Tuesday 25th June: Portsmouth and home

 We disembarked at 06:30 BST, which was 07:30 according to our body clocks, after a few hours sleep on the boat.

We decided on a last swim, as we were by the sea, so found our way to Portsmouth's Eastney beach - very relaxed shingle beach with a good café and lots of serious swimmers chugging up and down. There was quite a tidal current  flowing out towards the sea. We swam twice - good exercise against the flow.Bit scarier as current much stronger  the second time.

Headed home, arriving back about 16:00.

Our wildflower meadow  back garden has done well in 'no mow' May (and June)'!

Monday 24th June 2024: Caen to Ouistreham to ferry terminal

 A  very memorable day spent at the museum. 9 am-4 pm. Reasonably priced bistro on the upper level. 

The museum is intended to show the horrors of fascism and the human toll of war on both combatants and civilians. It is very effective.

Drove to Ouistreham afterwards , with a stop at Normandie Wine in the town to restock, then parked up on the front. Still hot. Tide was out. Walked along the Peace boardwalk, read the stories on various  bill boards - accounts written by British and French soldiers, who had landed on  that beach on 6th June 1944 . Last dinner in the van and queuing for ferry. Searched twice  by Police for stowaways, spotted sniffer dog in the distance. 

A long and emotional day. On the ferry at 23:00

From the American memorial garden

Board walk Ouistreham

American peace garden

Guy

Sunday 23rd June Angers to Caen

 Another three hours drive  on toll roads ( got fed up with all the roundabouts). Got to the Camping car parks Aire  in Caen to secure the penultimate  vacant space  at 3 pm ( there are 20 van  places right next to the Caen memorial museum which we plan to visit tomorrow).

Caught the line 2 bus  opposite the Museum into town for an evening stroll. Was given a Twisto card by the bus driver and paid by cash (3.20 for two for an hour)

Got off outside Caen cathedral.  Brief visit. Very hot outside still . Walked up to the castle walls and visited the museum of fine arts just inside,  for the last thirty minutes of its opening hours.

Caen Cathedral

 

Battlements 

Caen memorial museum-  World War 2 history. Simply wonderful.

Celebration of colour in Musee de Beaux Artes Monique Frydman exhibition

Body shapes back in the news (in Series 3 of Bridgerton at least)

 A drink down by the river (lots of huts selling beer and cocktails ) very busy.

Charged our Twisto bus card at the machine at the return bus stop, using our credit card for the return journey (Caen memorial museum is the bus terminus for line 2).

Saturday June 22nd Ille de Re to Angers

My last morning swim at my  favourite campsite  ,  I was the only one swimming   at 10.00am for most of it.

Three hour drive using toll roads from  Ille De Re to Angers, very quiet.
 

Lac du Maine a  10 mins  off -road cycle ride from the centre of Angers, 10 mins walk from the Campsite  to the lake (Camping du Lac du Maine) 

I loved gazing at this mother with her two children 

A peaceful night in the overspill campsite costing €26 . Hot sun has returned 

Friday 21st June 2024 Ille de Re

 I needed a rest day today, cloudy, cold, windy.Went for two chilly swims in the campsite pools, too much swell for me in the sea today.

Andy cycled to the lighthouse and back  in the afternoon  ( 25 K)  visiting Ars de Re- a small port.

Watched the Netherlands v France match at the campsite restaurant , great atmosphere and packed with both fans from both teams.

So here are some photos  and comments from Andy's  ride . He went west - upwind, hoping for a favourable run back!

Ars en Re is the next village east along  from the camp site. I didn't realise it had a harbour with a channel engineered to the north coast of the island. A mix of fishing boats and leisure craft in the tidal (lock gate) harbour.

The channel to the sea

Another 7 km on level and smooth cycle paths took me to the western end of the island. Yet another great beach, and the lighthouse comes into view.

Here's the lighthouse up close. There were lots of restaurants and souvenir/craft shops, it's a tourist honey trap.

You can go up it for a fee.

On the way back I   stopped to look at the salt pans. A large proportion of the north of the island is covered by these, though it's not clear how many are still in use. Salt is still a big thing with self serve sales points near some of the pans and a big warehouse in Ars en Re.

I'm  not sure I  would want to use the salt in cooking as the pools look pretty scummy!

Getting closer to the camp site it's apparent that the coast has been defended with long concrete sections. The whole island is made of sand, so erosion must have been a longstanding problem.

Pretty tired after that!

Thursday 20th June 2024 La Couarde sur la Mer

Swimming , cycling to a fishing village (La Couarde sur la Mer)  swam in the sea later

Tried out the well equipped gym on the campsite. 

Bike trip to La Couarde de Mer

Chatted to Dutch neighbours about the difference between the Netherlands - myriad number of splinter parties and the two party state in the UK, both systems very flawed we concluded.

Wednesday 19th June - Ile de Re

Andy's account 

'Heavy rain overnight, terrific lightning and thunderstorm started as it was getting light. This is the lightning picture before it hit us - it was travelling NE.

Once it stopped raining I realised I had left the garage door open on the side of the MH - forgotten in my haste to get away from the mosquitoes that attacked me as I was pegging the awning down! So there was some mopping out and drying of things to do ...

We swam in the pool, enjoyed the sun and lunched, then went for a late afternoon sea swim and a long walk along the beach, almost to Couard and back '

Tuesday 18th June 2024 la Rochelle to Ile de Re

Arrived lunch time at Eden Villages L'Ocean Hotel en Plein air near Loix

To rest.

Swimming pool , cycle lanes  easy to access from the  campsite , mainly off road all across the island, bar, shop  large pitches with high hedges , new toilet blocks and showers, small  gym with good weights section, cost with ACSI discount  til the end of June 26€  per night.

Equivalent campsite in Wales ( without gym and swimming pool) Or off road cycling access ) same time of year €45

Went for an evening swim in the two swimming  pools when the heavy rain showers abated briefly.

Went to the bar for a drink and  took a  15 minute walk along the busy road (separate  path) to the nearest sandy beach.

Monday 17th June 2024 La Rochelle

 Weather improved. Late morning 15 minute walk to one of the beaches  out of town with coarse sand. Went for a chilly  20 minutes swim.

Lunch followed by late afternoon exploration of La Rochelle 's attractions and the old town

Gave the aquarium  and museums a miss.

Thunderstorms and lightning kept me awake in the night.

Mondrian sailing ⛵ 

Marina

La lanterna

Harbour bridge 

Great beer on this street in the old town Andy tells me

Sunset

Tall ships arriving for the festival this weekend