Sunday, December 4, 2011




French Odyssey...part three the Final leg

As I write this it is early December and I've just got back from a nights camping high in the Pennines with Club 80-90 and it got me thinking of warmer trips back in the summer.
So back to France in August. After breaking camp in the Chateaus vineyard in the Loire valley, we headed south west from Tours down to Poitiers, Niort and across to Rochefort on the coast. From here we are driving through the flat coastal salt marsh's to the little town of Marenes. This is where we would cross the viaduct to the Island of Ile d' Oleron and our destination of La Cotinere. The only problem is that this is the only road onto and off the Island and it was chocker..
Once on the Island thing were more relaxed, though French "minor" road are not known for there smoothness, though the kids loved the evasive manoeuvres round the potholes and the roller-coaster rides over the undulations.
Our campsite though was perfect, nestling behind the sand dunes under the shade of trees. Once base camp was established we were immediately on the beach right next to the campsite.. The beach was stunning and quiet and for the next two weeks we spent the best holiday of our lives exploring the Island in our camper, eating great food and drinking great (cheap) wine...We didn't want to go home and the kids still talk of the holiday now all these months later.... Will we go back.?...You bet!!