Camping in the Vendee
Saturday 5th June 2004
The start of our camping holiday. Since arriving in France nearly 2 years ago we haven't had a break and we thought we all needed a holiday. We decided this week we would not accept any bookings, get a house sitter to look after the chickens, goose and goat and manage the watering etc. All the guests left promptly and we managed a record changeover, all cleaned and ready for the following week by 12:30.
Quick lunch, finished packing the car (most of the tenting equipment, bikes etc. had already been packed the night before) and we left by 1pm. Caroline asked her friends where the French go camping and based on her recommendation we decided on Les Sables D'Olonne in the Vendée.
Arrived late afternoon, it's about three hours drive south of us on the Atlantic coast just before La Rochelle.
The architectural changes were the most notable. Once we passed Nantes most of the houses went from 2 & 2 storey stone and slate roofs, to white/cream single storey with red clay 'half-pipe' tiles. It's quite a difference and makes you feel like you are in a different country.
Pitching the tents was comical (the last time we went camping was at Le Mans to watch the 24 hour race about 7 years ago). A few false starts and collapses and we finally pitched, and (being English) got the kettle on. There was only one other tent on the site, all the other camping pitches (about 50) where empty. Further up the site (near the swimming pool, bar, etc.) were all the mobil homes, and 'permanent' tents for package tours. Luxury, we had the shower and toilet block to ourselves.
Sunday 6th June 2004
Spent most of the day exploring the campsite and in the swimming pool and water slide. The weather was beautiful and sunny and we did the typical tourist thing of all going a bit pink.
Tried out our portable gas BBQ for dinner. The first course was very successful, but, as you can see, the second course ended up a bit too char-grilled. We left the food on the grill turned down to minimum with the lid shut just to keep it warm, however it got a bit too warm. Lesson learnt.
Monday 7th June 2004
Had a superb lunch out in Les Sables D'Olone by the port. Less than 40€ for the four of us, three courses and wine.
In the afternoon we went swimming in the pool, but I forgot to take the car keys out of my shorts. After swimming around a while I realised what I'd done. It wouldn't be much fun being locked out of the car whilst on holiday. So I dismantled the key fob and took out the battery, circuit board and laid it all out in the sun to dry. Fingers crossed. When we got back to the car and I tried it and the red light flashed on the key fob but the doors did not unlock. Nothing for it but to use the old fashioned mechanical way of a key in the lock. I now know the car hasn't got an immobiliser, fortunately, so it wasn't too serious. Anyway with a sunset like this, who cares.
Tuesday 8th June 2004
Car key now works as usual. I guess a little extra drying out overnight sorted the problem. Pheww!
From the campsite there are a series of cycle paths through the forest along the coast, via the salt marshes and all the way up to Brem Sur Mer. There must be tens of kilometres of really nice cycling. We took a picnic, and the four of us set off for the day. With a 6 and 4 year old it was fantastic to be able to cycle straight from the tent on special cycle paths safe from traffic. The cycle route was perfect for the children, but unfortunately Hugh got the speed bug. He just keep wanting to go faster and faster. As all parents do, we kept reminding him to use his brakes and slow down or he would crash. Well the inevitable happened, he crashed, luckily only about 1km away from home on the return trip after about 9 km's. He managed to badly graze it hip, side and elbow with a fairly major high speed accident. He is a bit more circumspect now !
From the campsite there was direct access to the beach and the Atlantic. The sea was a bit rough with some people surfing, but I went for a swim cos I like crashing into the waves. The sea was surprisingly warm. Hugh and Elizabeth didn't fancy the sea, especially with Hugh's sore bits.
Wednesday 9th June 2004
Busy day. Crazy golf (Caroline won by 4 strokes), swimming in the pool, lunch on the promenade at Les Sables D'Olonne, bit of messing about on the beach and a swim, hired a canoe for the 4 of us and went paddling around the salt marshes. The area is famous for it's salt marshes where they create small 'ponds' to trap the salt water and then harvest the salt as the water evaporates. The area is known as Les Salines. Finally we all ate out in a restaurant close to the camp site in the evening.
Finished reading Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong by fading sunlight. I enjoyed the book and learn much about French history, their culture and political system. It has added quite a bit of clarity as to why some things are the way they are. I realised that the French culture is different, but now I appreciate quite how different. As an Englishman living in France I think we forget that our closet neighbour can be so different from us. I did find that the authors tended to repeat themselves towards the end, reusing previous examples to make a different point, but on the whole I would recommend the book to any 'Anglo-Saxon' living, or going to live, in France.
Thursday 10th June 2004
A day trip to a children's park with ball pools, various rides, slides, swings, water slides, crazy golf (Caroline won again by 6 stokes). Need more practice.
We all really enjoyed the park, but I wouldn't expect children over 12 or 14 to find that much to keep them occupied. There are some larger rides but not enough to keep you occupied all day.
Started reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and couldn't put it down even though I was dog tired.
Friday 11th June 2004
Lazy day, preparing to pack for an earlyish start on Saturday. Hugh's back in the swimming pool now his sore bits have healed and he seems to be back to full speed on his bike. Finished reading The Alchemist. I just couldn't put it down. A book that made me think about fate, destiny and the different directions one takes in life.
