Across the Bridge to the Île de Ré

Tuesday 23^rd September

We were heading off today, so I got up as soon as I woke up – about eight, and started preparations. Put the bikes away, filled up with water, emptied the loo, put the clothesline and chairs away etc. Went to pay and get the electricity unplugged. By about ten thirty we were ready to head off to the Ile de Re – our next stop. The weather was a bit cooler – so a good day to travel.

We said our goodbyes and hit the road. We were heading for a place we had been before, and after a while, and a few mistakes, we arrived at Les Amis Des Plage on the Ile de Re. We had last stayed on the aire next to the camp site, and so went into there again. We set up, and then realised that there were no toilets – we had remembered the place having them. Also the electricity was two Euros for twelve hours. We walked to the beach, and remembered that the toilet was on the way there. Totting up the cost of the aire we realised that for only three Euros more we could stay on the camp site – it was a CC ASCI one. We moved the van into the camp, and had lunch whilst waiting for the office to open.

I booked us in; we chose a pitch and set up. A pleasant site, with direct access to the beach. The shower blocks were fairly new and had nice hot water. When ready, we went to the beach. It took less than five minutes, and we were standing by the waves. We walked up the beach for a fair way, collecting some shells and rocks. I found a fossil which I think is part of a tooth – may even be mammoth. We sat for a while and had a drink and cake, then went back. I cooked a large pasta bolognaise, we ate, and then watched some more Star Trek before going to bed.

Wednesday 24^th September

We were up fairly early and after I had showered I cooked some bacon and eggs for breakfast – to hold us over on our bike ride. After I had done a bit of washing I put up a line and hung it out. I got the bikes down and set them up, then we set out to explore towards the top of the island. We missed a few of the cycle paths, but eventually got to the ones through the salt marshes leading to Ars-on-Re, where we stopped for some drink and cake  and looked at the church.

We returned to the camp via the salt marshes again - getting slightly lost on the way – I had to result to Google maps to find our way. We sailed past quite a few vineyards - many of them heavy with grapes. We were back by about five o’clock and we sat outside the van in the sun for a bit, despite the fact that the wind was fairly strong.

We had a local melon starter, followed by the last of the pasta from the night before whilst listening to ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ – I wonder who did it?