I’ve never shied away from a chance to get dirty. Some of my best memories are covered in mud, sweat, beer, rain, saliva and other types of muck. So today I didn’t hesitate to pet a bunch of horses after eating a very sticky orange.

///

I woke from an exciting dream in which I was playing a wild drinking game with my friends (and winning of course). I felt a lot of energy despite the gray, drab sky beyond my terrace door, so I decided to put my newly purchased mountain bike to use after days of childish excuses (but I’ve never seen this movie!). So I ate some breakfast, looked online for a good bike path, tried to remember it, failed to remember it, shrugged my shoulders and stashed some fruit in my pocket. Even though I was only planning on riding for an hour or so, I brought a giant orange in the case that my blood sugar would dip a little too low, which means party over for my little body. So off I went, chasing the many clouds that lay beyond the city.

No map in hand, no smart phone, no camera. Just me, my fruit and my mountain bike. I passed the familiar streets towards the grocery store, the nice pastry shop where my roommate and I once accidentally ordered 12 euros in pastries (this is a lot!) which I had to eat alone (thanks a lot, vegan!). Passed the rugby stadium, the flea market, all the little places that I know until I was headed for the unknown. I explored the streets of the Mosson neighborhood, the nearby town of Juvignac, lost the path, found another, then followed signs for a town called Lavérune, because, why not!?

At this point, the countryside was starting to take over until I was surrounded by vineyards and farms. I started to get hungry and decided to stop for an orange-ravaging session. I looked for the perfect spot. This vineyard? No, I can do better. That vineyard? Nowhere nice to sit… And suddenly I passed a rocky road that veered off to the right. I remembered that I had a mountain bike so I flipped around to find the road again for some fun.

After a few minutes of bumpy turns, I found myself laughing out loud at what I saw. Magnificently tall trees, dotting a large, rolling field filled with horses. Uh, this will do.. I laid my bike down, sat on a pile of dirt and started to peel the little sleeping bag off of my little fruitty friend. Almost like a dream, three giant beauties trotted my way, regarding me and my fruitty friend with wide, curious, eyes.

Knowing nothing about horse care I decided to take the chance of giving them one slice each. It can’t be that bad, can it? Though they refused my polite gesture, they let me pet them and licked my hands and cheeks until some cool air and rain clouds starting rolling in, forcing me to leave.

As I headed back, a man on the path rode next to me for a bit until spontaneously, we sped up, competing to the top of a hill. Laughing, I let him pass and as he turned, smiled and nodded, I took a deep breath, looked around and let my dirty hands drop me to a slower speed.

gross, girl!