7th May Day 8
There are many more sights and Chateux to see along the Loire, but rather than suffer from chateuration we decide to head south for more sun and warmth. It has been overcast for a couple of days and still spring like. We decide to get the south done before the peak of heat and people. A warm day was spent on the road, past Richelieu and Chatagneraie making it to Vix to stay the night at a melon farm. The owner arrived home to find us in her drive waiting for her, she was clearly shocked, we were very early for her season and the site not prepared, long grass amoung trees by a lake, still very pleasant.
Later in the year there will be a stall here and Charente Melons by the hundred will be sold. At the moment the is not a lot to see in the fields.
Little did I know that further in land was an old friend I did not see much of, preparing to move to the Charente region having just retired. Once I found out there was only one question I needed answering. "How big is your drive."
Next day off further south to La Rochele. North of the town is the industry and port. Ile de Rai is reached over a toll bridge too expensive just to go for a look so we headed up coast to Marsilly.A huge tidal bay with much mud, mussel and oyster rearing also carrelets, Large pocket nets dipped into the sea at the end of a jetty owned by the fisherman, with a shed at the end.
A long causeway of pebbles leading out into the bay gives access at low tide across the mud to oyster poles and mussel baskets on structures.
Up the coast a little further we stay night at a honey producers. A very helpful lady, with the now customary, red hair, (dyed). The red hair must be in fashion, we had already noticed the prevalence. Sometimes we would see 3 French families all friends, the women all had same shade red hair.
I think there is no foundation for my theory that red hair dye was a by product of Sadam's chemical weapon program.
9th May, we visit the south side of La Rochele there is free parking by the marina for Camping cars, they are restricted in town, ample signposting gets you to a huge area where you can stay the night. We biked into the old town by the fort. It is lively a with market, an artist drawing charactatures etc.
We needed loo emptying and water so we moved on to Foras where a finger of land extends into the bay, good beaches but the local characteristic of far retreating sea would restrict bathing were it warm enough.
Here we experienced our first wedding procession. The happy couple head the fleet of hooting cars driving slowly to the reception. The rear of one carried a gallows an effigy of the groom dangling from a rope. Hmm, I have never found it quite that bad.
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