Mile: 16530
- 16578 Daily: 48 Meteo:
Sunny, bit breezy.
It was 0900hrs and we were
late waking. It was sunny. Jackie had a minor headache. Caused I am certain by
the consumption of a glass or two too much vin rouge last night. There was much
celebrating dans la maison the previous evening. Whether this was due to the
arrival of Pascal as we were part the way through a BBQ or the arrival of
Bernard, another neighbour and his wife Domenic and their two young
granddaughters or the fact the Stopportons had confirmed they would move on
today I am uncertain.
We departed at 1200hrs. Lal ensuring we took Pascal's parting gifts of two marrows! Mike wondered if we could smuggle these back into the UK or would border control be forewarned?
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Sometimes it was seat of the pants with the nav. |
Jackie had selected a route that took us
across the marshes due NW as opposed to going S and the long way around. The
selected route might well be on quite narrow roads! It was not the case. It was
a beautiful sunny day and the drive N through the ‘marais’ was very pleasant.
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Check out the size of me marrows! |
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You didn't know marrows grew on trees did you. |
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Lal escorts us out ensuring we actually leave! |
Within ninety minutes we arrived at the Municipal Aire at Le Goulet. A
municipal campsite right beside the beach for E9-20. Tarmac hardstanding's but with plenty of hedges between plots for privacy.
Again this was a gated
entry via credit card. We were concerned that we would not find a parking place
as it was Bastille Day and a public holiday. We anticipated more weekend
traffic than normal. This reasoning seemed reinforced by the amount of traffic
on the route here but again as we drove up to the barrier we could spot places.
This aire has 60 emplacements. Having paid our E9-20 entered the code into the
barrier, it lifted and in we drove. We parked. Looked up and there directly
opposite us was the English couple whom we met on Le Isle Olorone. Some 5 days
ago. We walked across to them and chatted, the usual mundane conversation then
set about prepping lunch.
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Entrance to the campsite. |
We crossed the road and were
on the beach by 1500hrs. It was our intention on a recce only but strolled
along the water’s edge till we came to a cabane selling ‘lick licks’ Here we
were relieved of E6 for two ‘Amande’ Magnums. We sat on those horrible red
plastic Coca Cola seats, ate our ice creams and people watched. We decided that
as it was later in the day we would merely crash on the beach. Jackie was
concerned we had no towels or rugs etc. Nothing upon which to rest our heads.
Within minutes I piled up a few stones, found a large concave rock to act as a
pillow and hey presto. She wasn’t that impressed until she tried it then lay
there for the next two hours.
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View of the campsite from the beach. |
Another exploratory walk took
us to the headland of the bay. The beach was now pretty busy. The strange
thing, perhaps not, is that on all the access points onto the beach which
appear perhaps every 6/700 metres it is hear they sit. It’s almost as if as
soon as their feet hit the sand from the tarmac, they drop their beach towels
and dig in. Walk another 1/200 meters and you have the beach to yourself.
Sheeple.
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Late evening or was it early morning? |
Dinner tonight was some of
Angie’s soup she had made and frozen for us into a plastic container.
We turned
in at 2225hrs.
Early tonight. No bad influences by the Steers up till gone
midnight drinking!
Just as Mike was about to drop off three fireworks went off
somewhere.
That was the sum total of the ‘Fete Nationale’ celebrations.
Bastille Day was over for another year.
