Day 17 Pyruvault to LA ROCHELLE!!!!! 30km

Bit of a hangover this morning as we had a couple of halfs that turned into 4 and then turned into 5 when the barman gave us one free!!!! Havent had that happen before even in the White Cross. very laid back campsite indeed as we worked out they under charged us on the site too, only by 2 euros but still. really lovely place and smiley happy proprietors. Anyway after watching the largest campervan monstrosity next to us leave (honestly the size of a 35 seater coach), hideous, with a FST driving it (David Farren will understand that abbreviation I think) we set off on what we thought would be an easy 29km cycle. Felt hard work from the start but then realised it was 40degrees. It was flat but down canal track for about 6-8km, very bumpy so quite tedious. Wanted to get off onto road but no clue where we were so stuck with it and then thankfully became small road and nice track all the way to La Rochelle. Into the centre before we knew it, really stress free.

This is a bit of a pilgrimage as Ronnie French (Daves dad) played here in the 50s in his capacity as a jazz pianist, so concerned that it would be less than anticipated, but a really pretty city. Busy but not terribly and lots of arty things on the front. Found municipal close to old port, not bad 15euro, though the first pitch he tried to palm off on us was not a pitch at all, managed to get better one next to some young buskers from ireland and poland. Into town for the evening, a bit of a mecca for stag and hen does, even with some English hen's, but nothing too hideous noted,  and we did have a little blow out, 1 days budget on 3 pints but worth it to get one in my favourite stella glass!! Now i do get that in the White cross. Lucky i have my little stash of cash for such times :)

Day 16 Trenche to Puyravault about 40 km with detours

Gorge cycle today, a bit cloudy at times but does make it easier to cycle especially when we lose the voires verts after lunch at saint hilaine and then Dave makes his own French voires verts down dirt tracks which appeared to be completely the wrong direction but did, to his relief somewhat, get us to where we wanted to be. We saw our first proper sunflower pasture, gorgeous!!!!!! And then due to help  of the ever helpful Office de T found a lovely laid back municipal campsite for 10 euro, we have been paying 16-17 over past two nights. At present hooked up to electricity in the shower block 9thats polite for toilet) updating things :/ Dave touching up his paintings, hoping to find gallery in la Rochelle though they thin on the ground!!! haard to believe in France???!!!

Day 15 10.00 am It's a girl!!!! Molly Beatrix well done miss hayley and lots of love to Simon, Bev, Jed and and the Farrell and French clan and big kisses to Molly beatrix too from France xxx

just managed to watch the video on utube, tres drole. Jo where did that accent come from, girls work on her they might think she is a local!!!! rach how did you not realise we had left, oh I suppose its because you wernt at one of my hundreds of leaving/50th/retirement does!!!! you all look great and so glad that worked, am sure mal was well chuffed. All going well here, hope you get chance to check blog davidjfrench blogspot take care mes amis (ps Jo dont take any notice of me with the accent, I have already started to affect a french shrug a la Joey Barton!!! and I have only been here 15 days hee hee) xxxxxxxxx

Day 14 St Gillets to Chateu d'Olonne 40km with detours

Continued along the coast through the forests and cycle routes. Coffee at Bretignoles and a food stop on a divert to the first surfy type beach along the way at d'Olonne. Hot and hungry today, need to watch carbs as feeling a bit weak at times:/ Booked into a campsite just past Sabes d'Olonne which is a pretty big resort but with some lovely buildings scattered in it, a busy port and harbour to the old town. Do prefer the municipal campsites as they are mainly tents and a lot quieter. The 80s disco though did finish at 11, in fact everything suddenly went very quiet. Wondering how Dave's neice is going on at home in a heat wave being induced, hope all well.

Day 13 Notre dame to St gillets  Croix le vie only 25km on the voices verts through the trees and along the coast.

Past a place a little built up like resorts in Spain to the working harbour of St gillets , buzzing with people and boats in for the tour de France on the water. Decision to stay potentially for a couple of nights with opportunities for paintings of the harbour. A little campsite south of the town itself 14 euro and nice and friendly. A rest on the beach, buzzing still at 8.30pm and then a couple of sundowners.

Dave up early and painting on the harbour, the Tour de France a la voile (sailing extravaganza in town) I pottered round, cleaning the tent and catching up with admin - what a hard life!!! Now having a coffee, even harder. Off to the beach soon - how hard does life get ha ha. Glad all in the UK enjoying fab weather too this always happens when i leave the country and as my brother said long may i stay out as, as well as Andy winning Wimbledon, the first test is under the belt, though tight I hear, Froomey is winning the tour and the British Lions success. OK guys I will stay here!!

Raining and thunderstorms in the evening! Invited into a caravan for cover, coffee made by the kids, chocolate biscuits offered (politely declined though they looked so nice) and left alone to wait for the rain to stop with the television on, watched the masterchef for patisserie experts. How nice. Left them a message of thanks in French, hopefully it made sense and i didn't say anything untoward :)

Day 11to day 12 Do you want to go to the seaside?!! Les Metiers to Notre dame de monts about 35km.

Nice cycle today. Le vendee so flat at times it makes east Anglia look positively alpine, muscles production and salt the local industry. Lunch stop at boulin which obviously has a strong pride in this history, with a lovely feel to it and great pics of the old town and historical events around the church.  At times again reminded us of local to Morecambe around the salt marshes of the Fylde around pilling and as windy!!! Then as we headed to nourmoutier-en-isle we suddenly realised that we had to actually cycle across the causeway, only accessible at low tide, which it luckily was. About three km long and descended upon by cockles of all shapes, ages and genders. Quite surreal cycle. Onto the isle and, I think, a coffee was served to us by a relative of the guy in Lourreux Beconnais as a similar customer manner was used. Then off the island to some lovely cycling through man made woodland along the coast to Notre dame. Found all lovely municipal campsite for 14 euro, much better in every way to last one and with a gorge beach to be savioured the decision to stay 2 nights, a little rest was in order :-) with a bottle of 2 euro wine on the beach with just an army of flies for company we watched the sunset

Second day on the beach for me and three paintings for Dave. And a little retail therapy for the desperately needed new bikini for me and short speedos for dave to enable swimming in swimming pools with some flip flops to complete his summer look.

Day 10 Belle Riviere to Les Moutiers about 60km (aka too far!!!)

Woke up to find two thefts had occurred. Teabags routed out of the food bag, though tossed aside, even the magpies realise that even though the box says Tetleys, they are not really and more disturbingly my favourite chami, nice cerise ones, from the line!!! Luckily they did leave my cycling gear etc, which makes me come to conclusion there was a slightly inappropriate motive behind the theft :/ Anyway after the shock, packed up and headed off for what was a bit of a bland ride. Whether in the middle of France or  the middle of anywhere cycling through a major city is much the same, an endurance test, though there is a nice side to nantes i am sure, then through a rather large industrial estate. The nice thing was the lovely jasmine like smell that pervaded  the air, though i think it was from blossom on the trees. Past Nantes we did see a property with river views, needing renovation but thought against it (photo below) We then crossed the river on a ferry and headed towards  the west coast rather than keeping to the cycle route. A hot 35km brought us to  Le Metiers and after booking into L'Hermitage camp site (pretty steep at 20euro) we realised that camping in the dunes near to an estuary was not a good idea. Sand flies abounded, and the bay reminded us very much of our home town with the sea in the distance. The night was an interesting one as we attempted to sleep accompanied by a present day Charles asnevour (he was really good) then at 11 a firework display which did feel right over our tent and  the worst thing, europop disco until midnight. However once all ended slept very well.