit a friend of ours, who moved to the South of France after her breakup a couple of months ago.
But since my back is still causing me a lot of trouble, we decided to first see how it would deal with the drive. It's about 1200km to our final destination, and I really wanted to avoid getting to the South of France, only to be stuck in the van and not being able to move because of the pain.
So, we planned our first stop close to Fontainbleau - a little village we had visited a couple of times in the past. This place is thé place to be for rock climbing without ropes. Since my back won't allow rock climbing, I'll be spending my time here in the beautiful, crystal clear river - and I'm perfectly fine with that...
Passing Paris...
My back did stand the first test. Taking a break every 100km, we managed to cover the first 400km pretty smooth.
What we didn't foresee, was that we would end up on the Périphéric - the main highway - around Paris during rush hour. OMG! Those Frenchies really have a special way of driving their car. I got so tensed, my back started killing me, and by the time we had passed Paris, my back hurted so badly I couldn't go any further.
After taking a long break at the next gas station, I had to decide whether to spend the night there, and to give my back the needed rest, or to go on and cover those last 100 kilometers.
I decided on the latter, and boy, how glad I am I did...
Heaven On Earth
Rush hour had past, and we started the last part of our drive. The highway wasn't as busy anymore, so we were able to go fast again.
Once we had left the highway, I could relax again. All pain seemed to be gone when we watched that beautiful landscape around us. Nothing but fields, birds and sunshine... So amazing... I felt FREE, for the first time in months.
Happy
After meeting with some friends on the camp site and having a cosy, very basic dinner together, we're now in the van, getting ready for our first night here.
The body is aching, but I'm happy. Happy that I didn't back out and did go through with the entire 'holiday'-idea.
I miss my cats big time, but I really need this time away from everything. Relax a little, clear my head from all those neverending worries.
Whether we will make it to the South or not... we'll see. Today is today, and all I know about the future is that I will spend tomorrow in my favorite French river. We'll see where life will take us next.
La Douce France... I love you! <3
P.S.: @cicisaja, the thought of playing SM only crossed my mind for a second today. Guess it will be just one diary, instead of 2 ... ;0)
