Day 22 to day 23 soulac tp Metveliet de bains 20km

Nice easy cycle after lovely quite night to Metveliet. Different to Soulac which was quite grand a more surfy fel' nice campsite within actual earshot of the beach and waves. Dave did a painting in between body surfing in lovely waves then to aldi for a 1.35 euro litre!!! bottle of wine and chilled evening.

After initial peaceful night we were woken at 1am by the biggest thunderstorm or 'orage' in french that I have aver known. In our little tent i was pretty scared and no looking to Dave for a reassuring hug as he felt that could increase the conductivity of us both with my 'bling'!!!! Would have been spectacular I am sure if we had dared stick our heads out. our friends helen and jules on the loire got it even worse we hear. I was informed by the patron that wasn't a big storm!!!! Wouldn't like to see a big orage! Another day on the beach, two more paintings done. Then new flip flops for Dave as he didn't realise that they can't be used like steel toe caps and made a hole in the bottom pushing a peg tent through!! Decision made for early birthday present and got some good sturdy ones suitable for a joiner and he is now officially 'cool' as that is what they are called :)

Back to good old aldi for the vino on special :)

Day 21Lets go surfing now, everybody's surfing now!!!!!!!
Les Mathes to Soulac sur mer on the Gironde 30km

After a late night due to some unexplainably loud conversations till 2am, initially by a family in a caravan and then as that seemed the norm by a group of teenagers, in the end I had to say something, well kind of shush in as French a way as possible, seemed to work. Then off on the lovely cycle route to Royan to catch the ferry to La Gironde. On the way had the first cofee in a bowl that we learnt about at school, but won't have one again!!! 6 euros! We have paid less for a pitch.

8km cycle to Soulac and yes the surf does not disappoint!! Couple of hours on the beach and in the waves with a couple of paintings done by Dave. Nice campsite 21 euro but worth it for its apparent tranquility (mind you last nights was promising to be that too we shall see)

Day 20 Rocheforte to Les Mathes 60km with detours

Getting out of the least inspiring place thus far proved difficult. Without actually being on the cycle route our only option was on a horrid main road so it left the only option of a cycle round the area to get back onto cycle route. luckily cool with some rain which stopped both of us overheating, with exasperation as well as the heat. When back on the route a quite pleasant cycle through some marsh lands, with big things in the water which we still haven't figured out what they were and some lovely herons and white dove type birds. Food break in a tunnel to avoid a downpour then a coffee at Marennes then onto a great voires verts through the trees but on a tarmac path all the way to Les Mathes, with some helpful advice from a couple of teachers from Northern Ireland. Great campsite, a bit pricey at 20 euro but a much needed pool and the nicest greenest pitch since the Loire Valley. After such a huge cycle in need of a small beer.

Day 19 isle de re to Rochefort 50km

We knew this was going to be a  built up ride passing back through la rochelle and down the coast. easily made our way back through la rochelle with the cycle route. Quick coffee in La rochelle and armed with maps of the route from office de tourisme easily made our way south. A painting break at a place not dissimilar to Morecambe with the tide out out dave painted a view of a small pier while I chatted to an obviously avid French rugby fan/ex truckie who persisted in singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot (thought it prudent not to mention last 6 nations). We then continued on to Rocheforte. i struggle to find anything really positive to say about the place except a very cheap and nice municipal campsite (6.36 euro) except for the number of ants at the pitch. Early night as exhausted though concerned about ants entering tent. big thunder storm in the night.

Day 18 La Rochelle to Isle de Re about 30km.

10.00 Dave off painting first thing then we are off to Isle de Re, this has been described to us as the nicest place in France, so here's hoping. Back later to tell you whether it is.

12.00 painting episode successful! that will make up for overspend :) and off we went. Cycling a bit blindly through the suburbs of La Rochelle but eventually via a market where dave celebrated his sale with a roast chicken, we got to bridge over to Isle de re. By the time we got over even though only cycling for 2 hours we had had enough, another hot day and found a municipal at St marie de Re for 16 euro and very nice it is too. Chill out on beach. it is a nice island what we have seen, very flat and with a chilled back feel.

Thankyou Madame Rousseau...I hope your friend is pleased with the painting.

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???!!!