With the ‘general management system’ fault repaired, the bed extension project declared a success and my back in better condition, we leave Evas, St Laurent and resume our journey heading for La Rochelle traversing through the Loire Atlantique and the Vendee. We decide to stop briefly in the popular coastal resort of La Baule which boasts a long sandy beach but is otherwise unremarkable and seems reminiscent of the English south coast.
A final view of the magnificent house at Evas, St Laurent.
Thanks to Graham’s and Judith’s woodwork skills we’re looking forward to more comfortable nights on Brenda.
The up-market resort of La Baule boasting a long sandy beach but otherwise reminiscent of the English south coast.
As we approach the mouth of the Loire, the landscape turns more marshy.
We cross over a massive suspension bridge over the Loire estuary near St Nazaire and drive through small towns like Sainte-Ermine and Marans which are pretty but clearly quite run-down, with a large number for sale signs outside closed down shops on the high street. As we move down into the Vendee, the landscape changes again – with a slightly strange mixture between cheerful Mediterranean-type terra-cotta and flatter roofed houses and the more austere northern flint-roofed ones.
The vast suspension bridge over the mighty Loire river estuary at St Nazaire.
The pretty but run-down village of Marans.
Flatter terra-cotta roofed houses become more the norm.
But the more austere northern or Loire valley types of houses are still in evidence.
We arrive at La Rochelle in the early evening but decide to by-pass it for now and head straight for the island of Ile de Re where we’ve booked for the night. We go over a bridge straight off La Rochelle’s ring-road and arrive at the Camping Municipal next to Saint-Martin de Re’s castle ramparts. It’s a beautiful spot and clearly a very popular one even out of season. We’re greeted by the campsite’s cat sitting at Reception looking suitably regal given its heritage. His name is Singha, after a popular beer in India – no doubt for a very good reason though I forget to ask what it is. Talk about Imperious Puss in Boots or ‘Chat Botte Imperieux’ en Francais!
Singha the receptionist at the Saint-Martin de Re Camping Municipal on the Ile de Re.
Poppy fields on the Ile de Re.
The next morning, we slightly reluctantly leave Ile de Re to visit La Rochelle and make our way down past the Charente Maritime into Acquitaine and the Dordogne on our way to Bordeaux.
The Ile de Re is a perfect place for both camping and some healthy cycling round the island.
A typical grand town- house in La Rochelle.
Travels with our van 