Ile de Re - at the seaside again

Mon 25^th – Tues 26th

Heavy rain was promised for today and it certainly arrived. Rain means a driving day for us so we aimed for Le Mans. When we arrived on the outskirts the traffic was bad so we diverted to nearby Suze Sur Sarthe and a riverside pitch. The main aire was full and as it turned out hardly any of the mainly French camping caristes actually paid!? Next day the sun came out so the drive to the Le Mans 24 hour museum was good. The museum was very well laid out and  had many exhibits which thankfully Tina enjoyed. After lunch we moved to Parthenay further south for the night. The aire was adjacent to a campsite and on the edge of a lake. Nice. Only us and one other van for the night.

Le Mans winning diesel / hybrid powered Audi

Weds 26^th

Enroute to the Ile de Re we stoped off to watch the publicity caravan pass for the Tour of Poitou – Charente cycle race. Lots of free orange biscuits. Some big names were racing and Mark Cavendish was the race leader. We didn’t wait the hour that the riders  were scheduled to arrive at our spot as we wanted to get across to the Ile de Re and find a campsite. We needed to stay on a proper site as we had a pile of laundry to do. All tjis travelling and relaxing seems to generate lots of dirty clothes!

The drive across the bridge was spectacular with the flat island laid out in front of us. We ended up on a site right next to the beach in Bois Plage en Re. we had a dune between us and the crashing waves. Of course we had to go for a paddle. What a lovely and relaxing sound. The takeaway pizza that evening was also lovely J

you gotta have a paddle.

Thurs 28^th

Laundry hung out to dry we cycled across the island on one of the many marked cycle paths to St Martin de Re on the north side of the island. What a charming town with loads of character (and people!) especially around the port. Bikes were chained up everywhere as everybody seemed to head for the ice cream shop just as we did. Definitely a place to revisit.

lots of boats at St Martin

also lots of bikes

That evening as we were settling down for  a read after tea o’clock we heard screams and a loud thump. A small caravan had rolled down the hill and into a VW campervan smashing it’s front end in before it continued onwards and ripped their awning to bits. It ended up wedged in against a tree!!! 

Luckily the young couple had realized what was about to happen and had pulled their two kids out of harms way. The elderly Dutch caravan owners had just arrived and unhitched the caravan – handbrake or brain failure we will never know. It was all sorted out amicably thank goodness.

Fri 29^th

Today we drove to the most westerly part of the island – St Clement des Baleines and its 18^th century lighthouse. The aire  was close to the beach and right next door to the municipal campsite. We met the English couple I had spoken to in a supermarket car park somewhere south of Le Mans. Small world. The beach was covered in a thick layer seaweed a result of the recent storms. A very strong seaside smell as it dried in the hot sun. We cycled along to the lighthouse for a walk about. Lots of people about but you can see why when we got up close. It is very well preserved with an expansive garden around it offering lots of seats in the shade.

Phare - lighthouse

Sat 30^th

Rivedoux Plage was our last stop on the Ile and what a contrast. Busy with lots of traffic arriving directly of the bridge which looked very imposing just along from us. We chose to go onto the campsite as it was only 10 cents more expensive than the aire. Our pitch was right on the sea front with great views of the bay. Result.

remains of church

view from Rivedoux Plage site - bridge in background

La Flotte

Lunch then another cycle into nearby La Flotte. Another town with a picturesque port area. Another ice cream! Fuelled by this we zoomed back to the site. Our route back passed the ruins of a 17^th century church then a Napoleon fort. Lots of history within 2km.