2014

Didn't have time to update yesterday.  We left Ile de Noirmoutier eventually after a slow start.  It took about 4 hours to get to St Malo on a pretty straight forward trip thanks to the sat nav. Camping la cite d'Alet (a municipal campsite 15€ per night) is our home for the last two nights of our holidays.  It is very well placed withinn walking distance of the town.  The campsite overlooks the harbour and we could see the ferry from our pitch. We decided to walk in to town.  What a beautiful and interesting place it is.  We walked around the old city walls and had fantastic views over the town and harbour.  There was plenty to see and do with lots of interesting cafes to sit and watch the world go by as the sun shone down. Today we had our breakfast and walked a short distance to the memorial fort just up from the campsite.   It was quite sad and a reality check seeing the results of gun fire and grenades on the cast iron 'pill boxes' We walked b...

Awoke again to a cool morning but soon warmed up. We haven't done much today but planned our next and final leg of the journey to St Malo.  About a 4 hour drive from here. We walked along the beach after lunch and had a ice cream and a beer or two.  It was lovely just leisurely watching the boats bobbing up and down in the sea as the sun shone down and glistened on the water. Bliss.

Awoke this morning to a little cool wind.  But it soon warmed up to a lovely 28degrees.  We had breakfast then went in to Noirmoutier.   Literally a 10 minute cycle ride.  It was lined with lovely shops and plenty of bar/restaurants and places to buy food to eat back at the campsite.  I was well impressed and there was a market on.  It seemed quite a bustling little place with plenty going on.  Which is great for us when we do not want to use anything but the bikes.  We had a wander around then headed along the cycle track to Herbaudiere which is on the north of the island. We stopped by the marina and had a beer or two, then decided to stay for a lovely lunch with patisserie, wine and coffee. We had a little cycle round then headed back along a well signposted route.

Awoke this morning to a few grey clouds and then a spot of rain, which didn't matter as we were packing up and moving up the coast to Ile de Noirmoutier.  It took a little bit longer than we anticipated .  We stopped en-route to get some shopping before we reached the island but we needn't have panicked as there were plenty of supermarkets along the way. We took the toll free road across.  It was a little bit further but we would have had to wait for the tide the other way. We arrived at our campsite Camping Indigo Noirmoutier (15€ per night) right on the beach.  We found a sheltered pitch amongst the trees.  First impressions are very good.

Having a very quiet and relaxed day today.  We were going to get the ferry to Fort Boyard, but when we got the leaflet from reception we were too late. We have decided to head for Ile de Noirmoutier tomorrow just up the coast about a 3 hour drive and spend 3 nights there and then 3 hour drive to St Malo for 2 nights before we reluctantly get the ferry home.

We awoke to a beautiful morning. The campsite is lovely set amongst the pine trees keeps it nice and cool especially when it is 26 degrees. (Lovely).  We cycled to the nearest town which is Boyardville.  Fort Boyard is just off the coast.  Boyardville was for the workers to build the fort in the 1800's.  A nice place with sailing boats, restaurants/bars and a few shops and a tourist office.  We bought a cycling map (50 cents) and headed  for Saint Georges d'Oleron.  A lovely little place with the usual church in the middle and covered market place. We decided to have lunch here.  We both had moules mariniere with frites washed down with the obligatory bottle of rose.   There was a gathering of a wedding at the church where the bride wore a beautiful red dress.  It was a lovely way to end our day out. We decided to head back to camp and have a rest (wine ensued).  Dave is cooking the tuna that we bought yesterday for tea and the smel...

Said goodbye to our friends who were heading to Carcassonne to see family and we headed to Ile de O'leron. A three hour drive and we stopped in Saintes for some shopping.  We headed to Camping Municipal Les Somanardes.  I thought it might have been in the middle of nowhere and then we came upon some lovely street restaurants/bars which was good news.  We booked in and so far the campsite is basic but very nice amongst pine trees and beside the sea.  We had tortilla for lunch with a lovely bottle of white wine.

Cycled to the big and infamous sand dune. (Dune du Pilat) took one hour on a well signposted cycletrack.  We climbed the steps to the top of the sand dune and the view was spectacular. We had a refreshing ice  cream and headed to Arcachon. Very nice with plenty of places to eat/drink.  We cycled back along the cycle path beside the beach and it made us realise how big Arcachon was.  It probably deserved more of our time but it was very hot and we were glad to be heading back to the campsite.  Ws stopped at a Lidle on the way back for some shopping.  There are plenty of bigger supermarkets eg. Leclerc and Intermarche.  But we will do a good shop tomorrow before we get to Ile de Oleron- our next campsite stop about three hours up the coast.

Left St Jean De Luz (reluctantly) and headed towards Arcachon.  After 3 hours and the sat nav having a bit of a wobble we arrived in De bason de Arcachon.  We found an Intermarche supermarket and got stocked up.  We headed for Camping Municipal De Verdalle.  A very quiet, clean and basic campsite. Just as we like it.  Set next to a lovely clean sandy bay. Once we got settled and a quick snack we were eager to get on our bikes and do a quick reckie.  We cycled along the beach and came upon a small marina with a couple of restaurants.  We checked out the menus and there were some huites on the menu.  No doubt we will be trying them out at some point.

Camping Ferme Erromardie in St Jean de Luz is lovely. We were asked if we wanted a sun or shade pitch and they were a good size.  The campsite is across from a lovely sandy and clean beach with two restaurants/bars and a pizzeria. We had lovely meals in both restaurants and well priced.  David had his long awaited huites (oysters). They lived up to his expectations. They were sooo good he had them at the 2nd restaurant.  Ithink they are a firm favourite. We cycled (along a well signed cyclepath) in to St Jean de Luz.  Fabulous views over the sea.  It only took 15 minutes from the campsite.The town is lovely and well worth the visit. There are some lovely little shops and bars/restaurants and a beutiful beach. We found a little bar and had plat de jour which was pork and rice. Very nice washed down with a glass of sangria. We stayed at the campsite 3 nights but I would have been more than happy to stay there a lot longer.

We went to Biarritz with Andy and Caroline. We were well impressed we thought it would be pretentious but it wasn't.  We had a lovely walk around had coffee then back to campsite. It was David's birthday and our friends had made a little note and put a tea light in a pastry for him.  He was well chuffed. (Ha) We had a bottle of Cava on the beach with Andy and Caroline about 8pm just as the sun was going down.  There was a cruise ship all lit up just down the coast.  The wind got up and lightening across the sky.  We started to have a BBQ but the heavens opened and had to abandon the BBQ because everyone got soaked.  Including the pork steaks .  A birthday to remember.

Moved on to Saint Jean De Luz. Stopping at Ferme de Erromadie for 3 nights.  For €14.50 per night. The MiFi is working well using a Le French Mobile SIM card. Off on the bikes shortly for a look around. The beach is just over the road.

A very good day in San Sebastian.

On the ferry to Bilbao. Catching the Sun. On our way at 11.45.

The Rusty Bicycle for dinner. Good pint and a burger, Jeannette had a pizza. £37 but that was with 2 pints and 2 large glasses of white wine.

Here we are at Oxford Camping and Caravan Club site. Drinking a couple of free beers and getting ready to go on the bikes for dinner

That's it. Work finished until 22nd September. Loading the RPJ up when Jeannette fetches it home after her work and off in the morning. Lunch and fuel up in Morrison's near the M6 around Manchester.