When the Wind Tests You

Daily Miles: 28.27 | Total Miles: 13,837.55

Well… I got up, had my hot coffee, the usual routine. But as soon as I stepped outside to pack the buggy, I could already feel it—the cold, fierce wind. Relentless. I knew right away that today would not be easy. The wind was icy and straight in my face for most of the way, and the route took me inland first, over rolling hills and through small villages. It took a few hours just to make my way back down toward the coast, and by then I had already felt the effort building in my body.

Once I reached the coastline, the wind turned extreme. Yesterday it had been pollen in my face—today it was sand, blown so strongly that it actually hurt. I had to turn my head, protect my face, stay focused. At some point, I stopped for two coffees, recharged my phones, and gathered myself before continuing. The wind didn’t ease. I kept wondering whether this was normal here or if it really was as intense as it felt.

I continued toward the Route des Crêtes, but somehow ended up on a gravel road, surrounded by dense plants, pushing uphill. I could see the main road not too far above me, so I kept going, hoping to reconnect. But it became too steep and too rough—there was no realistic way forward with the buggy. After everything the wind had already demanded, this was another moment to accept what is. I turned around and ran all the way back down.

Near the bottom, I passed a car and asked the driver if he knew another way. His name was Thierry. At first, he pointed me back up the same direction, and I told him I couldn’t go up there again. That was a moment where I really needed patience. But he insisted, showed me a different way, and even walked part of it with me, explaining how I could reach the top and continue toward Cassis. It was already 4 p.m., so there was no time to lose.

The climb that followed was tough—steep, rough ground, and that relentless headwind. But step by step, I made it. We are so much stronger than we think we are. At the top, the wind was almost frightening in its force. I could barely move at times, but slowly I made my way down, with incredible views all around me, even if the wind never let up.

Then I reached a barrier with police on the other side. They told me I shouldn’t be there. I said, well… I already am. They didn’t open it, so I had to empty the buggy and lift everything over, right there in the wind. The descent afterward felt almost vertical, and still the wind stayed strong. Eventually, I took a small detour to get some groceries and made my way into Cassis.

The hostel is beautiful. Hektor welcomed me and gave me a dorm room all to myself—how lucky. During the day, I had already planned my evening, thinking I would just say I was too tired to talk. But of course, it turned out differently. I started talking to Matt, and those kitchen conversations always grow. Soon more people joined, and before I knew it, we were all sitting around a table, sharing dinner, stories, and memories.

Now it’s time to wrap up and see what tomorrow brings.

À bientôt, Andrea