I don't speak French; maybe I can understand only a few basic words that we all know - bonjour, merci, amour etc... besides them, I know very well how to say traffic jam. I know that from experience, already for a few years. Le bouchon.
Today is the second day of our road trip of driving back to Spain. Yesterday - the first day we spent eleven hours on the road because the traffic was heavy on one part of the route, but it was more or less expected. Today - the second day of driving got complicated. Only 700 kilometres were planned, which meant 7 and a half hours of driving in total. Reality: we've been on the road for 10 and a half hours.
We were hit by two traffic jams for more than an hour each. When we saw the first one on the navigation, it was only an hour and a couple of minutes of delay. As we got closer, it grew longer, and even while being in the traffic jam it was getting a more desperate situation as time was passing. That was still in Italy.
The estimated time of arrival changed a bit...
Well, it was accepted and we continued our trip as if almost nothing happened but then the second traffic jam befell us in France, again a loss of an hour. Since we would still waste this time stopped on the highway, in the traffic without moving, we decided to leave the highway, drive on the regional road, and return to the highway where the traffic was clear again. Go with the flow, that's what they say, right? We tried to use that hour to see something else - to get to know the traffic in a small French town whose name I don't even know now hahaha and then through a really beautiful landscape, mountainous, through greenery to "skip" the nervousness caused by an hour's delay on the highway.
I hope I will be able to upload the little video from the hotel room where we are staying. And I apologize for the short post today, but my message in short: obstacles are never in the plan, but when they appear you have two options: endure with patience and beat the obstacle or simply choose another path and take it, even though you won't get faster to your destination lol. {does it make any sense? 🤔} In our case we did both options today. 😂
▶️ 3Speak
I feel your pain, if there is traffic jam forecast I guess I am one of those who will detour, even though it is extra mileage and probably no time gained, at least you are moving frely which gives a sense of purpose.
Right now, passed Barcelona and a crash ahead. We move at speed 10 km/h. Actually, we don't move 😂
Here we can't detour, so just patience this time
AGHHHH! frustration, safe onwards, slow, very slow journey
The greenery sorroundings is really can make my self to feel relax😍
🍀 yes, through the road was not so perfect in some parts, especially in the beginning of the video, it was a bit uneven
That's a lot by UK standards 😔
Good move by taking a detour, no point being stationery on the road, might as well make the most of it
We have to divide 2500 km, usually in three days so the average per day is a bit more than 800km 😅
Never boring on these trips 😁
Ya de regreso! Espero que con muy buenos recuerdos de los momentos en familia.
Llego con un día de atraso a este post, así que ojalá y hayan tenido una última jornada de buen viaje y sin grandes retrasos. O que hayan escogido un ruta alternativa que los demorara para llegar a su destino 🤣, pero...llevándolos a disfrutar de hermosos parajes 🤗.
Sí, ya llegamos a nuestro destino, de qué formas esto ya es pasado jajajaja 😂
Todo bien, ahora a volver a la rutina de la vida de aquí ;)
Unos días de ajuste y de nuevo a la normalidad 🤗
Las rocas también me esperan haha
Será un desastre empezar de nuevo jugar con eso 😂
i expected a we got lost on a country road story :D
Hahaha, it could easily happen, but strangely this time we get all good (except from the traffic conditions 😅)
Day three of Phormula1102 driving started! 😂
I totally agree, obstacles cannot be foreseen but can appear at any time, only patience helps. .... good music in the video!!! Cheer up, it's getting closer!
Yes, getting closer, only un día más (hay que empezar recordarme de español 😂 lo necesitaré en unas horas)
Surely you speak Spanish super well!!! jajaja
Claro que sí. También sé decir atascoooooooo. Nuevo atasco an la AP-7 esta vez entre Barcelona y Tarragona 😑
Ya estás más cerca!!!! jajajaja Ya casi llegas!!!🤣
Casi, casi. Si podría nadar estos 473 kilometros que quedan llegaría antes 😂
estamos parados
Sabes nadar esa es una ventaja jajaja yo mejor caminando!
Exceptional landscapes for driving.
One could apply the slogan for Italy "Get lost in the roads of Tuscany", only to apply it to France.
And the music is great.
The only thing that seems to me is that the gas pedal is pressed more than it should be, judging by the signs for the speed limit 🙂
Good luck with the rest of your journey.
I'm also waiting for my return from vacation tomorrow, crossing two borders, but driving only 650 km... A lot less than you drive, but because of the travellers to Europe, I'm worried about the crowds at the borders... I'll see what kind of passing time we'll have tomorrow. I probably won't record my route. the highway is not so picturesque 🚗
😂😂😂 True. Well, imagine driving for two days at speed 130 km/h and then a small regional road full of curves, climbing the mountains and 50 speed limit... the foot got stuck on the gas pedal 😂
P.S. Good luck with your travel too, I hope the country boarders will not be too crowded 🙏
Child's play!
A few months ago we went to our neighbouring city called Suzhou. You know, a simple, easy, relaxing day trip. The traffic suggestion was about 1.5-2 hours each way.
Reality?
It took us something like 7 hours. I can't remember exactly but we didn't arrive until 3:30pm!
By which point we had time for a quick meal, walkabout and had to go straight home again!!
Urghhh.
Needless to say, I've permanently banned daytrips via car from my own life until the day I die heh
oops, if 2 hours become 7, that can be frustrating indeed haha.
😂😂
Next year we should definitely re-think these three-days-long road trips in one way to see our family... the plane is not a great option either as there are a few hours of travelling on the road until the closest airport hahaha. We are in need of a teleportation machine 😂
Such trips are special and beautiful to refresh the mind especially when with friends and family, all these places seem more beautiful. I will go.