Moving along the north coast of Brittany

Thursday 9 May 2013

We were quite happy where we were but duty calls and touring we must go. The weather was clear blue skies if a bit on the cool side. We did the necessary with Bertie before we went, empty this and fill that but we are becoming so well versed at it now it only takes minutes.

The route we decided to go was around the Cote de Granit Rose, not sure why it’s called that but there an’t half a load of strange colour rocks about. It really is a lovely drive along the coast which has fantastic rock formations and huge rocks at that. Our first stop was at a place called Ploumanac’h. As we were quite early 10am, we managed to find a great parking space in the middle of the coastal town. We walked down the main road towards the sea and to a truly amazing cove. It had really strange rock formations and the rose coloured rock formations were extraordinary. The tide was out and a couple of old gaffs were beached against a rock and looked delightful.

We found a notice board that showed us a route to take along the coast to a lighthouse. Again it was one surprise after another as we weaved our way along the path. It was quite windy here and the seas were rolling in making huge waves against the sculptured rocks. We stood for ages watching as they crashed and foamed as they soared in. We finally came to the lighthouse that stood on a small rock promontory. We noted how cleaver the builders were to build not only the lighthouse but the out building to include the rocks.

By now the wind and cold was starting to chill so we made our way back to the town and to Bertie. Not before we took a tour of the local shops. Most shops sell very nice biscuits which they very kindly crush up a few for people to sample. We of course had to try them all and so didn’t need one with our tea. By now it was 11.45hrs and the car park was completely full to bursting. We realised later that it was V.E day today and is therefor a bank holiday.

After tea we set off for our lunch time stop. It was a place again on the coast but a very small and quite village called St. Michel-en-Greve. We parked in an empty car park and walked the two hundred meters to the beach. The beach was huge....really huge. and with the tide out it looked like a desert, you could just see the sea in the distance which swung around in a long curve to the distance. We thought it must be an amazing place in the hight of summer, you would never feel crowded.

After lunch we set the Tomtom to our final destination for the day, Penze a small hamlet with an Aire on a creek. On the way we spotted a Macdonald’s and parked up in Lidl to walk across the road. Wifi calleth. Unfortunately, like their portions the internet is the same where ever you go and it is S.....L.......O......W. Kev sat and spent nearly 2hrs doing some emails and downloading 12 photo’s to the blog. There must be a better way than this...Petra stayed in Bertie was was rewarded with a Mac flurry Dime with choc. There is no justice in the world.

We finally arrived at Penze at about 16.30hrs it really is quite nice and we think we will stay here two nights and go for a walk along the creek. Kev went to the garage and DISASTER the clothes rail had come adrift from the garage roof and the clothes were on the floor. With the amount of clothes and coats we have it was a disaster waiting to happen and a good opportunity to do something about it. We spent the rest of the day folding up clothes and putting up a new smaller rail. The garage looks better for is and we now know exactly what we have got.

Well, someones really upset him!

Friday 10 May 1013

We had a really quite night and slept well, when we opened the blinds in the morning the tide was high and the area looked lovely. Kev took some pictures in the morning light. After Breakfast we tidied up and went for a walk in the village. We are right in the centre of the village and quite a few people come down to use the kiddies swings not far away from the Aire. It is a very nice quiet place on the water side with benches and lots of grass. There is also a path that runs along the waters edge that we explored later.

Moving into the village there is not much to see other than houses. It is a one Patisserie town and that’s it. The road through the village runs up a hill and out into the countryside. So you can imagine it didn’t take us long to look around. 

Back to Bertie and after coffee we went on the creek walk. This really was a beautiful walk with bluebells and other woodland flowers in full bloom. The path was windy and a bit up and down but that just added to the fun. We recon we walked for about 4km along the creek before turning back. By now the tide had retreated leaving huge shiny mud banks. It was such a contrast to the high tide you could hardly believe you were in the same place.

In the Afternoon we relaxed Petra stitching and Kev trying to play his ukelele it was lovely and sunny and we had a really nice sunset. A perfect day really.........Until

In the evening a van turned up and parked next to ours. On the back it had a wooden box which turned out to be the dog’s kennel. They got the poor creature out of the box and tied it to the back bumper there it stayed till it was bed time and it was put back in ‘The Chokey’ . In the night at about 2am the dog had clearly had enough and howled the howl of the hound of the Baskerville’s. Did the owner get out and sort......No of course not.

On top of this there was a Wedding....ah....well no not really, when people get married in France it’s a good opportunity to make sure your horn works and it is acceptable to do this at any time of the day or night or even early morning.

Saturday 11 May 2013

Woke up tired this morning from last nights antics to the sound of a generator going full chat outside. In camping circles it really is bad form to disturb other campers and the most hated is the generator. Some like the Honda whisper are very quiet indeed and you would hardly know they were on others, are like a pneumatic drill and are very annoying indeed. Clearly, the one we could hear was of the latter school. Looking outside it was clear from the wire trailing across the Aire who the culprit was and yes it was our dog loving neighbour. What an unsociable person he had become. To add insult to injury he had placed the wretched thing facing towards us and nearer us than himself.

The man in the camper in front of us was so mad with the chap he got out of his van and turned the generator off. At this the un-socialite came out huffing and puffing and only the French can do and put it back on again. There ensued a short ‘chat’ between them and it then all went quiet. 

The advantage of having a portable home is if you don’t like your neighbour you can move. So that’s exactly what we decided to do. We had breakfast (Croissants collected from the Patisserie by Petra) and made ready to move on. Kevin was walking back from the bin and walked past the van in front, they said they wee moving on and Kev concurred we were doing likewise. We were just about ready to go when the man in front started his van and moved off. Then to our amazement, Mr Popular next door fired up his engine and he was off. We just sat there wondering what was all that about. Well, we thought for a second whether to stay not it was quiet again but as we were ready to go we might as well move on ourselves. 

It was all very fascinating to watch the interactions going on but a shame one person could have such a devastating affect on the ambiance of a very pleasant site.

Roscoff is only 19km from Penze and is another stunning Aire. The views were simply magic. After the antics of the morning and the fact that the weather was not that nice, it had turned wet and cold we stayed in the comfort of Bertie for the afternoon other that later on we went for a walk along the coast road looking for the services. 

On the way back we saw right next door to the Aire beautiful house that in it’s prime must have wonderful. It was all boarded up now with shuttering on the windows and a metal gate stopping entrance. But to the side in the Aire itself was a gap in the wall which enabled access. We looked around the back which was even more interesting than the front. It looks like it was once someone’s country pile in times past complete with stables and housing for the servants. In latter years it was used as an asylum which did give it a bit of a more sinister look to it.

As said the Aire is on the coast and is at the top of a huge bay. When the tide goes out here it really goes out. So far in fact that the sea disappears from view all together leaving a rather rocky and untidy looking beach strewn with odd rocks and seaweed. We sat in Bertie in the late afternoon with the seat facing forward watching the tide race in Petra did her tapestry. We like it here.

Now you see it....

......Now you don't

Spooky...

Sunday 12 May 2013

Unfortunately,  the weather did not improve by the morning and we had an admin morning doing what we do best......sorting stuff. But, by the afternoon the weather had changed completely, the sun came out everything dried up and we decided to get the bikes out. This their first outing since we left the UK and we were quite looking forward to cycling into Roscoff. 

Roscoff is a good half hour walk from the Aire so we were quite glad to have the bikes. It turns out Roscoff is a really lovely town. The houses are usually painted cream in colour with a slate roof and mahogany windows. They are all completely different but the unity of colour brings it all together for a nice airy fresh feel. The fact there is no graffiti or, rubbish about place, well maintained roads and fantastic spring flower displays all combine to produce a feel good feeling as you cycle along.

All towns in Brittany have a church with a spire. They are loosely similar and very ornate. Although you do get the feeling at some stage there must have been a bit of rivalry between the towns to see who could build the tallest, fanciest or grandest appendage to their church. Roscoff didn’t do too well in the race and the tower is a rather solid looking affair. 

We pushed our bikes along the cobbled streets and looked in the shops that were open. Then we cycled along the fishing harbour wall to see the boats high and dry against the wall. Finally we pushed on to the Ferry port to check on the priced of sailing from Roscoff. The ferry port is small but looked very easy to use so a real possibility.

Monday 13 May 2013

It is 66km from Roscoff to Guissey and that means we are not far from completing the north coast of France. We were in no hurry to set off today but we had decided that as it had now been two weeks since we had been on a proper campsite it was time to catch up. We have no charge left in the computer’s, 2 of the phones, and the toothbrushes. Because we are driving such short distances there’s not time to charge everything up whilst the motor is running. We also had a mountain of washing to do. 

On the way we wanted to go food shopping at a town called Lesneven which is a town we nearly came unstuck. Kev asked the Tom-Tom to find the local Lidl and off we set. The Tom-Tom is an amazing tool and we have no idea how on earth we could managed without it. But what it didn’t understand is that Monday is Market day in Lesneven and the main road and some of the side roads through the town are closed off to accommodate it. As we neared the centre of the town it became clear that we were going to be diverted and put simply, the walls started to close in. We came to a halt at a point looking at the Market stalls with a left turn looking only just big enough to get Bertie down. Kev hesitated for a bit but with traffic mounting up behind he really had no choice. We set off down the narrow road and weaved our way through parked cars and vans till we came out the other end very relieved indeed.

The Tom-Tom un-vexed by the event simply plotted the next available course and we arrived at the spot where Lidl was supposed to be.....No it was a E’lecerc......supermarket. We were ready to stop so gave up on Lidl and did our shopping. Once done we put in the numbers for the campsite. One hundred yards along the road was the Lidl !!! 

We were quite glad to reach the campsite at 12.30, it really is a quite haven away from it all. It’s a ACSI site so with our card we get a discount at €12.40 per night. This included electricity and all the facilities you would expect. The first thing we did was select a nice flat pitch which is surrounded on three sided by a 4’ hedge. We then emptied the van of waste and filled the water tank. Over to the pitch we plugged in and started charging up every electrical appliance we have and start the cleaning. Out with everything all cleaned and put back together again. The outside was given a good clean which by now was quite dirty. The site washer was put into action and so was their washing lines finished off in the tumble dryer at the end of the day.

By 5pm we were just about done in but with everything charged up and ready to go we felt quite gratified with out efforts. The evening was spent on the internet doing emails and downloading updates for the Tom-Tom and the blog.