Dampierre sur Loire

Marge was the only van on the aire last night, but we didn't mind, the small town was quiet and we felt quite safe. This morning we awoke to the sound of a cuckoo, the second time this trip. We wish we could have actually seen it. Wanting to leave by ten we wandered up to the boulangerie to buy our lunch baguette. It is important when staying on these aires to spend money in the local town or village. Particularly at the bakery, as more and more of them are closing because of supermarkets opening nearby. Whilst John attended to the toilet emptying, singing 'super pooper' in homage to Abba, Angela noticed Marge could do with a clean herself. She is looking a little jaundiced from the pollen that fell on her from the fir trees whilst at the coast. Sorry, Marge, you've got that well-travelled look. Neglect more like! 

Today we were heading to the Loire. At the town of Cholet John mentioned we should look out for a campervan centre with an accessory shop. What, like that one across the road? A blind that covers one of our roof lights was damaged. In England they cost equivalent to 150 euros. After some discussion at the shop in French and then English we bought one for 88 euros, and they fitted it for us. Job done! Don't we treat you well Marge? Before leaving we looked around a couple of vans they had for sale. A very impressive little French number who looks like she could limbo under height barriers!

Watch out Marge, our eyes are wandering. 

Just before one o' clock, a smile spread across Angela's face. There in front of us was the river Loire looking stunning as always. We drove to an aire which was originally a campsite, until risk of flooding closed it. It's O.K. as an aire though. Not sure how that works. According to our aires book we should have paid, but a sign says it's free until further notice. Or perhaps it's free until the waters of the Loire flow across it. O.K. Marge, more positive please. Whatever the arrangement is it's fairly busy here. Marge is parked in the English/German/Dutch section. Once again the French wont park with any of us.

After a quick lunch it was shorts on. The temperature 22c, although it felt a little cooler. We cycled alongside the river on the cycle path just behind Marge known as Euro Velo 6. We have cycled along this all the way to Nevers. Perhaps we should add it to our list as something to do again. Today though we pedalled to Saumur.

 The town is dominated by a medieval chateau. We took a look around its grounds, taking in the stunning views of the town and river. Cake anyone? Cycling and cake go together as far as we're concerned. Two large slices of the chocolate variety were eaten as we sat beside the river fuelling us for our return cycle.  

This evening the aroma of meat cooking on grills permeated the aire. There are a lot of vans here, but it's quiet. Angela managed to dislodge a filling she only had replaced in January whilst eating yet more baguette. See, I'm not the only problem. We can't disagree with that Marge. At nine o' clock it was warm enough to sit in Marge with her side door open. We decided we would stay here for two nights, cycling out again tomorrow. What's that noise? Bull frogs Marge. Not again!

Saint-Aubin-des Ormeaux

 

Last night the wind eased a little. In the distance the cacophony of the bull frogs pierced the quiet of the night. Church bells tolled somewhere in the distance. What a pleasant little town Angoulins was. We  looked forward to returning another day.

This morning we left early. Today we needed shopping and fuel for Marge. Both of these tasks always eat in to the day. The supermarket was busy after the Easter weekend closure. Angela decided to start building her stock of wine to take back to the U.K. Just twelve this shop. Thirty-six still to buy! Then we set off.

Right Marge, no funny business. We mean it. The long straight roads lined with plane trees were busy with campervans. At lunchtime we once again stopped in a rest area back from the road. Marge one of seven vans.

As we sat at the picnic table eating our baguette and camembert, we felt very French. Today we had decided to only drive for a short while. John found an aire on the internet in a small town in the Pays de Loire region fairly near to our favourite campsite of all time at Monbert, which sadly isn't open until the first of June.

Just after two thirty Marge was sited and we could take it easy for the rest of the day.

We walked around the town and the nearby lake where the bull frogs sat very still sensing our presence not realising we could see them despite their camouflage.

Then along footpaths looking for fungi. John was delighted to find some edible Poplar Mushrooms (cylocybe cylindracea), confirming with our local foraging group in Dorset they were fine to eat. Pork kebabs cooked on our outside grill saw another day coming to an end. Before we knew it the time was eight o' clock. It doesn't become dark here until around nine twenty so we don't realise how late it is. 

Tomorrow we will head to the river Loire. Angela's excited. The river Loire and cycling. She'll be in heaven. Unlike you Marge who will be in the doghouse if you misbehave. Don't think we didn't notice your little wobble when we arrived here this afternoon.

Purple Toothwort growing near Marge, a totally parasitic flower with no photosynthetic parts!

Angoulins

This morning we felt a little sad about leaving Taussant. But we knew we'd pass this way again so it was nous reviendrons rather than au revoir. Late last night some cycle tourists arrived and pitched their tent on the grass area in the nearby car park. The light of their head torches the only sign of their presence. This morning John was horrified to see they were young, in their twenties and riding electric bikes. Sacrilege! One wore a very smart jacket and brown leather work shoes. Cycle touring attire has gone upmarket since we last did it.  

Right Marge. Time to hit the road again. Before travelling too far we needed to off load our grey water as the tank was full. Angela spotted an industrial area where we could see some drains alongside the kerb on one side of the road. Water deposited Angela turned the key to restart Marge. Nothing. Again nothing. And again. Her dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree. Now what's wrong Marge? Fourth time she fired up. Stop doing this please!

Today were driving to just below La Rochelle. We needed to cover a few miles so we could stop again for a few days somewhere further up towards Cherbourg.

 Lunch at a picnic area, allowing an hour to eat and rest then Marge sprung into life, but her engine management light stayed on. Great! We'd spoken to an English couple last night who'd experienced their engine management light coming on also whilst driving in the Pyrenees which had reassured us. Fingers crossed Marge that when we return home and plug you into the computer at the garage there is nothing majorly wrong with you. 

After five hours of driving, wondering what Marge had planned next, we eventually arrived at Gadiou Jerome's oyster farm at Angoulins. He allows space for eight vans to park in his car park. Marge was number seven. What a day it had been.

We were glad to walk out to the tiny port of Lorion where the tide was nearly at its highest making access across to the beach huts a little difficult. Then we sat and looked out across the bay, the early evening sun warmed us which we were grateful for as a south westerly wind blew cool.

We took a selfie. How lucky were we? We talked about our planned cycle touring trip along this coast later in the year. It would give us something to start planning upon our return home. Angela loves the Loire Valley. She loves the Atlantic coast as well. Fortunately, both are fairly flat. We have visited much of France and are now beginning to see which areas we prefer to revisit. 

Van number eight has now arrived. The parking is perfect. Quiet, with very nice views. Along the coast we can see a rainbow of kites belonging to the surfers.

The sunset over the oyster farm could not compare with those of the last few nights, but we were still pleased to watch the sky turn blue to grey to pink as the sun went down. Tomorrow we will move a little further north. Please behave Marge!

Taussant (Day 4)

Happy Easter everyone. Easter or not, our neighbours were not spared John's continued monitoring. Buy yourself a bra woman! Angela tried to quiet him. Don't worry she can't understand me. I think she can. 

Today we had decided to stay local. First, we needed a baguette, but by the time we'd done our washing the little supermarket in the village had sold out, so we tried the épicerie. Our luck was in. Price was dependant on weight. Nearly four euros. It better be tasty. It was. The little épicerie fascinated us with its range of organic fruit and vegetables. 

Bread bought we walked along the seafront towards the town of Andernos-les-Bains. A cool wind blew across the bay taking the heat of the sun away.

We found a sheltered spot to eat our lunch, then sat a while as we've done these last few lunchtimes talking, reading, observing. It took us a while to realise we'd been sharing the spot with some busy ants. Then we took a slow walk back to Marge along the road that ran behind the beach where we were protected from the wind and warmed by the heat of the afternoon sun. Upon our return Marge was having a hot flush! The temperature inside her was around 40c. Quick, give her some air! Hey Marge, have the neighbours left their van? We have a couple next to us who only seem to go out to walk their dog. What's that all about? We are sited less than fifty metres from the beach, the weather is beautiful, why would you want to sit inside your van in a parking area? There's nowt so strange as folk. 

Tonight, is our last night at Taussant. We were keen to once again see the sun go down. We shall miss the little aire, and even the six other van owners who have also been here all Easter whilst others have come and gone. We are sorry that we shall miss the cooking of the giant Easter Monday omelette outside the restaurant on the green. The quirky tradition harks back to Napoleonic times. As we walked out this evening two swallows sat waiting also to view the sunset. They made us smile. Summer was on its way.