Leaving Paris we had a nightmare with the Sat-Nav. In all fairness it was the first time in a month it completely let us down and we spent a frustrating hour or so just getting to the outskirts of the City. But once we had changed a few settings that had mysteriously reset themselves we were back on track and driving through beautiful French countryside.
We stayed for a few days just outside Orleans where I managed to fix a few things in the van, repair the break in attempt, make a new shelf, and repair the bathroom door! We also found some new sport/hiking shoes for Leela as I had managed to leave them behind. We took some walks as well as a wonderful day out on the bikes to Château de Chambord along the Loire.
Driving on wonderful roads towards Limoges we pulled off to visit the WW2 War memorial at Oradour-sur-Glane where the camper aire was closed for repair so we continued to the next village to spend the night.
Returning the next morning we were the first people into the memorial which was in itself quit a sombre experience. It really is a horrific story and tragic to think that this could have taken place and also how such events are still happening today. Nevertheless a worthy tribute to those who perished unnecessarily.
Having some beautiful Croissants and a coffee cheered us up somewhat and we were back in the van and heading south for the Caves of Lascaux. We wanted to visit here for Leela to see the caves and the beginning of Art in our world but after getting there and speaking to reception we were put off spending a lot of money. There was only one English tour a day, too much tacky props, and in the end it was to see what was only a replica of the original anyway!
So after some thought Leela decided that she would learn enough from art books and we took the bikes out instead for a great tour around the local historic countryside and after a shower made our way west toward Bordeaux and the ocean.
The following morning we drove around Bordeaux and on to Cap Ferret staying in a really beautiful free municipal aire only a few hundred meters from the incredible beach of Grand Crohot. We were so excited to be at the ocean again and in the first warm weather of our trip so we left the van, packed a baguette, and headed straight out for the day.
The photos of this area did not disappoint and after getting on the beach we headed north for a few km walking the expansive beach with amazing soft sand and surrounded by dunes as far as you could see in both directions. Finding a nice spot out of the wind on the naturist beach Plage de la Jenny we settled down and just enjoyed this incredible environment for the rest of the day. Eating our packed lunch, Leela done some yoga, and I went for a dip in the still very cold Atlantic ocean.
Walking back late in the day we showered at the van and wanted to head back to the beach for sunset but as we were both quite tired from the fresh ocean air and from walking over 10km on soft sand we just had some wine and called it a night!
The next day we were fresh and up early for a long run along the coast before breakfast and spent the day the same as the last on the beach. But as later in the afternoon the weather was turning a little we walked even further down the coastline before returning to the van.
After another quiet night we decided as the weather was getting colder again to move on to Bordeaux. We stayed a couple of nights at the Village camping just outside the city and rode the bikes into the centre for a look around. It was quite a charming place and if the weather were a little better would have been nice to hang around but with heavy rain forecast we made our way back along the Dordogne and back to the camp.
We had planned at least another week in the area before we had to return home but as the weather forecast was absolutely terrible and our plans only included lying on the beach we decided to make our way back across the country and home a little earlier for springtime in Austria. After all it was only a few months before we would be heading out again!
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