The best laid plans of mice and men…
(Can you complete the original quote?)
I am sitting on a rather large-winged transport, bracing for six hours of sheer hell. I am on my way (eventually) to the small town of Mougins, just up the hill from Antibes on the Côte d’Azur in Provence, but first I need to survive this flight across the Atlantic.
It’s not that I fear terrorism or anything like that. Nope. I fear the other people on the plane. I have never had more than an hour’s sleep on any transatlantic flight, and I figure I have made the journey at least a couple of dozen times. So that means I am up during the entire flight getting annoyed by just about everyone on the plane.
The bozo in front of me will no doubt recline her seat within moments of taking off, obliterating both my knee-caps in one swift movement. Then, the morons behind me will insist on using my seatback to hoist their enormous carcass out of their own seat, causing me to trampoline forward, likely spilling the crappy wine that they are serving to us schmucks in economy class.
If you are reading this, I am in the airport in Nice, trying to get first my rental car and then my rental bike. Or, quite possibly, I am passed out in Charles de Gaulle airport, snoring away madly, unaware that I just missed my flight to Nice.
It also means I did not finish the article I had planned to publish today either because the WiFi in Charles de Gaulle airport is horribly inadequate or I got arrested for decking an annoying Frenchman as he dared interrupt my perpetual zombie state by bringing his yapping munchkin dog into the area where I was clearly trying to sleep.
It is also quite possible that none of the above transpired as I was a horrible nervous wreck, hoping I do not die in a fiery crash on my drive from the airport in Nice to the hillside resort town of Mougins.
Right now, however, I choose to look at the positive–the week ahead will involve plenty of cycling (I will be staying with a friend who is a former pro, once finishing third in the Tour de France), even more wine (I have appointments all over Provence, Bandol, and Cassis, and a couple of nights at Château la Nerth in Châteauneuf-du-Pape), and I would imagine tons of sun and some great food.
Yeah.
Rough life.
I know.
I hope to post regularly while away these next ten days, but no promises.
We are taxiing now, so I need to shut it down, but here is a photo of the wine I enjoyed at Vino Volo before boarding.
Pretty sure it’s a sign that it is going to be a halfway decent trip.
the drunken cyclist 
My book takes place in that region. Wish I were there!
My husband drove my daughter and me from Barcelona to the Cote d’Azur to Lyon to Paris, believe it or not. I’m sure you’ll make it to Mougins. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I did make it! I have been to the Côte before, but never Mougins–quite lovely!
LikeLike
Rough life indeed, we’re jealous. We’ll drink plenty of wine in your absence 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I might have a bit over here as well, if that is OK… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, have a couple for us as well 🍷🍷
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I can manage that!
LikeLike
Enjoy your trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will try!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gang aft agley.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Often go astray…”
LikeLiked by 1 person
See above…
LikeLike
And there I’ve been hoping you’d embark on an even longer flight (or two!). Have a great trip and be expecting an e-mail from me about my new initiative…. Very conscious, though, that you have a really busy year….doesn’t mean I’ve given up, though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely should chat about it more once we are down in Houston. Until then I do not have much time to breathe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! And by then things will be “bedded down” so to speak, for us both. Actually, that was why I didn’t get in touch 😉 Suffice it to say that distraction reigns supreme at the moment, lots of proverbial juggling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tell me about it!
LikeLike
One word for trans-Atlantic flights, at least going east – business. I almost look forward to flying, although it’s best if you can arrive at 11 AM, and sometimes there is no other option than 6:30 AM. Have a fabulous trip – didn’t know you drank white!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even in business I can’t sleep–I had one of those seats that essentially goes flat and I stayed awake the whole flight….
LikeLike
oh well that’s definitely worse than I am. you need to quit flying overnight!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately that would rule out Europe!
LikeLike