walk to Spain

Hi all. Well what a good time was had by all at La Rochelle, shame it had to come to an end. Back on the road again through port Punay, Rochefort, Pont L'Abbey and into Sujon, tomorrow Royan and across the river, which is a bit of a mile stone. Lookin forward to that. Most of the landscape is still flat, the odd hill here and there but then it flattens out again. The bridge crossing at Rochefort was fun, its just a platform suspended on cables and then it runs like a cable car. Might be a bit intresting if it gio windy!
Thats it for now. Off down the cost tomorrow for a bit of body surfing.

Pics from top: More of us in La Rochelle, the shower block at the "La Bateau" campsite and the crossing at Rochefort.

No I'm not dead. Just a long time no internet access. When you ask for it, they look at you as if your mad! Still, here we are in La Rochelle. Mad, Jen and Joe have flown out for the weekend. Good to see them. The journey down from Vannes has been "intresting" to say the least. most of the area we've been through has been closed,  when you ask why, they say " Its holiday season" ! Left Vannes, fighting off the flying caterpillers, down through Roche Bernard and across the Grand Briere, which is where alot of French salt comes from. A bit wild out here, espeially with the weather we're having, blowing a gale and horizontal rain. Crossed the river Loire at Pelleran and round the "Grande Lac" which you coudn't get to because its private. There is an invation of fresh water langusteen? which escaped from the Grand Briere and are now taking over. The one in the pics looks like its been in a bit of a fight. Only six people have permission the fish for them. The houses are changing with the landscape. Slate is givin way to Roman Pantiles, and houses to single storey. More of he gardens are fenced off and loads of vicious looking dogs. Dificult finding footpaths here so a lot of road work. Thruogh Lucon, less said about that place the better. South along the canal, so flat here you can see to the hoizon in all directions. Long stright paths which are hard going. Then through Charron, which was closed, along the coast path passed the moule farms and into La Rochelle. Done about 550K so far. We are in a hotel over looking the old port. Bit noisy as the whole area turns into a street theater in the evening. Thats it for now. might put some more pics up before I leave tomorrow.

Pics from top: La Roche Bernard, the Grand Breire, Fully restored windmill, crossing the Loire, fresh water langusteen, the sunflowers look as happy about the weather as us, the moule farms north of La Rochelle and La Rochelle

Here we are in Vannes 230 k so far mixture of walking on roads and tracks. The Fountains are all over the place and if you drink the water it shuold cure you of somthing, but you have to ask the locals what. Didn't fancy it much due to the frog in there. St Anne D' Auray is where pilgrims from all over Finnisterre to be healed. didn't see a miracle but Al's phone was reconected!!!  Did some "wild" camping down by lock 26 on the river Blavet near Quelennec, so peaceful but no facilities.
      For the Gluen free readers. I was starting to worry a bit, run out of supplies, and you can only eat so much of rice and peas. Found a supermarket here that sells g/f stuff so ok for a while.

Pics  Vannes, A  Fountain, St Anne D'Auray, The view from our tents

Down as far as Le Faouet, a mixture of scenery on the way through. some of the foot paths are very old, especially around the chapples. The storie behind the "Rock of the virgin Mary" is that a hunting woman was out one day and she was attacked by two widl boars. She thought they were going to kill her. She vsaid to herself. If I survive I will build a statue. Needless to say she stabbed the 2 little pigs with a dagger and built the statue. The huge standing stone has been there since before Chrirtyanity. A cross was built on the other side of the track to protect the pillgrims. The Chapelle St Barbe was built on a rock shelf. Makes you wonder how they did it.

Sorry cant turn this round!

Pics from the top: The rock of the virgin Mary, the standing stone and Chapelle St Barb.