Don’t have to check out until 12 so had leisurely morning, gave kids ipad to watch a movie – the first time
this holiday! I went for a morning
shower, again the first of this holiday!!
Slowly packed away, bought ice and set off heading for Ile d’Orelon.
We chose to aim for an aire at Le Continiere,
a very touristy fishing village but a bit tacky. Got to the aire and it was full of gypsies - no holiday makers at all - so
we immediately drove out and headed for the aire at Le Grand-Village-Plage, it
was ok but we couldn’t actually find the beach!! Instead we walked aimlessly around a
municipal campsite adjacent to the site that seemingly had no services but was
charging 39E a night!! Another ripoff!!
We
had 1 more aire to check out but decided to come back here if all else
fails as
there was plenty of spaces. We drove
this time to Le Chateau d’Oleron where the aire is on a beach road. Arrived to find machine wont accept British cards
or cash so we were stuck. There was a
snotty Frenchwoman behind us who wanted to get past so I had to explain that we couldn't get
in, so she just tells us to move!! Then,
a council worker (with no English) insists we wait for another Frenchman to pay
for us to enter – a bit awkward but with my now much more confident French I managed
to get an old man to do it for us!! YEY!!
9,50€ for night, a huge site that used to be a campsite so old toilet and
shower block. Really odd as we were the
only non-French people, but much more favourable than last night.
In afternoon we walked to the beach, literally just over the road. Sandy bay but lots of seaweed so not really
able to go in water, although some people were!! There were lots of jellyfish caught up in the seaweed and there were jumping
fish which were great interest to the kids – I've never seen jumping fish like these
before!! Did some sand art making the Dune de Pilat and then the pyramids, Mount Sinai and the Himalayas I think!!
We then came
back for a quiet evening, wine and cheese!!
