We get blown away by modern art

Tuesday 10th September

Boy did it rain last night! Its bright and sunny this morning though and we set off for St Palais-sur-Mer. It’s only about 70 miles but very slow as it’s a coastal road which at times was very narrow, and my passenger becomes extremely nervous. When we reached Royan we decided to stop and spend a little time there. They have a strange attitude to vehicles and assume that the people in them if allowed, will stop and spend money, amazing! Thus they have a thriving economy. Wouldn’t it be great if instead of our councillors spending thousands going to America, they could pop across the channel and learn how to save our high streets. (Sorry, rant over).

As we were parking we saw the most incredible modern church. I know the word magnificent is over worked but this really was an amazing building from the outside but when you went inside it did take your breath away. As Joan said, it was like a huge theatre and we spent some time in it. 

With just another 8 miles to do and arriving at 1.30pm, we thought we would have no bother securing a pitch but the place is heaving and the couple at the desk are frantically trying to help everybody. Plus a Dutch bloke is giving them hell because he has an enormous van and demands a particular large sunny pitch which was already booked. We are polite and get sorted pretty quickly and have a lovely pitch, number 135 with electricity and water, a luxury for us. 

Having set up and lunched we chilled for an hour then set off to see the sea and have a look at what the restaurants along the beach side road had to offer. We walked so that if necessary we could stop if Joans knee started to play up but it was fine and I think a cycle ride is on the cards tomorrow. 

Wednesday 11th September

Is it me? I think it’s pretty common knowledge that I enjoy our morning baguette and it’s my job as Hunter Gatherer to go out and catch it. This morning was no exception.  Off I cycled, happy in the knowledge that I would soon return and enjoy my breakfast. I walked into the shop and asked in reasonable French for “une baguette s’il vous plait”. Only to be faced with a quick quiz. Yes sir, do you want? and the lady proceeded to point to and list four different breads all of which looked long and cylindrical.  Very much like the simple baguette we know and love??? Fortunately, I appear to have chosen the right one as it tasted good.

It’s a lovely sunny day and as I predicted we are going to cycle into the town. There is a really nice track running all along the seafront which then turns into the town. The trip there was without incident or injury and I think Joan is getting fed up with my concerns as all seems well in the knee department. 

We selected a restaurant by the scientific method of which one did Moules with Thai sauce and had something I could eat which wasn’t fish. Joan’s meal came with an ice cream which I had. She ordered the most enormous ice cream sundae and then had the cheek to say gosh I’m full!! After that to help it go down, we had a stroll up to the church and then cycled back to the van. I am delighted to report that the knee is behaving itself so enough about the knee (unless it plays up again)

Great! Goodnight xxx