GK Tours Day 4
Thursday 7th November
Vannes to La Barre-de-Monts via St Nazaire
Another cave sleep last night, at this rate we’ll be starting our day at lunchtime!
Last night we had showers in the van, we are pleased to say it was a lot better than expected, especially as we have super duper heating and underfloor heating.
As soon as I got up I took Meg out for a walk around the promenade. It’s a great spot for birdwatching along the river as you can walk the whole way round, taking you through a small wood, beside sandy beaches and sailing vessels of all kinds. We passed a very posh house that I think might have been a Spa.
There are a few bars and a restaurant for refreshments, and a kiosk or two to serve the users of the river water pool – half empty today, revealing more of its beach than normal. What an excellent use of the open space.
Meg and I had to keep stopping as the paths were very busy with morning joggers.
Back at the van we packed up and set off for our next destination – St Nazaire.
It was still a bit misty today and on the odd occasion we had a glimpse of the sun!
We haven’t hit a toll road yet though our little Fulli Toll Tag is ready and waiting 
The roads were a little busier today but still not anywhere like our main roads at home. Coming into St Nazaire, we took the huge bridge across to St Brevin Les Pins, just opposite St Nazaire’s busy ship building port.
The bridge is huge, spanning the Loire estuary and very high! We stayed in St Nazaire a few years ago, in amongst the shipbuilders and the U-boat bunkers built by the Germans in the war. Very interesting if you ever come this way.
Our visit today though, was to see something we had missed last time, The Serpent of the Ocean.
It’s an amazing structure, free to visit and to park! Blimey. It’s also on a great beach, perfect for a Meg runaround . It was built by a Chinese artist who lived in France and was part of a festival in 2012. It’s amazing, our pictures don’t do it justice.
It was now lunchtime so we thought we would try our luck at having a Plat du Jour at one of the local restaurants near the Serpent. We’re not good at getting the timing right, normally our arrival in a French cafe or restaurant is too late for lunch and we are met with a very firm ‘c’est fini’, in other words, “lunch is over 
“
Today was our lucky day but not Meg, she had to stay in the van as dogs weren’t allowed.
There were a few choices for the Menu of the day, a pleasant surprise as normally there isn’t a choice. We do like the anticipation of what is on the menu and will we like it .
Well, today we could choose, so I had slow cooked chicken in a mushroom sauce with sliced potatoes and bits of bacon. Gareth choose the rabbit in a creamy mustard sauce with chips. We also had a starter, a bit like a Harvester, you could help yourself to the salad bar including shellfish and prawns.
We were stuffed, couldn’t even fit in a pudding! As it was we were tiring and still had to drive for an hour . Gareth asked if I wanted to drive, I politely declined as my eyes were burning from Carb overload . €35 for 2 courses each, 2 oranginas and a coffee. Bargain. The restaurant was full of locals, retirees and work men and ladies, always a good indicator of good food being served.
As we were about to set off Gareth noticed a red squirrel in the garden hedge next to the van, wow! Don’t see them very often 
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Our stop for tonight was about an hours drive away, another Camping Car Park Aire in La Barre-de-Monts near the island of Noirmoutier in the Vendée region.
En route we passed a lot of wet land, we weren’t sure if it’s flooding or on purpose. As we drew nearer to our stop we noticed signs for Salt on sale, so at least some of the water is for salt flats.
Tonight we are parked in an Aire about 150m from the sea – actually part of the Bay of Biscay. The Aire is on sandy ground with pine trees all around but we don’t need shade so we’ve opted for an exposed plot.
Gareth needed a kip, so I prepared a soup and then took Meg for a walk to the beach. (I’m trying to rack up some miles in prep for mine and Lynsey’s next Camino).
The beach was practically empty, just a couple of people walking their dog and us. Out to sea we heard a helicopter approaching and then noticed what looks like an oil rig in the distance. A little while later the helicopter returned so I’m thinking it’s the staff transfer vehicle.
We walked right up to the corner of the beach to take a good look at the bridge across to the island and then walked back for dinner.
Poor Meg, we’ve just been videoing her falling asleep sat up, Gareth says I’m wearing her out, but to be honest I’m not sure that’s possible .
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