Nernernerner Nineteen. Eyeballing La France
Nineteen working days to go folks.
Had a wee bit of a wobble these past few days. Despite having done this ‘make oneself unemployed, leave behind friends and family and go travelling’ thing once or twice before (OK, twice), it still seems to get to me. I get nervous. Although we’re on the verge of what we hope to be another game-changer of an experience, it’s still difficult to cut (or least loosen) those ties. Not too difficult though, and the wobble was a short one.
It’s only 19 working days to departure point. We plan to head off pretty much immediately after I stop work. I’m wondering if I could take a pair of jeans and a T shirt on my last day and get Ju to pick me up, with a cold beer for me to quaff in the car park while I mentally wave goodbye. Hmmm. A couple of years ago I’d pictured myself stood next to my suit, with it in a pile of flames on the car park floor while I pointed at and laughed, a deep evil snort, waving around a bottle of red wine, perhaps even summoning up a two-fingered salute to the world. No more though – the last couple of years at work have been pretty good to me – good teams, cracking managers, great opportunities which I’m very thankful for. Working as a contractor has also worked a treat – no performance reviews, company briefings, no expectation of lifelong loyalty, I just do a decent job and they pay me. Perfect.
My replacement’s been recruited and we’re slowly working together to hand over the project I’ve been running for the past year. Simple, this ain’t. I’m just starting to realise how much esoteric knowledge I’ve built up. Ju and I discussed whether I should just agree to work these last few months to complete the project, but we agreed a target departure date of Sep 30th sat in a pub beer garden at some point last year, and Sep 30th it’s stayed. The new chap’s been managing projects for 20 years though, so will have no problem taking if off my open hands.
Slowly, slowly my focus is shifting to the future. To France in particular. Our plan is to spend a couple of weeks visiting friends and family in the UK and then sail over La Manche on 12 October. Where to then? The more I think about it, the less I care. Anywhere. The Atlantic Coast, Pyrenees, the Camargue, Le Midi (the south), the Med, the Alps. So many bloody beautiful, relaxing and motorhome-friendly places to go. So many awesome eyeball-bulging French supermarket shops. Cut price vino. Fresh air and above all, the all-encompassing blanket of freedom. I’ve started to spend my evenings reading the Camperstop Book, checking out prices and looking for fab locations in the mountains, alongside lakes and rivers or on the coast; what must appear a most odd pastime to anyone not familiar with motorhome wandering across Europe.
We’ll come back to Blighty mid Dec for Xmas and New Year back here with family, then I’m best man at a mate’s wedding in January (**gulp**) and late January another trip to Dover calls. After that, who knows, once again we can head anywhere. I suspect a southerly direction to get some vague notion of warmth for the winter. No return ferry will be booked **shiver of excitement**.
It feels surreal, all of this, as though I’m writing about the life of some other lucky souls. I suppose it will probably remain that way until we’re on our way?
Cheers, Jay
Glad to see you off on your travels again. We’re sailing the day after you with almost the same travel plan, get to Calais and then decide! I fancy St Nazaire and then down the Atlantic coast but who knows what will happen!
Have a great time whichever way you go. If we ever meet up I owe you a beer or two!
Cheers Mark, if you’re buying the beer we’ll find you mate, wherever you are! Cheers, Jay
Look forward to reading about your next adventure. I have been following your blog for a long while my wife and I have now changed our life and hope to follow in your footsteps in travelling Europe in our newly bought motorhome.
Awesome news Paul! Beautiful world out there man, just beautiful. Jay
For some reason the thing that I’m most jealous about is your free and ready access to Lidl’s Schoko Musli on the continent. Can definitely identify with the wobbles; I find that too much freedom can sometimes be paralysing – too many choices. However, you’ve got past form and we know you’ll thrive. Enjoy the last few days of corporate life
Thanks guys. I’d forgotten about that choc breakfast stuff. **salivate** :-) look after yourselves guys, thanks again for the comment, appreciate it. Cheers, Jay
Thanks John, all good advice and much appreciated. We do cold, been to the Arctic a couple of times in winter and plenty of other snowboarding sessions, but never in a motorhome. Not sure we’re quite up for it (mainly me with big fat nerves at the thought of sliding off a mountain somewhere)! One day maybe, perhaps even one day in a few months?! Cheers, thanks again, Jay
Hi
Cold feet are to be expected, the thought of the unexpected, remember the times you have entered a different country, then want to turn around go back to what you knew.
We set off in October on a six month treck, France does get cold, keep low, there are a lot of chestnut festivals in October, and a giant vegetable festival at tranzault. Looking through our diary of that time, we had dry and cool weather.
We went to the camargue in October walked the beach to the river and found a great summer camp ( abandoned ) but built out of driftwood and flotsum.
I have always want to go to the Lyon light festival in December, will one year. It’s cold, we do not do cold.
One tip we can give you both is, everything at home will be the same on your return, only you will have changed.
You already now that, we wish you the best of luck on your adventure.
Thanks
John
Hi Jason, your last paragraph,”It all feels surreal….some other lucky souls”, well you so right, THAT’S US! :-) Now in Ashford at a real ale pub-camper-stop & onto Eurotunnel tomorrow, 10 months of freedom! Best of luck with your last few days of toil & goodbyes.
Wayne & Angie
Yeeeeee Haaaarrrr!! Enjoy folks, suck up that freedom! Cheers, Jay