Rue de l'Espérance, Fouras, France (day 2)

Today is a big day in France. Not only is it Bastille day, the biggest public holiday in France, it is also the day France plays Spain in the semi finals of the world cup. When the fireworks are set off later, will the French be celebrating more than the birth of the modern French Republic? The aire and campsite opposite slowly began to empty this morning.

We'd decided we would stay another night, so fairly early we walked along the seafront to the nearby town, visited the market and stopped for tea and coffee at a cafe on the seafront, before returning to Marge armed with a still warm freshly baked baguette.

After weeks of intense heat it doesn't feel too warm to Angela now it's only 29c. It feels comfortable. Whilst John took an afternoon rest, Angela sorted out Marge's cupboards in readiness for all the goodies we want to bring home with us. We already have rather a lot of tinned mussels and tuna we bought in Spain. Sorry Marge, there's wine to buy yet, then you'll feel really loaded up! As we enjoy the early evening sunshine  across the road at the campsite bar a guitarist is tuning up.

Looks like it's going to be a great evening. Music, football and fireworks. Then tomorrow we'll be telling Marge to 'twende' (swahili for) Let's go! It was the name of Muddy Marges former owners truck camper which he used in Africa.

I've borrowed the photo from the previous owners page which I'm sure he won't mind.

Rue de l'Espérance, Fouras, France

During the night the wind got up. It woke Angela. We were going to take Marge's awning in yesterday evening, but we forgot, as it was late when we came back around from our English neighbours who we'd spent the evening talking with. Not really wanting to disturb John, Angela felt she had to (at 3.30am). A thunderstorm was forecast during the night, and we couldn't risk the awning being damaged. So we were tired this morning. The storm didn't materialise until around eight thirty, and then it wasn't anything to be bothered by. After two days at the chateau it was time to move on. We know this area of France so well we decided we wanted to stay in some new places rather than the old faithfuls. But the village we chose we weren't that enamored by, so after eating lunch we left heading for the Atlantic coast. The very coast we were not going to stay on as it would be busy and expensive. Fouras was was our destination, and we really liked it. It reminded us of the Ile de Re with its whitewashed buildings and blue shutters. But it was popular and difficult to find a free overnight spot that wasn't overlooking houses, so we left and moved down the coast a little to the Plage L'Esperance where we found a nice free spot overlooking the sea.

Angela loves this area along the Atlantic coast. When we cycled down this coast in 2015 to Spain when John was sixty, this area is the one she remembers the most, and never tires of returning to.

An evening walk on the beach, the tide now far off the shore we were surprised to see so many large jelly fish left behind by the tide.

Their silicone-like bodies made us think of implants, a strange thought, we know. Walking back to Marge we stopped at the paid aire to see how much it cost, but the pay machine was broken, so it was free! We decided to move, as, as lovely as our spot was, it felt a little isolated. As night fell a dramatic sunset of dark pink streaked the sky.

This evening feels fresh, the temperature today is 24c cooler than yesterday. We never thought we'd feel comfortable like this again. For the first time in many weeks the heat felt bearable. We have just one week left in France. We can't believe that the time for us to return home will soon be upon us. Already we are looking into travels for next year. As they say. One life, live it!

Château Marquis de Vauban, Blaye (day 2)

Our second day at the Château Marquis de Vauban. 

Today with temperatures due to peak at 41c we decided to walk out early, taking the path alongside the river Gironde to the town.

This is the Gironde where the German U Boats would have travelled from the U Boat pens in Bordeaux to the Atlantic during the second world war. We visited those pens in a previous blog.

The route passed through the citadel where a horse jumping event was taking place. With the heat building the horses well groomed coats glistened.

After each horse was ridden around the short course it was hosed down. We thought of the donkeys and horses in Morocco who toiled all day, and were left to graze on bare ground amongst the rubbish. How they would have loved to be cooled down like this.

A river cruise boat sat on its mooring, some of the visitors, mostly Americans had disembarked to take a look around Blaye. The fair is in town, which masked the true identity of the town.

 Coffee and pain chocolates at a popular cafe our Sunday morning treat. But the cost! We'd become used to coffee, tea and pain chocolates in Morocco for less than four pounds, sometimes less. Back at the chateau, after a busy night many of the vans began to drift away. We originally were only staying one night, but with the intense heat, and being in no rush, we thought we should stay for another.

So a lazy afternoon of reading and showering, using our pressurised lifesaver jerry can, before the day crept into evening. It's strange how on days when you do very little, they seem to pass by quickly. A bit like life. Don't spend too much time planning for the future, live for the day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed!