Tregastel, Northern Brittany

We are very much in need of a good night's sleep. Whilst our overnight stops recently have been in excellent locations, we are finding with darkness not falling until after eleven, and the sun up just after six we are only resting properly for a few hours a night. And the recent extreme hot weather has also played its part.

So, as we were up early this morning, we left early, stopping at the church in the village to look inside, and then taking a short drive to Lanmeur to another church to look at the 9th century crypt, which was one of the oldest crypts in France.

Churches always feature heavily when we visit Europe, probably because they're free to visit, but they are all interesting in their different ways. All churched out, or so we thought, we drove to the seaside resort and picturesque village of Locquirec.

The views were stunning, aquamarine sea, and a huge white sand beach. We felt we were looking at a holiday brochure, if holiday brochures are still available. And of course there was a pretty little church to visit. Then it was time to drive the coast road up to the granite coast. The beaches were out of this world, we'd never seen the like. So needless to say the journey took a while, as we had to keep stopping to look, photograph and admire. So tonight another free stop, just across from another stunning beach. Our choice is to pay £18.00 at the aire, or stay for free across the road with the French at the rear of the Super U supermarket car park.

It's a no brainer. We are now in the most popular holiday area in northern Brittany. With the school holidays beginning this weekend, we need to push on and move further down the coast. But with so many beautiful places to visit we don't really want to rush. 

Saint-Jean-du-Doigt, Northern Brittany

Just before nine yesterday evening the lovely French family left. They'd been pawing over a map of France for half an hour, obviously planning to drive through the cooler part of the day. Our closest neighbours now were a couple with a teenage son. More importantly, they owned a Land Rover Discovery with roof tent.

 Just as talk of football united people around the world, so do Land Rovers, and if we can throw pictures of our Land Rover Defender Muddy Marge into the mix we call that a result. And guess what, they also had a Boxio composting toilet! That's two of us then. The has been a good day, cycling, finding an excellent overnight park up with good company, and rain. Yes at ten, whilst preparing for bed a light rain fell. Bliss. This morning though the novelty had worn off. We awoke to yet more drizzly rain, dark clouds racing cross the lake propelled by a fresh breeze, and cooler temperatures. We'd gone from the high nineties to the high sixties. Quick, find our fleecy tops! Before leaving the south of Brittany there was one more place we wanted to visit. The forest at Huelgoat.

A walk through the trees takes you through a scene of large boulders deposited in both an artistic and chaotic manner. It was both beautiful and interesting.

At the 'Trembling Stone', not wanting to be outdone by the French, John manage to make the stone tremble, it was all about finding the right pressure point. The earth didn't move, but the stone definitely trembled. We think our favourite stone was probably 'The Mushroom', which looked like a giant Cep.

Our time in this area of Brittany over, late afternoon, we drove up to the north coast. The landscape changing from long straight roads, bright yellow fields of corn, and throbbing tractors, to a undulating terrain, and curved lush green fields, and a coastline likened to Cornwall. Although some would say, nicer than Cornwall. After a walk around the small village, where Margery has secured one of the six places on the aire, we strolled down to the impressive large white sand beach to watch the sun go down.

Lac de Guerledan, Morbihan, Brittany

After the intense heat of yesterday, this morning was cool and fresh. But despite the lowered temperature it didn't feel cold, just comfortable. Days are ticking by now, so we packed up as quickly as possible, giving Margery a quick pat down to remove the purple stains from the cherries as they were pecked at by the birds in the tree above.

A Thrush picked through the arid soil around us, miraculously finding a few worms to return to the nest with. Once again today we weren't driving far through the beautiful French countryside passing a patchwork of fields, some with crops waiting for harvest, screens of trees providing welcome shade over the road, and bees busy feasting on pollen from fragrant flowers. Today we looking forward to being able to go cycling.

So the stop we'd chosen to spend the night at was beside Lac de Guerledan. It was near the Velodysee cycle route, a route we know well. We decided to cycle to the nearby dam.

Of course we found ourselves lost along the way, even  found two boats lost in the forest, but we didn't care, it was great to be cycling.

By now the heat was rising, but a cooling breeze helped keep the temperature down a little. Once again we came across families cycling the Nantes-Brest canal, and once again we didn't envy them in the heat.

The dam was a bit of a disappointment, but nevertheless it had been good to put our feet on some pedals. The return cycle was uphill, so more walking than cycling. Anyone who knows anything about hydration will know copious amounts of water needs to be consumed in very hot weather. But good hydration results in a need to urinate. Angela doesn't need encouragement in this department. She can't pass a public convenience without using it. Today, public loos far and few between she resorted to a 'hedge wee'. After many years of bicycle touring, 'hedge wees' have become a 'who cares, this will do wee'. Today though, she was a little unerved by something stroking her buttock. Thankfully the intrusion was caused by a seed head on some wild grass moving in the breeze. This evening the van parking at the lake is busy. Well it would be. Not only is it a beautiful spot, it's free.

As we wait for a beautiful sunset, which we are assured we will witness, we count our blessings. One being that we have a really lovely French family parked next to us, and in a Land Rover!

Your choice of neighbour whether on a free park up or a camping site is not up to you, and often they can be a right pain. Foot to the pedal tomorrow Margery, we need to up our pace. There's still lots to see.