> > Every weekend I find no problem in waking up early [...]

> I think you've nailed it there. One thing I have found interesting being over 200 km from my girlfriend is that I now have a greater appreciation for the things she likes to do

That's it. To be far away means less time to be together, so everyone makes the best efforts to give as much values as possible to that time.
What's more important, I noticed that our enthusiasm is always the same also when we stay together for more than a weekend.

> "I'm too busy this weekend to go for a long walk, and there's always next weekend".

That's a bad thing; life is not only work.

> OK, I just realized that this post is completely not on any topic you mentioned in your post.

Does it have to be? :)

> It's just that your comment about driving 800 km in a day for those sorts of experiences reminded me

Want to make me happy? Give me a car, a freeway (or a bike) and a city/town/monumental site to sightsee.

> Thanks for your post

Nothing! :)
It's useful to me too, and I'm also thinking that you and me are some thousands of km. far away but we think the same, behave the same, feel the same (complain about fuel costs...)

Have a good weekend,
AP.