France 2010, Day Seventeen, Pont Aven

Day Seventeen 20th June

First I had to get fuel, we had been with Mick so knew the way (approximately), pulled in at the pump and got my card out and tried to get in it the pump but a sign came up, no cards. Now I knew, Mick had used his card two day previous but it just would not work, then a man came over and said to pay at the booth. So the payment booth wasn't manned on Friday but it was on Sunday, go figure. Then we got on the wrong road as we left the supermarket and the sat nav went off and we had to restart the computer, such fun.

We eventually left St Jean de Monts for Pont Aven on the D51, then right on the D22 which changes to the D758 at Beauvoir-sur-Mer. At Bourgneuf-en-Retz we turned left on to the D13, which changes to the D213, passed the first site we stopped on. Over the river Lorie we took a right on to the N171, we took a left on the D4/D773 to the N165. As we crossed over the river Vilaine we could see a suspension bridge we went to look at last year, so we headed off the road into the service area (Aire de Marzan) to show Mick and Bren.

Then it was back on to the N165 until we turned off left onto the D24, then right on the C3 / D77 to the site. Dot and I visited this site last year so knew the way there.

PONT AVEN Siblu's Domaine de Kerlann Rue de l'Ocean, 29930 Pont-Aven Web Site

Same routine at reception again, they gave us a small dark pitch and we moved to a larger brighter one, very strange why they do this every time.   Very different from last year, most of the touring pitches are now taken by static mobile homes, more evidence that soon these sites will no longer take touring vans.

Dot and I went over to Reception to inform them of our move but never got all the way back to the van, we took a detour to the bar (just to check out the prices you understand). But first we got a couple of portions of chips from the takeaway and I did text Mick, to let him know where we where. Not long after, we got a phone call from Mick, to ask how to get to the bar, they had lost their map of the campsite. When they fond us we had a couple of beers together and they also got some chips.

Back at the van we got the satellites working (and I had my can of Duff), before heading back to the bar area to see what the entertainment was and to possibly watch some football.  

The entertainment was the reps show, most of it was not too bad, except for a skit two of them did about sound effects, it was dreadful and it went on and on, me and Mike went inside to watch the football until they finished it.

France 2010, Day Sixteen, St Jean de Monts

Day Sixteen 19th June

Not that sure what we did on this day, besides getting ready to move on, I do know the girls went in to pool and jacuzzi, and me and Mick watched a football match outside the bar while they did. After their soak, the girls joined us outside for another beer.

Later we all watched a film back at Mick and Bren's van.

France 2010, Day Fifteen, St Jean de Monts

Day Fifteen 18th June

We did go back in to town, but earlier to catch the market athough we went in the car instead of walking. After a look round we got sandwiches for lunch and had them in the sun by the church in the town square.

 The wine stall on he market had advertised they had a great beer selection but you had to go their warehouse close by. So on the way back to the site we looked for it, stopped off and got a few beers I hadn't had before, including a can of Duff.  Mick also filled the tank on the car ready for moving on in a couple of days, he had to pay using his card in the pump, as the payment booth wasn't manned.

When we got back Dot and I went for a look at the other Siblu, sister site here, it was just over the road and all facilities were open to residents on both sites. It was a slightly smarter site but there were no touring vans, we nearly had a beer over there but they only had Stella, the Leffe was not on yet. So we walked back to our site and went in the pool, then the jacuzzi.

Brenda wasn't feeling well, so just me and Dot went over to the bar for the football and got a seat outside in the sun, with a good view of a TV.  Mick did come over to join us later.  I did something I rarely do when England are playing, I wore an England t-shirt but as we were only playing Algeria, I thought I would try and break the superstition of England not winning when I do.  Never again though, we could only manage a 0 - 0 draw, a disgraceful and very poor result.

France 2010, Day Fourteen, St Jean de Monts

Day Fourteen 17th June

At lunch time in the hottest part of the day, we set off to walk the mile and a half into town, so by the time we got there we were very hot and just about all off the shops were shut.  There was what looked like a good market we had just missed but it was on every day so we would come back tomorrow. 

Mick wanted something from the pharmacy but it wasn't due to reopen for an hour.  So after a quick look around we settled outside a bar to wait.

As soon as the pharmacy opened Mick got what he needed and we set off for the beach at Les Bains. It was a proper seaside resort, souvenir shops, ice creams, bars, restaurants and very busy. 

 After a look around the shops, an ice cream and a walk on the beach it was time for a drink (or somewhere with a toilet). There was a beach bar selling local beers, some thing you don't find every day, so we stopped for one, or two.

We then had the long walk back to the campsites, we did part of the walk along the front and then through a wooded area. Is was a better walk that just walking along the road, although the bit through the woods seemed to be never ending. In the woods Brenda collected a lot of large pine cones (for decoration at home) and let Mick carry them for her.

That night we went over to the bar to watch France v Mexico, we watched the first half next to some French supporters while the girls sat outside, in he evening sun. The match was on Sky, the first time we had had an English commentary but the two Frenchmen next to us, demanded the TV we where watching was switched to the French channel. Strange thing to do, as all the other TVs in the bar were still on Sky and therefore the commentary was still in English and it was the same video feed anyway.

At half time the girls came inside as it was cooing down outside, so for more room, we moved up to the bar's mezzanine level. When Mexico got their first goal we were very surprised when a large section of the bar stood and cheered. We were just as surprised when it happened for the second one and a bit embarrassed to be British, it was only latter we realised, that the people cheering were from Ireland, the country cheated out of a world cup place by France.

France 2010, Day Thirteen, St Jean de Monts

Day Thirteen 16th June

It rained all night, good job we got the awning down yesterday, the tent was wet again though. By the time we were ready to go Mick van was totally surrounded by water. We decided to go by toll roads again as it was going to be the longest drive of the holiday (in France that is), about 300 miles. We went back the way we came D265 to D43 and onto the main road north the E4 / A63, by this time the rain was horrendous. We got round Bordeaux via A636and N230 to the A10 north and the weather was still appalling. We stayed on the A10 for about a hundred mile to exit 32, where we headed west on the A83. By this time the rain had stopped and the sun was shining, at exit 6 we turned onto the D948 to Challans and then the D753 to St Jean de Monts.

ST Jean de Monts Siblu's Le Bois Masson Rue des Sables, 85160 ST Jean de Monts. Web Site

Usual thing at reception they gave us a small dark pitch and we moved to a larger brighter one. Got the vans and satellites set up and had a BBQ for tea. Then we had a walk over to the bar to watch the football.

No photos again.

France 2010, Day Twelve, Gastes

Day Twelve 15th June

Today we had a lazy day in the sun, we got Mick's Awning back down ready for our move tomorrow, and in the afternoon all went over to the pool. Mick didn't have the wrist band you have to wear to use the pool and was refused entry, Mick was not best pleased but rules are rules, no mater how daft they are. Me and Mick had to go over to reception to get a new one, the girl on the desk was a bit off with Mick for losing the wrist band, that didn't help. It was warm enough to use the outdoor pools and slides but pretty soon the storm clouds came back over and we had to move indoors and into the jacuzzi.

When we left the pool the sun was back out, so we went to the pool bar for a Leffe or two but no sooner than we had ordered and sat down, it started to rain and we had to shelter under the canopy round the bar. It wasn't just the rain, in damp clothing the wind was bitter and the girls soon set off back to the vans to get warm and to change.

We went over to the bar again for happy hour and the football on the evening, unfortunately the Stella was back on.

France 2010, Day Eleven, Gastes

Day Eleven 14th June

Dot and I went over to the pool but it was too cool to use the outdoor pool so we went indoors and spent most of our time in the jacuzzi as we usually do when there is one. The pool closed at midday for two hours (why), on our way out we met Mick and Bren just coming for a swim too late.

With the pool closed we want out for a drive in the car, we went to the mouth of the river Mimizan at Mimizan Plage. Mimizan Plage is quite a nice seaside resort but the wind made it feel colder than it was, although in the shade it was boiling.

Holland were playing today and one bar in particular was very orange and very noisy. We didn't go in, instead we want for a walk to the river mouth and then along the river for a short while.

Later back at the campsite we had a BBQ and then some beers during happy hour at the bar. It was nice to see Italy doing as bad as England, only managing to draw with Paraguay.