I've never liked commuting. In fact, I hated every minute of it.
My commute to work these days is a quick 12 minute drive on a narrow, serpentine road past acres and acres of vineyards, across a bridge and through a bustling village (with an excellent boulangerie), past a few olive groves and along the shores of a small lake.
If I don't run into traffic that is.
In the spring the horses from a neighboring farm like to wander around, looking for spring delicacies sprouting in the fields to nibble on.
At the height of summer teams of cyclists appear. I still don't understand why they choose to ride around in 38 degree C weather, but hey, to each his own.
Now that summer is coming to an end and the vendange has begun, it's the tractors and harvesters. From now until the end of September I won't be able to drive anywhere without getting stuck behind one of these lumbering vehicles, who's top speed is a whopping 25 kilometers an hour.
If anything, living in France has certainly taught me patience. And to expect the unexpected when driving!
8 comments:
LOL! I thought my commute was bad. I just have to look out for other cars. I tip my hat to you.
Perhaps now it's no longer 38 deg. you could cycle. It will avoid some of the traffic you describe (none of which looks cyclist threatening).
I'm amazed at how few people around here cycle for practical purposes (work, shopping) rather than just to show off their Lycra.
Nice post, Jennifer. Around Saint-Aignan, we have tour buses and camping-cars to slow us down in summer, and tractors in all the other seasons. I love this kind of traffic, especially since I don't have to commute to a job.
Janet
:)
I'm constantly looking for animals to come jumping out from the vineyards. Keeps my speed down, much to the dismay of the other drivers in the region.
Graham
I have a bike but don't ride it because it is either too windy or too hot. Or I can't arrive all sweaty where I'm headed - like work!
If I lived in a town then I would definitely get more use out of it.
Ken
Thanks Ken.
I sometimes get stuck behind tour buses, but very rarely. I appreciate this kind of traffic as well. Much better that sitting on the Interstate with a bunch of other drivers!
when we lived in france we cycled in 32 degree weather, we figured as long as there was blue skies we rode. sure we were cold, but we bundled up and off we went. we cyclists are a bit crazy.
Notre Vie
I can image riding in cold weather more than really hot weather! So I don't think you're that crazy. :)
What do you do that you commute to? For some reason, I was under the impression that you wrote full-time...
emiglia
No, I'm not a full time writer. Though I wish I was!
I'm working in tourism this summer at a local resort.
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