Les Landes - lots of trees and sand!

Sat 13^th

Another short and easy drive to Gastes a tiny village on the edge of a huge lake (theme developing here J) with sandy beaches. The aire has nice views over the boats out into the lake and as it turned out of several crude oil platforms! The area is seemingly rich in oil – hence the 35 platforms and refinery in nearby Parentis en Born. The lake is very popular for fishing and there was a completion in full swing when we arrived. Must be clean then. The local fete was that evening and the music was LOUD, AND I MEAN LOUD ENOUGH FOR A PROPER POP CONCERT. Why with only about 70 locals there? Thankfully it was switched off at 11.45pm.

Gastes - front row spot

When we left the municipal police turned up - Mon morning. He was checking the tickets as you could pull a scam by paying for only your day of arrival and day of departure. Rather silly system which as expected many of the mainly French owners were taking advantage of - the rush to the machine to pay was hilarious! Qui moi?? 

Sun 14^th

Hot and sunny again so a cycle ride into Parentis. It was resolutely dead! Nothing open apart from 2 restaurants doing Sunday lunch. At 12 noon precisely the French like to sit down for lunch so there was some life to look at. We found the local bullring on our way back – but absolutely no signs on it or directions to it? Are they sensitive about its existence I wonder in this age of political correctness?

Mon 15^th

Contis plage – back to the seaside proper. Roasting hot again so after a paddle then luch we returned for a laze on the beach and a very brief dip. Boy was it cold.  Contis had a relaxed kind of “surfer dude” air to it. Very under developed, we hope it stays so.

Contis - phare behind us

Contis aire - dunes behind 

Weds 17^th

After one night at Vieux Bocau aire we moved to the nearby Soustons Plage aire as it was so much nicer. Vieux Bocau was a very nice town, so nice in fact I celebrated by having a haircut! A very developed classy resort thankfully not full of tourists as the schools were back – ha ha. We were facing a sea lagoon with the beach 400m behind the adjacent dunes. Again the soothing sound of crashing waves to fall asleep to………zzzzzzzz.

lagoon

Thurs 18^th

Our squealing rear brakes had returned despite having a new handbrake cable fitted on our brief return to the uk by “Fiat Professional” (my a***). It had got to the point of being embarrassing arriving in an aire and to have all the folk stare at us as we squeaked past! Enough – lets get it fixed. We found a very helpful Peugeot car garage who said – bring it in. Their trolley jack said “no merci” when asked to lift the rear so a nifty air bag / jack was employed. I want one. Both handbrake drums were full of brake dust. Hour and a half later we were squeak free. The two mechanics were great characters and full of banter. We could now arrive in silence.

silence at last