Chilled Heat

Friday 3 July 2015

It was a little chilly last night, but we woke at about 0900 to a warm, still morning.  I wandered over to the campsite shop for a couple of baguettes and a croissant.  Breakfast done, I prepared my bike and changed into my kit, while Cathy cleared up.  She was going to have a long beach walk while I was out cycling.  I road out of St Denis, following the road south along the East Coast.  At the village of La Brée les Bains I came a cropper, hitting a patch of deep sand as I slowed alongside a truck waiting by the junction.  I managed to unclip and grab the truck before dropping the bike, but no harm done!  I cycled through Sauzelle into a strong headwind and, head down, missed the turn to St Pierre.  Before I realised I was in Boyardville, so had to reverse my route to get back on track,  through St Pierre, I again took a wrong turn in Le Cotiniere, but eventually found the road towards La Biroire.  Now heading north along the west coast, it was very hot and sunny.  I passed through a few sleepy hamlets, including Domino, Chaucre and Les Trois Pierres before passing the aire we stayed at last time and back to the campsite.  At the bar just inside the barrier I bought a couple of cold cokes and enjoyed one of these sat with Cathy in the shade of the tamarisk tree. She had enjoyed a long, low-tide walk, paddling though the rock pools and asking a lady what she and others were digging for - some type of clam, (palourds) delicious raw or cooked.  A quick change into swimming shorts and I got on with a few chores, emptied grey water, topped up fresh, emptied the loo, then washed and oiled the bike.  We shared a melon for lunch with a brew and I put my cycling kit to soak.  The rest of the afternoon we read and snoozed in the shade.

Later we walked along the beach, having a swim now and again - lovely! - before sitting in the sun to dry off. Back at the van I went for a shower first, then prepared the salad while Cathy had her shower.  Dinner included some spicy merguez with bread and white wine.  The wind's dropped and it's very warm tonight.  Being Friday, there's been a few more arrivals and the funfair in the town is in full swing. Another hot day, but we're both chilled out and nodding off; hopefully we'll be able to sleep tonight in the warm van. Yesterday we put the silver screens over the windscreen and cab windows, which have helped greatly to reduce the internal temperature, but they can only do so much.  Tomorrow we'll wander into town to have a look around, buy some food and perhaps have lunch.  The pace of life is slow and we're enjoying this lazy routine......one day!

Awning out, silverscreens on, bike ready to roll!

Enjoying some shade

Messy but comfy!

Map of Ile d'Oleron - we're currently in top NE corner