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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2888 |
27th September 2013 Mt. Biking: Causeway at Passage du Gois to Noirmoutier en L’ll Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: Distance Covered: Thursday 26th September - travelling After breakfast we set out to travel south. We pulled off the motorway on the Rennes ring road to go and get some bread but it turned out to be the most enormous shopping mall in the throws of being renovated while staying open! It took lots longer than expected but not too bad. Had to stop further along to get some diesel and there was a handy McDonalds so stopped to do the usual computer stuff and have a coffee. We had treated ourselves at the enormous shop to some prawns and enjoyed them for lunch at the next Aire. We headed towards the Island of Noirmoutier because Mag vaguely remembered it being really nice when we briefly visited it with the boys on the way back from one of our Vendee holidays. The run into the island was wonderful with lots of marsh land with various birds but we slammed on the brakes when we spotted what we thought were Ibis but they are not in our book (disappointing!). They were the weirdest birds we have ever seen! Carried on a little further and found a little fishing village called Bouin where a camper encampment had taken over the car park and were all watching the flat bottom boats come in at low tide. The fact it was low tide was perfect for us because we went over to the island on a causeway (Passage du Gois) which is only open for an hour and a half either side of low tide. It was great fun crossing that and watching lots and lots of people digging and collecting what we assume are Cockles. I have to say that the actual Island was a huge disappointment:( Absolutely not camper friendly with height restrictions and regulated parking everywhere. We travelled the whole island and barely saw the sea – you have to park and walk and when you can’t park it gets a bit tricky!! We were very despondent and didn’t think we would find anywhere but luckily we headed back to the causeway and joined several other campers parking in spaces where it warns you that the parking gets submerged at high tide! We decided that as high tide was at 10.30 and we would still be awake we could move if it was a problem! Had a brief walk and were really pleased to see that we are surrounded by a nature reserve with loads of wading birds and literally hundreds of egrets. We also had spoonbills flying overhead as soon as we parked:) Had left over curry for tea and treated ourselves to a cake from the bargain basement selection we got from the big shop – 5 cakes for 2 euros 50!! 10.30 came and went and the sea was still a long way away so we stayed put. Friday 27th September – bike ***** - Causeway at Passage du Gois to Noirmoutier en L’lle – sunny periods After a night’s sleep we were loathed to leave the island on a sad note so got the bikes off after breakfast and were so glad we did. We saw a completely different view of the place from the bikes. We left the van and cycled all through the nature reserve seeing lots of birds on the salt marshes and in the sea. Came out at the main island town of Noirmoutier en L’lle and after passing the restaurants and castle carried on through another nature reserve to the beach. We ate our lunch here and read our books, it was really lovely. Walked further along the beach before biking through a campsite to the road and back through the town. This time we stayed on the cycle path next to the main road for the majority of the trip back but returned to the nature reserve path as we got nearer to the causeway. Arrived back at the van absolutely too hot and needing a cuppa! We shared the custard tart cake left from yesterday’s bargain. After a rest and a read we walked to the mid section of the causeway which is exposed again as its low tide. Lots of people collecting cockles again and a nice unusual walk:) I went back later when tea was cooking and saw a woman whiz through the water well after the last car had safely come through! She made it but only just! Photo Gallery here |
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