Last night was ghastly. We went in search of Del Arte restaurant for a proper pizza and ended up in some diner that served pizzas in a centre commercial. Reason,..it was twilight and rush hour and it was a nightmare trying to find our way through the maze of Marsh Bartons on speed. And then the hotel wifi packed up in the middle of The Archers.aagh.
Today was better - milky sun, warm, lovely country. Agen will have to be visited another time-it all looked so easy in daylight. We crossed kilometres of of orchards, all netted against hail, and then came across the confluence of the Lot and Garonne. Or rather a viewpoint that overlooked it. Right on top of a cliff. So we hill-climbed up the hairpins to the table d’orientation. Great view but no confluence! It is hidden behind trees.
Back in the town (Aiguillon) we parked up for breakfast only to find the whole of the main square fenced off and being dug up. Ringside view fom the café tables. The owner was less than thrilled - it’s taking eight months!
And on we went through Marmande, under St Emilion, Libourne, some lovely small towns north of Bordeaux, and finally to the cormiche along the Gironde. This is the actual meeting of the Dordogne and Garonne at le Bec d’Ambrès.
We had the rest of the eggs and sausage looking in the direction of Château Margaux (this isn’t it) on the opposite side of the estuary.
There’s a huge low lying area farther up that is home to birds, farms and a nuclear power station. Bit like Hinkley Point and the Somerset Levels.
We gravitated there! Egrets, herons, a kingfisher, birds of prey various.
It sounded like chips frying standing under the huge high tension cables.
And lots of little ports. All very atmospheric.
But it was getting towards 3 and the day was closing in so we reluctantly beat a retreat north to Rochefort and another Ibis Budget. We know this one and it’s nice.
Here is the wreck of Frisco. A petrol carrier built 1906 in USA and scuttled 1944 by the German navy.
This time we drove into town before dark and went to see Hermione, the reconstruction of the ship Lafayette sailed to America. This is the first time we’d seen the completed ship. Last time, many years ago, it was still in dock being built. Oh it is a lovely sight to see all finished and proper. Then delicious galettes and crêpes at our favourite tiny crêperie and home to IB, sandwiched so elegantly between Burger King and McDo!
