The Southern Route to Normandy - Aug 2003

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After a pleasant cruise across the Bay of Biscay watching the dolphins and whales we arrived at Bilbao in the early hours of the morning. As the object of our trip was the annual gathering in Normandy we did not wish to tarry in Spain and set off for France using the expressway. On crossing the border we rejoined the winding coast road to our first stopping point at St-Jean-de-Luz. This is a charming French fishing port with much historical interest where Louis the XlV married Maria Theresa the Infanta of Spain to secure the treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Spain.

(picture of St-Jean-de-Luz harbour)

We found our Hotel (pre-booked via the internet) right in the heart of the old town not 30 metres from the sea yet with its own secluded garden for breakfast and the occasional afternoon zzz!

(picture of Hornet in front of hotel)

We spent two days enjoying the delights of this lovely Basque town, now turned very French resort with its restaurants, alleyways and wonderful sandy beach. The weather was perfect.

(picture of sunset over bay)

But time had come to make our way North to our next stopping point at Bordeaux. The drive took us through the wooded Les Landes area North of Bayonne. Here France was suffering the worst of its heat-wave with roadside temperatures in the shade of 40 degrees and every so often we would emerge from the wooded areas to cross some blasted heath where the temperature would soar until it was like driving into a furnace. The Hornet took it all very well and never showed signs of overheating. Our route took us via Biscarosse and Les Dunes du Pilat. It was cooler by the coast but even so we were not tempted to climb to the top of the highest sand dunes in Europe.
Bordeaux we found to be a slightly depressing run down sort of place. It did not help that most of the city centre and waterfront area had been dug up for installation of a tramway. The city obviously had had a fine past with lots of historical interest but at the moment it lacks the vibrancy of the other places we visited.
The target for our third stopping point was La Roche-sur-Yon. We travelled mainly on the yellow roads. These we found were often die straight tree-lined boulevards which passed straight through all the towns, villages and hamlets. As is normal for elderly cars in France we had a cheery welcome wherever we went.
We stopped for lunch at Rochefort which had been built by Napoleon as the Naval dockyard for France. Much like the older parts of Portsmouth with dry docks and rope walks etc. but now the river has silted up leaving just enough room for a modern day marina.
La Roche-sur-Yon is in reasonable striking distance of the seaside village of Brem-sur-Mer, crowded for market day, and the Foret Domaniale d'Olonne, a woodland area behind the beach. We followed a trackway through the woods signposted to La Mer to find to our embarrassment that it came out on a naturist beach, but a little further along more normal attire was in use and we had a most enjoyable bathe in the Atlantic swell.
The final leg of our journey took us, again on the yellow roads, around Nantes, around Rennes, around Avranches to Les Voyageurs at Picauville.

(picture of Hornet at Voyageurs)

The festivities in Normandy were as splendid as ever with the musical accompaniment at the dinner provided by Paul and Julian.

(picture of performers)

and a special celebration of Roger's birthday.

(Roger and Jose celebrating Birthday and Wedding)

Activities while there, included picnic at the canoes, the treasure hunt and a trip home via the Normandy Beaches and Cherbourg.

(picture of Hornet at Normandy Beaches)

Total distance covered was 1200miles without hardly a falter. The only resort to the toolkit was to stop a slight weep from a carburettor banjo nut.
Where to next year?

Rick and Ann Pardoe