La Flotte Aire, Ile de Re

Yesterday evening the clouds thickened. Their formation that of a mountain range. The sky turned orange and purple, as we witnessed yet another stunning sunset.

 Darkness fell around nine, and all was quiet until, disco music emitted from the nearby town. Really! By ten thirty when we retired to bed the DJ was really 'pumping up the music'. Angela put her pillow over her head. But not for long, realising she might just suffocate herself. After an hour she warmed to the tunes and drifted off to sleep, only to be re-awoken by the DJ shouting. Groan! Shut up you annoying man! And miraculously he did. The evenings entertainment was over. Thank God. Thank God indeed, as we needed to rise early to cross the bridge to the nearby Ile. de Re, a pretty island close to La Rochelle.

We stayed on the island in 2022 and vowed we'd return. The problem on the island is space is limited on campsites and the aires. We really wanted to return to the aire at La Flotte. It is easily within waking distance to the pretty town and harbour. Today was market day and we were keen to visit this also. On the approach to La Rochelle the needle on Marge's temperature gauge rose into the red area. Not again Marge. We pulled onto the hard shoulder and gave her a minute to calm down, then we set off. A short while later the same thing happened again. Oh dear. We still had the toll bridge to drive over to the island. Don't you dare Marge. Luckily she didn't. There were a couple of spaces awaiting us at the aire. Our neighbours are a very nice English couple. In fact there are three other English vehicles here. Normally it's just us and fellow Europeans from various countries. After conversing a while with the neighbours we walked into the charming town with its pretty white washed houses with green painted window shutters and brightly coloured Bougainvillea mixed with the green foliage of wisteria and grape vines. 

The market area with its cobbled paths, a bustling vibrant area impressed us with its variety of wares. The smells an attack on our senses.

Despite a heavy downpour from a storm that hung overhead for well over an hour, the weather today has been pleasant.

This evening we ate pizza at an Italian restaurant. The perfect end to the day.

Tomorrow, we will move onto the adjacent campsite for a night, and if the weather is fine cycle out on one of the islands many cycle paths. As for you Marge. Take a well earned rest.

Marsilly

This morning, after yet more rain during the night, the damp air gripped us. The forecast for this afternoon was for an improving picture, and we hoped that it would be. Our journey from Monbert, along roads we've both cycled and driven a few times before brought back memories. It was 17c, hardly the temperature you'd expect in south west France in early September. In Oban, west Scotland, today's temperature was set to hit 25c. Perhaps we should have travelled to Europe during May and June, and saved Scotland for the autumn. Who knows? The sunflowers, that stretched as far as the eye could see, also seemed a little miffed by the weather. They hung their heads low, also praying for some much needed sun. Marge has performed well so far on this trip, until today, when she decided to have a hot flush. Giving her a minute to compose herself we were soon on our way. We topped her up with fuel, the forty five pounds worth we'd filled her with before leaving Poole had taken us south of Nantes, which we were very pleased about. We hope there will be no more incidents. Do you hear us Marge? Our destination today was Marsilly. A small village on the Atlantic coast, and right on the Velodysee cycle route, which nine years ago, to celebrate John's 60th birthday we cycled. Beginning at St. Malo, and finishing below Hendaye where we crossed just into Spain. It took us eleven days. We'd allowed thirty. So, not bad going. Last year we cycled a section of the route again. We have also driven this way on a couple of occasions. Ask Angela where she loves to visit whilst in France, and in no particular order she'll tell you, Camping Rural les Relais des Garennes, Monbert, the Atlantic coast, the Loire Valley, and of course Mayenne, home to Chateau de la Motte Husson, where we may stop off on our return journey to Cherbourg. Tonight we consider we have the best spot at the park up.

The other vans, all French, are in the main parking area. Marge has her own secluded spot in the 'English section' right at the end on the edge of a field. The golden stubble of a ripened crop awaits the plough to bury it deep into the sandy soil below, and wild fennel, with its distinctive aniseed  aroma wafts around us. Behind us are views of the open countryside. In front the Atlantic ocean, and the coastline stretching towards La Rochelle.

The suspended huts of the shrimp fisherman line the foreshore. The sun has been shining since we arrived mid afternoon, and the temperature rose into the low twenties. The whole area looks beautiful. We are hopeful of a beautiful sunset. Let's hope we are not disappointed.

The Blogger at work!

The local mussels abound.

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.