Day 4.            Friday 2^nd June 2017.         Mileage:  0000        Total:  125

From:             Mousterlin                             To:   Mousterlin

Weather:       Hot sunny.

I was woken at about 0700hrs by what I thought was a Motorhome arriving, however the din went on for some time. I could not be bothered to drop the blinds and look out but whatever it was it proceeded up and down the road nearby. Earlier, God bless them, I had heard the wheelie bin men empty our bins but had managed to drop back to sleep. With this din, sleep was now impossible. Jackie, oblivious and in the land of Nod, I attempted to crawl over her to get the kettle on. From beneath the duvet a voice said “A digestive with mine.” Now is that the biscuit variety or the drink!

The noise continued, coming and going. I thought it must be a grass cutter but could not recognise the sound. “I’m off to investigate.” “Wait for me I’m coming.” We walked to the car park at the entrance to our site and away in the distance was a grass cutter. The council were tidying up.

It was another beautiful morning and so we walked some way up the cycle track. This also has facility on the side of it for horses to trot along. Ahead we knew was another camper park. We wanted to investigate. As we drew near we could see it was a large car park, with six or more campers tucked away in the corner. Nothing official. There were stainless steel loos here also. Complete with loo paper and auto dispense hand sanitizer. Pretty much state of the art. Apart from the flush system. This was a foot lever which operated a downward scraper. Thus pushing anything one might have deposited into the pan down into presumably a holding tank. A slight twist on “the long drop”. Mike was ensconced on the throne when he heard a vehicle pull up outside. This could only be the council boys about to clean out and replenish the loos. Before I could fold up the pages of the Telegraph, someone was pulling on the door handle. The loo was locked but the very act encouraged me to get a motion on so to speak!

We returned to the van via a deserted beach. Well, all but. A young mamselle was already swimming in the sea. At 0900hrs? I ask you? We ate breakfast outside. Porridge? Yes, that’s correct. The morning passed with various tasks accomplished.

Jackie decided we would get the bikes off the bike rack and go for a peddle. I was none too enthusiastic but reasoned I could not put it off for seven weeks. I may as well bite the bullet. The damn things came off a sight easier than they went on. We packed a pique-nique and set off in the opposite direction to that we walked yesterday. Mistake. Eventually the well-marked and defined cycle track ran out and we were on a wide well-defined path of grass and sand headed towards the salt marshes. We were speeding along, for a change Mike was out front when, due to his inexperience he hit a long run of sand on the track, blown over the path by the dissecting path onto the beach. We were running parallel to the beach. The deep sand grabbed the wheels, locked them as though I had jammed on the brakes and threw Mike off to one side in no uncertain terms. I lay there winded. Jackie passed to one side avoiding the “sand trap” and shouted over, “You gonna sit there on your arse all day?”

Mounting, I eventually caught up but we had hit a dead end. The salt marsh, fed by the tide which was in, was impossible to cross. We had to retrace our path. Soon, back at the start we cycled onto yesterday’s lunch stop on the beach. Parts of this route were on tarmac coastal roads, parts on well-defined cycle tracks.

It was slightly cloudy by now and a breeze had sprung up. We stopped at 1415hrs for our pic-nic. Rather a grand term for some slices of ham inside a dry tortilla wrap. There were fresh satsumas for dessert. Jackie marvelled at the way I was looking after her. She felt I was spoiling her with all these al fresco gastronomic lunches. I took no notice and laid back out of the breeze in the dunes for some kip. It was not to be. The sun was now out again and it was burning on my legs. Jackie applied more sun cream stuff and we were off again headed towards Beg Miel, a small coastal hamlet. I had noticed on the map earlier it had a few cafes, bars and creperies. Should be able to get a coffee there.

Most of the village was still cocooned for winter. Fortunately, we found a delightful Creperie all but empty apart from two English families with children. As they departed we entered. Ordering two coffees and a Café Ligeouse we sat for thirty minutes and basked in the sun. “How can we avoid the return along the beach?” Simples, we use Map.me on Jackie’s phone and it calculates the route back via the country roads. Much easier and all flat, easy going.

Back at the van, I covered the bikes and mounted them on the rear cycle carrier and threaded the locking cables through wheels, frames and carrier. Smart ass, who was sitting in the beach chair, looked up and asked, “Think you’ve used enough bike locks there Butch?” She’s been on form today!

Soon we were both sitting enjoying a second cuppa when over walked a couple to chat. They were from Exeter and had been in country since late February, staying mostly in Spain and Portugal and were now on their way home. We chatted for some time and it was most informative, both sides learning from the experience.

Mike made curry and cous-cous for scran tonight with a side dish of mixed vegetables and a couple of hard boiled eggs. Yogurt, myrtles and honey for dessert. Best meal of the week I reckon.