“How I spent the summer” part 5. The last night in France. We drove half a day without particular adventures. When we stopped at Supercharge to fill up, it was already 15.30 on the clock. It seemed like lunchtime, but since it was very hot we did not feel much appetite. My husband suggested fast food sold next to the charging station; I refused, saying if he wanted to eat he could eat. We decided to look where we could stay the night and have lunch there in a restaurant.
I think I need not write much about the conditions that had formed during the epidemic of 2021. To charge a full battery in the Tesla, and that is ideally 800 km, we spend 40 minutes in time (that is on the old Supercharge installation; now some installations have been improved and on those we charge in 15–20 min.). Of course one can get out and wander while the Tesla charges, but the air temperature is 35, and in the car one can regulate it, and I create comfort for myself — I “stretch” my legs and observe the world around me half-lying, relaxed.
I look at the car numbers — mainly from Belgium, the Netherlands; from Norway none came our way. Although in Norway oh how many of us with Teslas have multiplied! 😻 In the corner, in the shade, next to us a family with two small children had settled. The children sit barefoot on the dusty asphalt on the kerb together with mama, eating fast food from a bag; opposite our car on an “island” under a little tree sits a young person reading a book, a completely unremarkable appearance and clothes: dark hair, swarthy skin, in a black T-shirt and a black skirt. The thought arose in me that she has no relation to Tesla charging, but why is she sitting there? And then I say aloud: “She is not sitting there just so; she is watching who arrived with whom and waiting for a client.”
Well, there is time, I continue observing. Yes indeed! I “waited” together with the well-read lady! A classic of the genre! A bald man with a little belly came up to his Tesla Model X (a cool car), and the lady, having put on slippers, calmly–slowly came up to the window and the man had to open it a little. They did not negotiate long — the deal was done and they drove off. Well then, Have a good time! And it is time for us to think and choose the nearest hotel.
Ivan gives me the chance to choose myself. I as always: “I need one with a pool!” I looked at the prices…. and fell silent. Then Ivan says: “Here is one with a pool, but in a village, 30 km from our charging station. Agreed?” — agreed, 30 km aside, to the village, for one night, inexpensive, we paid, we drove. We pass a suburb with shops, we do not stop, we do not buy food, why extra food when one can eat in a restaurant. Ivan has taught me not to worry about food (he does not recognise snacks of sandwiches with tea–coffee) and I, if I pack a supply of food for the road, then only for myself, and for Ivan — a cup, a spoon, a pot of honey, tea in bags, a thermos for two with hot water.
And here GPS informs us that we are already almost at the villa, for which we have already paid “money in advance.” 😳 I will now try to find a photo of this village, and then continue….. I think you were “impressed,” looking at the picture. And how I was impressed! GPS drones “here nearby is your villa!” And we, thanks to the navigator, are already in the narrowest passage! And already a local car has come out of nowhere toward us and stopped very tightly with a large question in French in the driver’s eyes. And our Tesla has already taken the initiative into its computer hands and gives voice in the form of a “pi” icon many times in a row… We sit in a deep pause…. Everyone is thoughtful, because we cannot get out of the cars from any side, and there is no one to conduct–regulate.
It seems I was the first to come to; you understand yourselves, women have a wider angle of vision than men: where a man has to work to turn his torso together with head and neck, a woman need only squint a little “with one eye” to the side: a saving little alley–appendix to the left, a little behind the car! Now it remained to steer this “American bulk” into that little alley. The operation went successfully and unhurriedly! Ivan is an excellent and imperturbable driver! The Frenchman waved his hand in satisfaction. Thank God, we parted. It remained for us simply to drive out of that labyrinth into a more open place, park the car and go on foot to look for the villa.
