I happened to be looking through one of the two little books that I've been writing it on and off since departing Australia on February the 13th, 2012. I found one entry from about a month ago and one from about 16 months ago. I can't believe how much has changed in my head in that time.. Montpellier to CondomHere's something I found in my journal from the time I moved from Montpellier to Condom on my 50 euro rubbish bike with all my worldly belongings tied to the rack. Sunday 27th Set out from MTP at 6.45am, couldn't even get the bike down the stairs without Boris' help. The first bit I kinda knew and it was OK, chatted to an old guy for a bit (he was from Sété). Google sent me on dirt roads over farms so I switched to car mode. I stopped in Beziers for a snack, then in Montady for lunch. They were having a tapas extravaganza. Got to a place with 51km to go and broke down. Knocked on a door and the guy (Belgian, Michel) sat me down, handed me a beer and we watched the end of the Budapest F1. Riccardo won. Then he drove me to Carcassone where I met Laurent. Laurent was anorexic and weird, but nice. His apartment smelt like cat piss. Slept on boxes on the floor. Was exhausted. If my bike didn't break down, I may have done. Monday 28th Bike shops shut, went out to Decathlonand bought a new wheel and inner tube of 35 euro total. Put it on and cycled to Mélissa's place. It was huge. So was Roger the rabbit, and the cat. Mélissa was incredibly attractive. Two of her friends were in the Algeria plane crash so everyone was pretty devo. Her housemate (Julie) had her parent visiting from Lyon. It rained a bit so I was glad I wasn't riding. Mélissa and I walked around for a bit, then painted some signs for Julie's organic food festival. Had a cheesy mash thing for dinner. Tuesday 29th Set out at 7.45am and stuck to the car route for a bit. Was in Castelnaudry for lunch at 10.30 and ate ½ baguette and a whole roast chicken. Not long after I started up again, I switched to the trail along the Canal du Midi. At first it was dirt but soon was paved and great for riding. Wednesday 30th – Thursday 31st Stayed with Charlotte, we banged on the second night, Toulouse is great, ate delicious food. Friday 1st Rode along the canal, it was great. Once I left it was OK, rack then broke in a thunderstorm, got a lift with a guy with a name like Karim or something. He took me to his place 4km down the road then decided to take me all the way to the workaway place another 30km away. Saturday 2nd These people are so negative. Caroline is always complaining, Paul earns minimum wage (that's what it works out to be) and his business plan is terrible. I mowed grass and scraped a driveway. Hard work and for around 7 hours. They complain about money, I really think there is no chance of me getting paid ever. Tomorrow I will look for new work. They watch TV and movies all the time. The negativity really gets to me. Torres del Paine againHere's a much more recent one I totally forgot that I wrote in my diary while I was in Torres del Paine National Park. Thursday Sitting in Camp Italiano listening to the periodic cracking of a distant glacier seems like a perfect time to write. It's night two of Torres del Paine “W” circuit. I mainly can't be bothered describing my experiences and how I've felt for the last few days. Nothing special. Coffee doesn't make you pee more. There are many bugs trying to drink me. Photos in presumably the following section will prompt memories of my positive experiences. All I have to say now is how much better bushwalking and camping is in Australia. Also I'm not in walking shape AT ALL!!! Sore. Lucky I love my shoes. I want to “speed date” everyone here to find out if anyone is interested in the same stuff as me. I don't want to start a conversation with only one person randomly, just in case they suck. Interestingly there are a lot of people from the US here. This makes me like people from the US more. I think I'm looking forward to the next Workaway already. Mark sounds great. There are people here that I would probably enjoy socialising with but I kind of can't be bothered because what is there to gain? This is a terrible attitude, I know. I think I'm sick of the shit same questions. 1. Where are you from? 2.How long are you travelling for? 3. Where are you going next? 4. Chk chk…. Saturday I need to stop ranting about Elon Musk and going to Mars. I need to stop ranting about me and my shit. Anyone who knows me knows this, but I just prefer to talk about that stuff than most other stuff. New rule: don't mention Musk or anything WBW related unless asked until I meet Mark near Buenos Aires. I need to find some questions which illicit interesting replies from boring people. Anyway, we just set up camp at the base of Torres del Paine. We'll head up in ten minutes because the weather tomorrow is supposed to be rubbish. Getting up early will still be worth it. I'm not sure if this post should be a description of events during this adventure or of insights. Nothing profound is bursting forth, so description it is. I'm getting in to “Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups lately for some reason. I wish I had my Kindle. There aren't too many opportunities to read, but it would be great at times. ReflectionsFrance
1. I literally (literally) feel like this was five years ago. Since then I've lived in Melbourne, cycled around Europe and bussed around the large island of South America. I can't believe it's only been 16 months (it was the end of August I think). 2. At the Workaway I stuck it out for I think three weeks, then booked a flight home to save money for my cycling trip in Melbourne. Torres del Paine 1. There were plenty of interesting people I could have met. The Germans, Daniel, Tom, the Australia med/law students from Sydney, one of whom was in to AI stuff. 2. I'm full narcissist sometimes right? I find most people interesting for their perspective. I guess I was tired when I wrote that bit, but I also am like that fairly often. 3. What a lesson I learnt with Mark!!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Chris JonesJust a guy going for a bit of a documented ride. Archives
May 2018
Categories |