29 April 2022

Foggy Bottom

No, not The Pentagon - the Vendée marshes! We left Rochefort and negotiated both the narrow carpark exit and roads out of town with no effort. Then the miasma rose from the damp earth and envelopped all. This went on pretty much until we got to Marans and made driving a bit nailbiting. 



As it was getting towards 9 o’clock by the time we felt safe to stop we decided on Luçon for breakfast. The café does good coffee, you can sit outside in front of the cathedral and…best of all…the pâtisserie opposite who do The Best Croissants would be open ( they are tardy and do not raise the shutters until 9). So this we did.


Then onwards and upwards to Port du Bec for lunch. Got there at one minute to 12. No moules - must be just out off season - so we had the menu du jour at  €13.50.  OK but not great but we weren’t that hungry and it was nice simply to sit.  


A quick visit to the end of the jetty to watch the oyster boats dashing back in before heading off again.


As we were crossing the Pont de St Nazaire I spotted a vast aircraft coming low from the east and as we got to the other side it came right past us.  


An Airbus Beluga complete with face! It landed in their compound by the river.










The rest of the drive up to Guingamp was relentless and uneventful. Lots of traffic and we got to Ibis at 5.30.  - once again just got the last table in the Crêperie!



But anyway yesterday I forgot to mention two things. First was in the Lussac St Emilion area where we were pottering along small roads among the vineyards. There was a chap actually using a draught horse and plough to weed between the vines. Bet that puts the price up!

And second, well…in the hotel room above my bed was a huge drawing of what looked like a man sitting on the loo! Probably a nod to Rodin but decidedly odd.