Camping Garennes,Monbert (day 2)

A slight coolness in the morning air this morning reminded us of our cycling trips, when we rise in the darkness at seven, cycling shorts no protection against the early morning chill. Angela is one season ahead though. She's wearing socks with a snowflake motif on them. her claim the soft cotton is comfortable. Today is a rest day. We have dreamt about returning to this little campsite for a long time, we always relax when we're here. Knowing the area well, we don't need to drive out to visit the nearby attractions.

So T-shirts washed and on the line, we walked into the village, noticing new houses had been built, but old buildings like the forge still stood in a time long gone.

Of course we took a look inside the church. The impressive stained glass windows lit by the sun cast rainbows over the stone walls. We took a moment to study the many windows installed in 1922, dedicated to men lost in World War One. Then a walk up a side street brought us upon the local food bank where the ladies conversed with us in French and English. A late lunch, after rising late this morning, of cheese and crackers with delicious sweet ripe melon, already a daily staple filled our stomachs. As yet we have bought no baguettes. As followers of our many previous blogs will know we are partial to one, but we're not cycling so we're trying to be careful with regards to our food intake. Wine excluded of course! Our pitch under the trees was lovely, but we need to ensure our solar panels received enough light, so asked if we could change pitches.

Now Marge enjoys views of newly ploughed fields of coffee coloured clods drying in the sun, and a peach tree. The day has passed quickly, and late afternoon John suggested we play badminton, so we did. He thinks Angela's too competitive, despite beating her. 

The weather forecast today was for rain, but it's been warm and dry most of the day. However, the evening looks set to be wet, so we'll probably sit inside the nearby building, home to the showers and a lounge area where you can sit and just chill.

Things to do with an Oyster shell.......

Camping Garennes, Monbert

Yesterday evening, was a beautiful late summer evening, the breeze cool, we walked back through the dunes to watch the sunset. Our German neighbours also came to watch.

We talked to them about visiting Scotland, and they to us about Slovenia. This morning as we all packed up we bid each other safe and enjoyable travels. But before setting off, John exclaimed, 'there's something I've never witnessed before'. A lady behind a large motorhome lifted her skirt and proceeded to relieve herself in the standing position. Don't try this at home folks! Today's planned journey was to drive to Chateaubriant, just north of Nantes. But there was some confusion as to whether the municipal campsite was open there or not. So as we approached the medieval town of Vitre, we decided once we'd stopped for some more food provisions, to drive onto the village of Monbert, south of Nantes. We have stayed at Camping Rural Le Relais des Garennes many, many times, but not since 2019, pre-covid. Would Odile and Philippe remember us?

En-route we stopped at a pretty spot by a lake in a small town. We ate under the covered picnic area alongside three fisherman. Angela conversed with the men in her 'best' French. 'Were the fishe in the lake large?' the puzzled expressions from the three French faces opposite told her perhaps she'd had not asked the correct question. Fortunately she repeated her question again, using the correct word for fish. What a numpty! Angela, not the fisherman. The weather has been fairly kind to us today. Despite some showers it's been warm. After a challenging drive around the Nantes ring road we arrived at Monbert, late afternoon.

Odile and Philippe recognised us. The first time we met we arrived on bicycles, probably ten years ago now. Since then we've arrived in a campervan and now a Landrover. Philippe seemed impressed. As were some of the campers already on the site. We have paid to stay for two nights. After todays long drive, and with no need to rush we are looking forward to spending time here. We can't believe it's been five years, seems like only yesterday.

With our awning out we were able to grill sausages on our electric grill whilst the rain steadily fell on the nearby lake. A persisting sun lit the droplets as they fell, casting a rainbow of colours over the nearby fields. Life seems perfect.

A beautiful campsite, costing around £10.00 a night, (no electric), and a bottle of very good Bordeaux Superior wine costing £3.25! We just need the rain to stop now, fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Plage Dragney-Ronthon

John thinks Angela uses the boxio toilet too much. She'd never heard the like of it! Needs must. This morning she allowed him to 'have a go'. Honestly, there's using it, and there's abusing it! The weather now settled after last nights deluge we were able to cook outside. We spoke with our English neighbour who'd arrived on the same ferry from Poole as ourselves, before wishing him a good holiday and setting off. We are heading south west towards the Atlantic coast, and no doubt at some point we'll meet the rain heading across the Atlantic due in the next day or so. Travelling along the long straight, undulating roads that cut through the French countryside we headed to the seaside town of Granville, where we'd be able to fill our water bottles with drinking water from a tap situated near the lifeguard post. We couldn't believe a few days ago it was still the French holiday season. The place was dead.

As we lunched at a picnic bench overlooking a sea of aquamarine a watery sun appeared. The weather was looking up. Our destination today a grassed area behind the sand dunes at Plage Dragney-Ronthon. The landowner allows overnight stays for a donation.

A short walk through the dunes takes you to a vast sandy beach, peppered with shells of many colours and size. Was it too early to start collecting some?

Close by, the imposing Mont Saint Michel. Always a beautiful sight. We just love France, never tiring of it. We appreciate how lucky we are to be able to travel as we do. For now, we will enjoy the scenery, weather and all the beauty around us.

There is a bar at the field we are staying in, unfortunately though, there's no drinks available.

St. Vaast la Hoque

Almost two weeks ago we were packing up Marge in readiness for a mini break in the countryside near Lyme Regis. The two night stay at the Hobby Farm adult only campsite where we met up with our friends Trudy and Andrew from Cornwall seemed an age away. We are now in France and Trudy and Andrew off on a road trip to Scotland.

An early start to catch the ferry from Poole, Marge of course stopped at customs where the officer on eyeing our two pairs of crocs informed us he had seventeen pairs! Some members of our family would say one pair is too many. never mind, the distraction meant he didn't ask about our food provisions, now we are restricted on taking meat and dairy to France. No drug bust Marge. He didn't notice our bags of white substance. Angela as always smuggling in porridge. After days of warm settled weather, the rain fell, the forecast not looking so great for our first few days abroad. 

After an almost five hour ferry journey, slow and boring we disembarked at Cherbourg. it felt strange to not be cycling off the ferry, but we were pleased we weren't. The weather was miserable.

Now late in the afternoon, we'd decided to drive just a little down the coast to St Vaast la Hoque. A pretty coastal town with a large marina. We have stayed here many times before. The rain fell, but tired we settled down for an early night. 

Poole

Back home in Poole we walked down to the Quay for the car enthusiasts night, and to listen to the Vintage Dogs playing on the Quay.

We explored Hell Lane, near North Chideock

St John the Baptists Church Symonsbury

Symondsbury Estate Shops