The Atlantic Coast continued Post # 7

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                                                                The Route so far!

03.07

 

A great opportunity to catch up on the internet as it’s raining!  The camp sells one day’s internet for 8 euros, the longer you have internet the more cost effective the rate becomes.  We’ve found a lot of camps offer Wifi free of charge.  We met our Swiss neighbours when disaster struck in the evening!!  Our ‘beloved’ Remoska tripped the breakers causing us all to lose power!  As soon as we cleared a blocked steam vent we were all good to go.  Phew!     

04.07

A great start to the day with a run/brisk walk passed the ‘Aires’ camp through the Pine Forest.  The number of camper vans have doubled in the ‘Aires’ since we were there a week ago.  This is the region of ‘Les Landes’, a vast semi wilderness of pine forests and lakes criss-crossed with excellent cycling and walking trails.  But for most people the reason to visit Les Landes is it’s beautiful beaches, above all else, this is surf country!!  We biked the 17kms on the bike path through the woods to Mimizan and on to McDonalds Wifi to send the emails written on the iphone – all good!  We also found an SFR outlet, SFR is the teleco that provided our mobile SIM card which we’d bought from a tabac.  Recharge cards are sold at most tabacs and newsagents.  Interesting to note that if  you do initially purchase a SIM card from a tabac you need to send identification to the provider (teleco) within two week or the SIM card is de-activated.  Better to purchase directly from the teleco and supply identification and you’re then ready to rock!

As we forgot to do this the SFR people said they would do their best to re-activate our SIM card.  In the afternoon we hit the beach and the waves, great fun!

5.07

 

Today is our last day at Mimizan Plage and ‘Club Marina Landes’ Camp.  We biked into Mimizan to the SFR outlet with the required ID.  They were unable to re-activate and therefore very kindly gave us another SIM free of charge.  We purchased one month’s credit of 15 euros.  Back to camp via the small Mimizan Market (primarily produce and wine). We hit the beach and body surfed, a beautiful day!  Late afternoon we walked into Mimizan Plage’s  surfie little village with it’s square lined with funky bars and cafes.  We had a beer and enjoyed the sun and the atmos!

6.07 

Onward to our next camp 50 kms from Mimizan Plage at ‘Lit et Mixe’.  We’re sad to be leaving but unfortunately the ACSI runs out today so we’re moving further along the coast to another camp where the ACSI lasts for another week.   We travelled through the pine forests, and the beach town of St-Julien-en-Born to ‘Camp Le Soleil des Landes’ (14 euros until 14 July).  The camp is about 7kms from the coast, it’s primarily a mobile home camp (very popular in France).  It’s situated on 24 acres, has a couple of pools, restaurant and cafe and is nicely situated for biking.  The camp provides a free ‘navette’ service (small bus) running daily to and from the beach.  We found a great site and then headed to ‘Super U’ for a big stock up. The weather has come right and it's hot – 30 degrees!  We hit the pool! 

In the evening we walked into the relaxed little village of ‘Lit et Mixe’.  Good atmosphere and enough restaurants and cafes to cater to the campers who are the main clientele.   

7.07  
 

Walked into the village via the market then back to camp and the pool.  Late afternoon we followed one of the paths through the pine forest to find a running route. We found a nice track which led to the newly finished beach bike path. Tonight there's a disco till midnight catering to the teens – the camp staff know all the dance moves and the kids love it!   Must go and get Col back before it gets too late!!  Last I saw he was leading the ‘Gangnam’  Hmmmm !!

8.07
 

It’s about 35 degrees today, a beautiful day spent around the pool.

In the evening we were entertained by a French band called Echo!  Particularly like their acoustic music but also great dance music!

 

9.07

 

We biked 40 kms South through the Pine Forest to St Girons Plage.  A small oasis in the sand dunes surrounded by huge camps in the pine forests.  A main street lined with cafes, restaurants and beach houses leading to the surf beach.   A great day with a picnic lunch in the forest. Pamo forgot her bikini, her cunning plan to get a new one failed! A magician entertained in the evening, he was slightly less noisy than the band and the disco!

10.07

We said ‘goodbyes’ to Norman and Margaret from Blackpool and their huge Hobby van towing their Smart Car – a great set up!  Norman took pity on Pamo and her navigational skills and presented her with a huge scale Map of Europe.  No excuses now!!

It’s about 38 degrees so we decided to shift to a more shady site (3rd time).  Into the village for internet which you can pick up near most Tourist Offices.   A pool and kindle day!

Booked a camp for the first two weeks of August on the beach at St. Jean-de-Luz near the Spanish Border in Basque Country.  We will meet up with Thierry and Jacqueline who we met in New Zealand in 2011 and also Pene’s boyfriend’s brother, Jeff who lives in Biarritz.

 

11.07 

We met Gary and Vicki from Norfolk, who lived in Wellington for 7 years and are now in Main Beach, Oz.  They came over for drinks in the evening and we were still going strong at 1 am.  It doesn’t get dark until around 11pm but when it does you have to be mindful of the ‘Kamikaze’ bugs on steroids when you are near the lights!  They are huge but harmless!!

12.07

 

Invited for an aperitif by our new French neighbours Jean Jacques and Marie Therese from Pau.  Their camper is even older than Lefty!

 

13.07

Gary and Vicki joined us for coffee and ‘pain au chocolat’ before they left for Bordeaux.  Late afternoon we took the bike path to ‘Cap de l’Homy Plage’.  A beautiful beach with gentler waves to body surf in.  Back though the forest and continued on the bike path into the village and explored the back roads.  We were looking for the ‘ la ferme’ campsite where a Dutch camper we keep bumping into mentioned he was staying.  No luck however a good ride through the cornfields, a contrast to the pine forest.  25kms and back to camp.

14.07   Bastille Day

We’re getting into a daily routine of swimming, biking, walking, learning French and meeting some great people!  Summer is here in full force and shade is essential.

We ran/walked briskly through the pine forests, it’s nice and cool, the sun is not out as yet.  A few people out today with the same idea as us!  Late afternoon we biked to ‘Cap de l’Homy Plage’ for a swim.  The usual nightly entertainment until midnight along with a Led Zep cover band from the neighbouring camp!!  A whole lotta shakin going on!!

 

15.07

Jean-Jacques and Maithe departed this morning.  Edited our photos and the blog.  We treated ourselves to an anchovy pizza and beer each in the local pizzeria.

 

16.07

We set off on a long bike ride today, destination Moliets, with it’s reputation for being one of the prettiest beaches in the area with ‘sand that sparkles like diamonds and as soft as feathers’!

We rode the bike path to Leon with it’s ‘Etang’(pond) and campsite which we thought ordinary.  The lake water was muddy as it’s more of an estuary and the camp was overpriced.  A great ride none the less finally arriving at yet another ‘surf town’.

Moliets was indeed pretty and the beach fantastic and yes the sand was soft but not unlike all the others we have seen. The entire coastline of this area is unspoilt and beautiful.

Longing for a swim but decided to have a walk, a quick banana sandwich and start homewards as it's getting late.  Back on the bikes to Cap de l'Homy beach for the long awaited swim. We're feeling the effects of the 90k ride and are glad to dismount and soak in the water.  Back to camp, too tired to cook so Pizza and beers again!!!  One anchovy, one chorizo sausage!  Hit the spot
 

17.07

Domestic duties today with a  clothes wash and tidy up of Lefty.

Fixed a minor problem with the toilet flush!  Disconnected the hose to the bathroom and sucked like mad, removing a large backup of silt!  A long gargle and all good!  I’m certain I don’t need the teeth that have since started falling out!!

In the evening we invited a French family from Paris over for an aperitif.  We had a fun few hours with Rene, Corinne, Justine and Guillaume who then invited us to their mobile home for dinner.  Melon to start, shredded carrots in a vinaigrette, then pork with ratatouille, a cheese board and finally chocolate ice creams on a stick!  Back to Lefty at 1.30am.

 
18.07

Internet day!  In the evening we had a large market/fair arrive in the village so we had a wander around the stalls selling clothes, jewellery, candyfloss, toffee apples to name a few.  There was even a small roller coaster and dodgem cars!

19.07

We had planned to bike to Mimizan Plage but the day got away after skyping and visitors (Steve and Lorraine from Wales now living in France).  We bumped into Rene and Corinne who suggested dinner tonight! So a wonderful night eating Moules Frites (all you could eat mussels and chips) with Rene, Corinne and their two children Guillaume and Justine. After dinner we took the children to the fair for pony rides, dodgems and disco.