But are we downhearted? Not a bit of it. We began the day in a rush. Up at 7.50, out by 8. Reason...someone’s car alarm went off at 3 and every ten minutes thereafter. So by the time we got back to sleep we were very tired and because it was so dark had no idea what time it was! Then across the bridge to St Brévin. So cloudy that at the top we could see nothing.
And when we got to St B the bar wasn’t even open. Sunday...opens at 9. So we walked round the headland to see the serpent.
We could hear the thrumming of a big ship coming in but it was absolutely invisible. Just the hoots from its foghorn now and then. But so mild. Anyway we went back to find the bar ablaze with neon lights and had three superb grand -crèmes. Alas no croissants, though we were given freebie biscuits! That was breakfast.
We’d already decided that today was a day for taking our time as we only had to get to La Rochelle. The plan was to potter down to a couple of the oyster ports on the marshes and this is exactly what we did.
First stop Le Bouchet. Then Le Port du Bec where we stopped to book a table for lunch.
Then a cut across to le Passage du Grois to pass the spare hour. It was pretty atmospheric as always.
The tide was just on the turn and the warning signs were advising how long you had to safely cross.
We went back for lunch on the dot of 12 and had fabulous moules frites in the noisy bar/restaurant. Great!
On our way to La R we stopped for a coffee in the café bar in Luçon, previously much frequented. Got to Première Classe around 5 and then walked round the harbour and old town until yet more pizza/pasta at 7.30.
It rained on and off but it’s so warm and the sun is trying hard! Incredible skies.
