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Published: July 26th 2010
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Tuesday 6th July
We had pre-arranged to meet up with friends of ours from Dunning, who were on their annual vacation in their motorhome somewhere near the Dourdogne. ·So we set off towards Montignac to rendevous with Sally and Muriel. We have enjoyed a couple of very pleasant days in their company, revisited some favourite sights within that region and passed some happy hours indulging in some very tasty food cooked by Alan and a bottle or two of France’s best product. It was very warm at around 37 degrees which prompted Sally to lead us into the pool at the campsite. After introducing Sally to an Aire at Les Eyziers, we said our goodbyes and departed heading west towards the Atlantic coast.
Sunday 10th July
We camped at the municipal site in Bergerac which was great until around 3am a group of local youths created enough noise for the police to get involved and that was the end of that nights sleep. A succession of Aires including St. Jean D’Angely (thunderstorm), Partheney (Liz went and gave a British couple a piece of her mind when they turned on a diesel generator after midnight and then there was
the frogs (but that’s another story). So with little sleep over several days we plodded wearily west.
Tuesday 13th July
We have arrived on the Atlantic coast, north of Sables d’Olonne around St Jean de Monts, which is a very typical French coastal town. We found the Aire with no problem it was situated at the end of the town beside an aerial assault course. The area is surrounded by a huge pine forest edged by sand dunes and the coast. We have decided to stay within this area for awhile as it provides a multitude of things we like to do. The foremost is miles upon miles of dedicated cycle tracks through the pine forest. So we set off for a 20km bike ride with the dog. Who has now become so excited by the prospect of running alongside our bikes that we have a problem when other cyclists pass and he runs along beside them, soon we will loose him! The weather has been brilliant and with home uppermost on our minds we have been topping up the tan on the beach, as we know you have had it hot as well. It was too windy
on the 14th for the usual fireworks on the beach so we had a delay and went on the 17th to watch the Bastille display.
A short hop up the coast took us to the municipal campsite at Notre Damme de Monts which has a great site tight by the beach joining into the pine forest which hugs the shore for many miles. The cycle tracks are excellent and we became a bit leg sore from the miles we have clocked up.
19th July
Again a short journey to the tip of the island and the town of Noirmouiter with stunning seaviews and more cycletracks. We had a great long lunch in a local restaurant with curried lamb (Moroccan style) and a pichet of Pouilly Fume.
21st July
We headed north and stayed at an Aire near the town of Damgen. It is picture postcard pretty with small whitewashed cottages adorned with sky blue doors and shutters, together with hydrangeas and hollyhocks. A day on the beach and some swimming in the Atlantic and we are off north with thoughts of home growing ever stronger.
23rd July
We stayed in an Aire in
the town of St. Jacut sur Mer which is on a peninsular with excellent footpaths and sandy coves. Liz thought it reminded her of Cape Wrath in the north of Scotland, only it was about 10 degrees warmer at around 22 Celsius. After a nights stop we moved to the car park along with about 100 other motorhomes at Le Mont St. Michel. We have been here before many years ago; however it is a good stop on our way to Cherbourg. Unfortunately during a rush down a flight of concrete steps I lost my footing and fell grazing both shins and had to walk back to the ‘magic bus’ with blood streaming down both legs. Alan was visiting the Abbey and so was not there to either rescue me or sympathise with me, he did however remark that my injuries ‘look painful’. Aye we heard that before, when I broke my fingers in Sicily!
25th July- 27th July
So here we are we have come to the final days of our year, we are on a municipal campsite in Cherbourg, the weather has been great, it is 10 o’clock at night and it’s still about 24 degrees.
I think for me that has been one of the pleasures of this section of the trip, the warmth into the evening, being able to sit outside to eat breakfast and an evening meal. As all too soon we will be returning to the sub-artic that is Scotland. May be you think that is a bit harsh, but having been brought up in the south of England, and being fortunate to spend many holidays in the South of France, believe me there are not many evenings you can sit outside at 10 o’clock at night in you shorts and a flimsy top, with out getting frost bite, or wind burn or the best yet, eaten alive by ‘the midge’, oh how I look forward to returning.
On a more serious note we are both looking forward to seeing all our friends and family, and cosy Friday nights in the Kirkstyle. See you all soon.
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