La Flotte (Day 2)

We were a little tired this morning having received a message from one of our tenants last night. She wanted to speak to us on the telephone, it wasn't urgent though. If you contact us, that's urgent enough for us. So as you can imagine we both spent the night trawling through every scenario. This morning another message. Just wanted to tell you we're going home to visit our relatives at Easter. A friend will come around the house to check post. We never guessed that one!

All change at the aire this morning, with the usual advice being given out to the new arrivals on how to park. If nothing else, it's cheap entertainment. But we couldn't linger, leaving Marge to watch the fun and games. We mounted our trusty Brompton bicycles and set off to the other side of the island to La Couarde -sur-Mer, Ile de Re's most popular beach, stopping on the way to buy a baguette, tomatoes and pate du Campagne, as we did yesterday. Cyclists' food! The resort was quiet with visitors but busy with tradespeople which was the same everywhere on the island. The season was about to open up, time was of the essence.

Cream coloured stone buildings contrasted with traditional white low buildings with their blue shutters. The area seems more Spanish than French. So popular is the island, that during July and August the traffic jam stretches from the other side of La Rochelle. The island is described as a little claustrophobic during that time.

  We found a bench in the sun above the beach and lunched. There were a few other cyclists around. Two and a half hours of eating, chatting, reading, watching, dozing and sunning ourselves soon passed by. Hungry again we went in search of cake!

Back at the aire we had a new neighbour who'd parked inconsiderably taking two spaces. We could imagine what Marge had to say about that.

The rule breakers that we are, we set up the outside grill and cooked sausages. John said he wished his late father had seen our nifty little gas grill. He would have enjoyed eating sausages cooked on it, being a sausage connoisseur. 

Another day almost at an end we sum it up as; Breakfast, shower, clothes washing, cycling, lunch, sitting, cycling, cake, cycling, barbecue, tired!

Tomorrow we will drive up towards the lighthouse where there are more fantastic beaches. Let's hope they also sell cake up there.

Our first free library of the trip!

Two things over the stone wall next to us, both a mystery.

Pine cones from the tree overhanging us, hope none of these drop on us overnight, they are very big and heavy!