Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Three Guys, Three Bikes, Three without a Tent

Three-chairs

Photo and text by Corey Amaro:

He called from Germany.

"Hey, honey we aren't having any luck finding a hotel, can you do your thing and find us one. You know how good you are at it."

They rode over a thousand kilometers (620 miles) from Admont, Austria to Restock, Germany.

I found a hotel, but it was out of their price range. Disappointment was theirs when I couldn't deliver a hotel for under 20 bucks the same day, at eight in the evening. Camping was there only option. Cheap doesn't even begin to cut it.

They wanted to ride with the wind, rough it, do the guy thing. They are happy, hotel or not. I am happy too. Can you imagine me riding over 600 miles, stopping once, not eating, trying not to fall asleep on the back of the bike and then arriving at eight in the evening without a place to sleep?

I am so happy… really I am… well I must admit I had some doubts at first. Doing the wild thing, riding with the wind, being with that guy has its charms, especially when the first night they slept in a hotel, and the second night they stayed at Dieter's (the third man in this trio) house. I doubted why I didn't insist on going until this morning…

This morning French Husband called, "Hey Corey, just wanted you to know all is good. We found camp site. Though none of us had packed a tent."

I shook my head in disbelief, "Camping without a tent? What if it rains?"

"Yeah, that is why we hope to buy a tent somewhere," he continued, "Francis didn't sleep well because he has never camped before."

I shook my head in disbelief again, "He has never camped before…"

But before I could finish my thought, French Husband said, "Yeah he was a bit bothered about the open space, the exposure, the lack of walls… I threw my jacket over him and said,"Pretend this is your house." But hey, we're doing great, and now we are on a boat crossing over to Denmark, then we will ride towards Sweden."

I don't know about Dieter or Francis' sleeping habits, but French Husband can sleep anywhere, anyhow, anytime that means he is a lucky dog.

Note: French Husband will post to his blog when he has found a place with internet service.

Comments

30 responses to “Three Guys, Three Bikes, Three without a Tent”

  1. Jackie

    smart move not going with FH:)
    jackie
    bliss farm antiques

    Reply
  2. carol

    Francis is going to need a sip or two of Red Bull to keep him awake after his fitful nights sleep. Good to hear the “boys” are having an enjoyable and safe trip.

    Reply
  3. Merisi

    *giggles*
    Guys. Lost without women.

    Reply
  4. Everton Terrace

    Last year I was kind of thinking I wish I could go on their trip with them. This year, I am not.
    What have you been up to though Corey??

    Reply
  5. Marie-Noëlle

    Please, keep us updated with FH’s calls !!!
    They’re much fun … to read !!!

    Reply
  6. Rhonda P.

    Guy thing it is. I do enjoy hearing about others camping because I refuse to camp.
    It sounds like they are making great time traveling. Don’t you wish a camera man was with them? Can you rent the movie “Wild Hogs” with John Travolta? It will make you laugh.

    Reply
  7. Linda C.

    Oh how I wish I could sleep anywhere, anyhow and anytime…

    Reply
  8. Kimberly

    This post had me cracking up!!!! Thanks for the laugh. 🙂 Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  9. Chris Wittmann

    Sounds like the “camping trip from hell!” I think I’d be glad I stayed home too! My hubby also can sleep anywhere, anyplace…nothing wakes him either short of a bomb going off. I’ve always said if someone breaks into our home in the middle of the night, I’m going to be the one who has to deal with it because Rip Van Winkle won’t wake up! Hey I bet it’s a long while before FH’s friends go “camping” with him again….

    Reply
  10. Kathie B.

    The first three years that Farmboy Husband and I were married, we were too poor to buy a tent, so camped without one all over California! (This was back in the days when gasoline was still REALLY cheap, and a lot of public parks charged nothing or maybe $1 to camp overnight, especially in the off-season.) Our only bad times were twice in the desert — first in Death Valley, then a year later at Joshua Tree — when terrible dust storms kicked up, forcing us to sleep in the car, which was uncomfortable.

    Reply
  11. Shelley@thiswhiteshed.blogspot.com

    Loving their pioneering spirit!!!!

    Reply
  12. georgie

    We camped all of the time when I was a kid. Dad built a camper for the Ford pickup. Meals were cooked/heated on a little German camp stove that I still have. Our toilet said “Folgers”. Now I do not care for camping and really really like indoor plumbing. Sounds like “the boys” will have lots of stories to share.

    Reply
  13. Danielle C.

    This is too funny 🙂
    My husband and I are going camping with friends for a weekend at the end of this month, and he is already grouching about the crazy sacrifice he is making in the name of friendship by spending TWO WHOLE NIGHTS in a tent…

    Reply
  14. kim

    How funny.
    You know, I bought a tent last summer for my husband and my step-sons (and me). I was all enthusiastic about camping and they were all like, “meh” and “I don’t think this is a good idea… rain, spiders…public toilets…hard ground…” I thought we would have so much fun hanging out together in the campground but, no.
    I sold the tent on ebay last month and we’ll be in a B&B for our summer vacation.
    Cheers, Corey. 🙂

    Reply
  15. bloomingrosemusings

    There is a lot to be said for a hotel! I am enjoying all the funny adventures of your french husband. And what are you doing while he is away? I hope you are giving yourself some very special treats.

    Reply
  16. Teri

    LOVE it!!! And you and French Husband have just inspired an upcoming blog post! LOL

    Reply
  17. yvonne

    You have a very interesting Husband,,
    I don’t like camping. My friends love
    it. I perfer Room service.. That’s cause I am old. Yvonne

    Reply
  18. Kathie B.

    Can’t find the “Commentaire” feature on Yann’s blog for the latest installment (“2ème étape, 527 Km – Les Alpes autrichiennes.”
    Hope the guys will get a break in order to watch the World Cup final in a few minutes — perhaps in a café or bar — since it’s already evening in Europe, so they should be off the road by now.

    Reply
  19. Sharon, Morrison Mercantile

    Still trying to translate todays blog. Bits and pieces I understand. Google trans. doesn’t seem to work for me.
    Green in my eyes that you and I are not on bikes behind them!!! We would have carried the wine, cheese, olives, and croissants, in darling baskets, or linen bags I stitched up and slung over our shoulders.
    Maybe next year??

    Reply
  20. Lucy Rogers

    Uhhhhhh, no thanks. I camp at the Holiday Inn. That is such guy stuff it just wouldn’t be any fun. Why must we have to be together all the time? I would rather go when I know that I will not be a drag and when I will be treated as the girl that I am…I know some girls aren’t drags but I know my limitations! lol
    I hope he comes back so man-ed up that his head won’t fit in the house. You can be all fluffy and pretty and soft, and smell good, and light candles and such and he will be so glad to be home!

    Reply
  21. Marilyn

    Guys! So funny. I bet you are glad you are home in your comfy bed.

    Reply
  22. Rick Theobald

    Methinks a guy’s perspective is needed here… I’m getting a vicarious thrill from French Husband’s journey…Go for it! I’m sitting in my comfy Santa Fe den sipping Merlot thinking….Gee, I’d like to riding with these guys….
    Rick

    Reply
  23. Jenny N

    True confession: Me no likey camping. My hubby Loves it the rawer the better….I haven’t mentioned to him what your Yann is up to, since we just had to cancel our own camping plans (no that is not me smirking to myself), because he does so much for us always, I wanted this year’s camping in New Mexico mountains for him but our oldest just found out that her volleyball practices begin the day we were to leave and my hubby is also a stickler about making commitments and sticking with them….maybe he can enjoy himself vicariously through Yann and his “gang”.

    Reply
  24. joanne nixon

    haha…sounds like an episode straight out of “i love lucy” … gotta love it !

    Reply
  25. Lia deKoster

    Ahh,
    girly girls.
    My comments were mainly about the movement of your children….
    the lose,
    and gain
    when they grow up.
    I simply
    cried
    alone when my babies left.
    what are you doing with your time…enjoying it I hope
    cheers
    Lia

    Reply
  26. Karen

    Yes, I think you made the smart move staying at home, Corey. But I’ve got to say I’m so enjoying following their adventures on FH’s blog – just as long as it isn’t me being eaten alive by mosquitoes in an open field!!

    Reply
  27. Lieselotte

    Good morning, Corey ! I was just as shocked when Dieter phoned this morning telling me they´d spent the night on the ground , with mosquitos bothering them and the repellants not being of any use. But later on I thought how great it must be to spend a night in open air, something I´ve always wanted to do in a warm summer night. Let´s wait and read what else is coming !

    Reply
  28. Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage

    Typical men…flying by the seat of their pants. I wonder if the other guys will ever do this again…it will certainly be a trip to remember! You were smart to stay home Corey. Enjoy your time alone!

    Reply
  29. Kate of the North

    What??? French Husband has a blog????
    How did I miss that???
    Oh, I have missed your entries for the last few days. That must explain it. Now to go search!!

    Reply
  30. Mary Jo Stresky

    What a joy to find Corey the blogger, and her beautiful French husband tucked amongst so many with much less to say and without as much color. I’m thrilled and have shared this with several friends whom I know will also appreciate the richness found here with the gorgeous photos (wanting to know what camera you use — they’re fabulous). The recipes (can’t wait to try them and thank you for sharing). And the adventures (living vicariously through them at the moment). Thanks so much for sharing your world, and I look forward to more. Bonne chance!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions