Monday 2nd September
Today we are leaving and we have a small problem which may or may not turn into a big problem. Basically when we arrived on Saturday at around mid-day we got a ticket for 24hours. However we were on our way up the mountain on Sunday when we realised it should have been renewed so we decided to worry about it later. Well now it’s later and we are hoping to sort out something to get the barrier to raise. It’s not that we don’t want to pay, but it is highly likely there will be some sort of fine to pay. First of all we need to sort out our water etc and it seems, so do the rest of the vans on the Aire, there’s a very long queue. Finally its the moment of truth at the barrier. Our first attempt is refused and we are referred to the main machine. This looks ominous, the machine offers us 24 hours for a fee or 23 hours free?! Needless to say we are out of there pronto. While I’d been queuing Joan had been to the shop for a baguette so we decided to have breakfast a bit later and got onto the road.
Now I have to report a momentous occasion which I am reporting on here so it goes down in history. I should add it has also been reported on video. Monday the 2nd of September 2019 after nearly 21 years of marriage, BRYAN WAS RIGHT!!!!
I feel some explanation is necessary. As we left St.Jean we were a wee bit unsure of where the right road was. When we came to a ‘T’ junction, left said St Jean, right said Bayonne, Pau and Dax, so I turned right. This resulted in remonstrations and accusations of lunacy, and other bad words! About 2 miles further on my decision proved to be correct. So BRYAN WAS RIGHT!!
We were on a very slow road but it didn’t matter as we were heading for a campsite with a heated swimming pool, only about 110 miles away, called Club Marina Landes at Mimizan Plage. We arrived at 2.30pm and were delighted to find it is an excellent site with the aforementioned pool plus a big open air pool, health spa, really good restaurant, crazy golf course and shop. The receptionists were really nice and played a joke on us, letting me try to book in French, then after having encouraged me to torture their language, gave us all the information about the site in perfect English and in hysterics.
It’s red hot again today and we are tired so no swim, perhaps its yesterday catching up with us. After a refreshing shandy we strolled up to the beach which is about 1/2 a mile away. It looks great, miles of sandy beach in both directions. It is however very windy today. Then back for coffee, shower and then stroll around to the restaurant for a really nice meal. Those who know me will know that I do not like to order a burger, but at this time of year the menu is somewhat limited and I don’t eat fish. The result was the best burger I or Joan have ever tasted and we’ve had proper ones in America.
Tuesday 3rd September
Started sunny but quite chilly first thing at 16c. By the time we’d breakfasted (Baguette from site shop.), it had warmed up to 21c and we finally got the bikes off and cycled into Mimizan Plage. There is a good cycle path most of the way and where you have to go on the road there are cycling signs to show you have right of way. Makes you feel really safe, plus everybody gives way to us which is quite embarrassing as we are not very fast. We met another English couple and they said, it’s daft but we keep giving way to cars and vans and we cause confusion! The little town is really good with loads of cafes, restaurants and a covered market for foodstuff plus the usual bric-a-brac, ice cream and clothes shops. Just outside of the main shops there is a big car park with a supermarket, garage, bike shop and pharmacy. Having picked up a few bits and pieces we returned to the van to relax and around 4pm we went for a swim. By now it was red hot again around 28c and we tried both pools. Needless to say the outside pool was a bit nippy but we soon warmed up on the poolside beds. Later a funny thing happened, we were approached by some young German ladies who asked if we spoke English? It appears that many Germans speak English but no French, amazing.
Wednesday 4th September
Another cool sunny start but it soon became scorching as we returned to the town for a proper visit. We are now getting into the relaxing mode and that would be good if it were not for the fact that Joan’s knee is really giving her jip! So much so that she is taking tablets for the pain. It seems that this is payback for our trip to Orrisson, I hope it stops soon. Anyway when we got to town we just locked the bikes up and spent a few hours just wandering about. Later we had a very nice lunch at a restaurant overlooking the sea, followed by an ice cream cornet in town then back to the van for coffee and a swim, lovely stuff.
The only other thing to report is a strange but pleasant phenomenon. Every day we sit outside our van and we seem to be a magnet for everyone that passes. Loads of people stop to chat, mostly Brits and some days its 2 or 3 couples even if we’re sitting with our heads firmly in our books, we must just look approachable.
Bye Bye xxx
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