GK Tours. Day 8 Monday 11th November
Cognac to Royan.
Today before we moved on from Cognac we took a walk along the riverbank in the opposite direction. Just out of eye site of the Aire is a wooden structure in mid construction though the notice says it’s to be launched mid Nov 2024. It’s called La Maison sur le Fleuve and is going to float on the Charante River for 5 years apparently and people can access it to use its stairs and portholes. 
, we shall have to come back and visit it.
The building next to our Aire is in fact the town’s old Abattoir, closed down in 1987, refurbished and now a live music venue. It’s in the perfect place, beside the river and behind the Cognac houses so no worries about noise disturbance.
We decided to visit Royan today. Gareth had read good things about it so off we set, after filling up with fuel @ €1.57, a good price so far.
The sun was shining on us today, I took a pic so that some of you may get to remember what it looks like 
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It was an easy run to Royan, which is on the estuary of the Gironde. We found our parking place in the Camping Car Park Aire quite quickly and set off for the beach.
The walk took us past the very tidy train station, Gareth looked to see if it was possible to get a train from here to Bordeaux but it takes more than 2 times the driving time 
, so that bright idea was abandoned.
Through a park, encountering a French lady in distress who couldn’t speak English and our French isn’t good enough but she wanted Gareth to mend her bike. Bless her.
The front brake caliper had come loose and though we managed to get it back on, the catch was bent so the cable just kept slipping out. I used Google translate to explain she needed a new one and she used it back to say, it was the front brake, not so important and she wouldn’t use it 
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Carrying on across the road we were then on the beachfront. A lovely big sandy beach waited for us and Meg. She was very happy to be off lead and ran straight down to the tasty seaweed , flipping dog, eats anything!
It’s a lovely huge conch beach so protected somewhat from the wind in places. As you walk around the bay suddenly the breeze picks up and blows sand in your face . It was actually so warm we had to take our jumpers off, blimey, how lovely to do that in November .
Most of the promenade is dominated by houses and hotels, but only a couple are over 3/4 floors. Some of the houses are in the typical french style and called here Belle Epoque, sat right next to something ultra modern – George Clark style 
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It’s Armistice Day here so there were lots of families out enjoying the bank holiday and the gorgeous weather.
We walked to the end of the beach and grabbed a table at the only beach restaurant we had encountered. Lucky for us they were just closing but kindly fed and watered us. Customers arriving after were sadly turned away. The waitress explained they were closing now until April.
I chose a white beer, Gareth a coffee and we had a small Planche – a delicious board of cheese and meats with salad and pickles, of course bread and butter too .
As the bar packed up around us the wind also picked up, so, donning our jumpers once again we retraced our steps along the beach. Meg found some play friends along the way until we reached the end of the beach, which is where the marina starts. There’s a big wheel (like the Eye) which looked like it was being dismantled for the winter.
The harbour reminded us of many we have visited in the past, lots of lovely bars and outlets, busy tables and walkways and a carousel for the little ones.
When we had arrived at the beach we noticed a very tall structure – reminded us of a space rocket waiting to be launched – hiding behind the low rise buildings in the main town, so we headed towards it.
This building is in fact a church, the designers apparently wanting it to look like nothing else on earth , so not a space rocket then?.
From the outside it just looks like dark grey concrete but having seen pictures on line it does have stained glass windows and is very interesting from the inside.
Walking on we came across the shopping streets where most of the shops were open. We didn’t expect that due to the bank holiday, the French are quite particular about these things aren’t they.
Anyway, eventually we returned to the beach front and stopped for more refreshments, this time I had a glass of Charente Rosé, Gareth a coffee and a lemon and sugar crepe. Yum yum.
It was starting to turn chilly as the sun was sinking over the harbour so we made tracks back to the van.
Just as we were crossing the road we saw the bike lady who gestured to us to come back but we said that it was OK and so she just waved.
Lady Penelope, Parker & International Rescue sort of saved the day again 
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Language isn’t a barrier when you are being nice we find and helping always makes you feel good, doesn’t it.
The night is chilly so the heating is on, floor is warm and we’re late to bed .
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