I know I’m not alone when I say I
feel like a bear
emerging from a long hibernation, shaking myself awake to a changed
landscape. For most everyone, it has been a stifling few years being largely
confined to our own ‘caves,’ waiting out the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s
not to say we’re past it yet (as we’re constantly reminded), but I’m nearing the
end of my tolerance anyway. I watch stadiums full of people at sports events
and see Facebook accounts of friends on-the-go. I want in! I’ll be cautious,
but I’m eager to be someplace that’s not here.
As the world situation has changed
radically in recent years, so has my and my husband’s life situation (ha!
Did you even know I have a husband?
More on that later). I stopped working during the summer of 2018 -- the word
‘retired’ still sticks in my throat -- a little earlier than I had anticipated.
Then, a year later and also earlier than planned, my husband retired too.
These developments involved an
adjustment period (an understatement). Right when we were getting the hang of our new free-er
lives, the pandemic hit. Like everyone else, we figured on only a few weeks of disruption,
naively clinging to the travel plans we’d put in motion. Here we are, 2 ½ years
later, poised to lumber out of our cave.
Because
I’ve got pent up travel steam, I’ve planned an ambitious trip. We’ll start by
flying to Dublin, Ireland and then immediately boarding a bus to take us cross
country to Galway. There we will meet up with West Ireland Cycling which is
organizing our self-guided cycling tour. They book nightly accommodations,
transfer our luggage, rent us bikes, then set us loose with instructions and
maps to fend for ourselves. We'll be on our own, on bikes, trying to remember
to stay on the left side of the road.
After
this cycling tour ends, we'll take the train back to the town of Howth in east
Ireland where we will spend two days before catching a flight to Marseille,
France. We’ve got an apartment rented there for what I hope will be several
days of bright blue sky and even bluer ocean. I look forward to restful days of
walking the coastline, buying fresh fish and produce at the outdoor market, and
pretending I’m French.
Next,
we have a second cycling tour. This one leaves out of Avignon (a short train
ride from Marseille) and is again, self-guided. It’s organized by the company Cyclomundo which, it seems, coordinates
these types of trips all over France. I’m excited about cycling other regions
with Cyclomundo if this experience goes well.
We
aren't leaving until May, so I have a little time to stretch both my traveling
and blogging legs. I hope you join me here for the whole adventure.
