First day of our two month journey

June 15th, 2015
Amsterdam-Lille-Rouen-Etretat

Little did I know that a routine conversation one night in my room would lead to a two month adventure.  Now after a few months of ifs ands or buts we are finally on our way. 
As all the other blogs before will tell the journey started a few months ago. The first talk, the research, the pre-camping, thinking about food, buying stuff, little fights and frustrations. 

The real thing started this week. Buying food for the journey, eating all of our other leftover food we were not taking, saying goodbye, last research, make food packages, pack our bags and then pack them again. And yet again. It sounds easier than it was. How do you even pack for a month? 

This morning it was real. This is the day. 7:50 at sloterdijk waiting for the blablacar. Worrying about if the bags will fit in the car. Well after a 30 min delay we knew it was a waste of our time. Here comes Miles and his big white van pulling in. 
We also had a discussion of who had to sit in the front, cause that would be the one who had to talk. Also a waste as there were three seats up front and Miles didn’t know more than five words in English. 

Two hour break in Lille before the next leg of the journey. Miles was later than he predicted due to traffic so it was a good thing we built in extra buffer time before our next ride. We walked from one train station to the next. Found our spot, grabbed some tea and used wifi, only like three hours from home and already feeling that itch for technology, which over time would subside. Then walked back to the lawn area beneath the train station we were getting picked up at and ate our lunch. Dropped our monsters on the ground and what do you know, they make excellent backrest when packed up full. The day was gorgeous when the sun shone.

Next up meet Marge. Again the same worries of stuff would fit in the car, and who would sit in the front. She pulls up amidst large traffic and we throw everything in the car and go go like we were in a high speed chase. After things settled we noticed Syl was basically talking to herself as Marge doesn’t speak English and I was asleep in a large pile of baggage. Marge is from Kaw which is actually Caen but not how we say it. She also drives like a mad woman. Welcome to France indeed.  
After falling asleep several times with my mouth wide open and looking guilty towards Marge every time I woke up, We arrived at a small train station to pick up the last BlaBla car hitcher. Thank god for Marge she could finally talk to someone…until that girl also fell asleep. I think it’s Marge, not us. 

Picking up the car and off we go to Etretat..or something like that. Alex meanwhile hasn’t driven in about a year so it was an interesting start but once we got out of the city it was nice country roads until we reached the beach of Etretat. We arrived late so we figured we needed to find some camping quickly as the darkness was approaching. The first one we went to was already closed, which made us a little nervous. The second, bullseye, was a winding and twisting up the mountain following the signs to a small and seemed like deserted camping spot. Until an old lady who doesn’t speak a lick of English comes shuffling out. She gets us all set up.

While Alex made dinner, I set up the tent. Fast, faster, fastest. Bringing dinner with us to the beach to watch the sunset. We quickly got everything done so we could hustle back down the twisting tiny roads to get back to the beach for the sunset.
              

O my god. This is Normandy right there. Just how I pictured it. The beach, the view, the cliff, (check), a sunset and the beach. Welcome to Normandy, Welcome Journey, so nice to meet you. 

People we met:
Miles: 1st driver with big white van and French rap
Marge: 2nd driver, crazy ass driver
Little old lady camping (Mary-our name for her): super sweet, hasn’t left this campsite in like 40 years it seems, didn’t speak a word of English, but in France who does? 
Car tent people: only other people at this campsite and they pitched their tent inside their car!!

Sidenote: we changed the names of the people we met.