Mary Ann and Dave's Bike Trip out East...and Back!

From Le Sable d' Or to La Rochelle

Sure enough it was raining a little more this morning than yesterday morning. My Lord is giving me a little more to deal with everyday. Luckily Silver was under a tree and when I had all the bags on and the rain continued I moved her under an awning by the restaurant to stay a little dry while I took down the tent.

A look at the ocean at Brem sur Mer

Lots of water everwhere today

For Melissa

Tide out

Since I do most of my bicycling in the morning, I always see the tide out.

The first crops of sunflowers are dead now.

Short sections of busy highways and quiet sections of pavement and wet, dirty sections of gravel paths today mafe for intetesting riding.

A look at google map shows all this water with strips of land in between.

A good sign

The railway station( gare) of La Rochelle

Left side

Right side

The apartment but I was here at 2:30 and Allan would not be home until 5.

It is a very big building not far from the train station and the centrum.

I looked up on Google map for an Intermarche grocery store. It was about 2 km away and Google sent me on a path through the woods.

I did a lot of groceries and was thankful that I had brought a backpack. I also used the bank machine there.

I waited from about 3:30 outside the building. I took out my tent and ground sheet to dry. 5 o' clock and no Allan. It looked like rain so I talked one lady into letting me into the building. Then later Sophie, Benoit and 9 year old Charlie helped by letting me use their toilet . Charlie guarded my bicycle and later we chatted in half English and half French. I showed her Sarah's first day of school photos. Charlie and parents are going south on vacation to Medoc for the weekend. Thanks for your help. May God bless you. I called Marine who called Allan Then Allan called me and luckily I could put the phone to Sophie's ear so she understood. A few minutes later Allan arrived . We put Silver away and he showed me the apartment.

Right away I was greeted by this needy cat.

Allan showed me everything and then went to rest in his room. He is a student and quite shy and has limited English.

I made my supper, worked on blog and went to bed at 10:30 pm.

From Le Chaponnet to Le Sable d'Or in LaTranche sur Mer

Sure enough at about 5 o'clock it rained for a while. I couldn't leave until 9 so when I woke again at 7, I was happy that it wasn't pouring. It was also cool during the night and I had condensation on the inside of the tent. I did not bring the white liner for that on this trip because I didn't think that it would be needed. I used the halloween scarf for dishes to wipe it dry. Then I got everything ready. I even put on my full rain pants and waterproof socks. I wiped the outside of the tent as best I could but it definitely was wet.

Today is our 54th wedding anniversary and instead of meandering close to the shore and up and down on the dunes, I decided to do a road ride instead. I enjoyed that. It wasn't long before all the rain clothes came off. I used Google map also . Each day I seem to need a combination of the two. I debated for about 10 min. about going down to Las Sables d'Olonne but changed my mind when I saw the extra distance. I kept going and stopped at lunchtime in Talmont Saint Hilaire. I took a photo of the church and the château ruins. I checked out one restaurant but thought it too exoensive and then talked to the tourist information lady , went to the washroom across the street and then decided to have an anniversary lunch at a hamburger place. That turned out good as the food was delicious. I decided to go past my original stop of Longeville and go on to to La Tranche sur Mer and stopped at Le Sable d'Or Campground about 2 km from the grocery store. They only charged 5 euro so I stayed but without internet because you have to do it on line. I set up and the wind dried everything. I tried to pay but they were never there. I did a quick swim in all the pools and showered paid and for supper I used my emergency dried food meal. In the evening there was a singer putting on a show. I watched for a while but could not understand the fast French words so I went back to check my tent and then returned to the bar for an anniversary lemonade while I watched France play Turkey in volleyball. Rain is expected for tomorrow morning also . We shall see. I have until 5pm to get to La Rochelle and the brother of Marine.

Cycling to Brem and Le Chaponnet

I left Le Grand Corseau after saying goodbye to Bernadette. I did not get much sleep last night due to the family next to me that must have had 8 people in the little house and 2 in a tent behind.

Today's ride was along a lot of the coast with it's beautiful sandy beaches. There are lots of hotels and campgrounds and fun parks for entertainment.

Hotels

An aquatic center

Inside taken through the glass

Just one of the many places for parents to spend their money on their children

Another

Ferris wheel

This weekend there is a BIG TRUCK event here.

Another

I don't know the meaning of this statue but I thought that I would like my picture with her.

I look a little small.

More fun!

Finally I came to Brem sur Mer and started looking for a campground. The first that I went to was full. The second that I went to was full. Then I started getting panicky because it also looked like it might rain soon. I checked a spot on Google that said Bungalow but it turned out to be gated and part of the first campground. Then God intervened and had me come into the farthest back part of Le Chaponnet. I saw some empty sites at the very back as I entered and started feeling a little better. I finally found the office and was relieved to have a place. I borrowed a hammer from a campsite next to me and set up in a hurry but the weather changed amd it was a nice evening. I did not swim or shower but walked around a little after I made my supper.