So Albert and I made our departure, me a slightly groggy "au revoir" to Melanie and Albert a flash of his headlamps to Hugo.
We were now going South, to Brevin les pins, just south of the Loire estuary, and another mobile home campsite.
Terribly nice it was too, definitely one on my "to be considered" list. Then we went to Pornic, the hugely scenic and photogenic Loire Atlantique port, to both do the tourist bit and look for an Aire for the night.
The Aire was full, an omen for what was to come, the port crowded, the parking again definitely anti Albert, as the sign on the left of this picture shows: "Camping-car interdit!"
View attachment 16288
Huh! We know what to do don't we Albert? Block the slipway!
Pornic is quite lovely though and I enjoyed my walk around.
The Aire being full we went to the next one down the coast, and the next one, and the next one ..... all full.
Finally I ended up heading for Port du bec, perched at the most seaward tip of the Breton marais. The Aire there, a hard strip of land between the Marais and the sea, was full. 40 motorhomes crammed in. So was an impromptu extension, 15 more motorhomes on another hard edge where someone must have nicked the "Camping-car interdit" sign. Just room on the edge where it narrowed to nothing.
To park there meant that my rear wheels would be off the edge on to the "Marais" but the marsh was dry and the last forecast that I had seen, a couple of days ago, promised "hot and dry" for the next few days.
I took the plunge. Parked up. Raised the roof. Jumped out and plodded through waist high reeds to get to the boot.
I was immediately bitten by something. Then another bite, then another, then a sting that made my ankle immediately start to burn. Then more bites. I had clearly waked into a breeding ground for just about every stinging and biting insect known to man. With lumps and bumps erupting on every inch of exposed flesh I made it back into the van, lowered the roof and sped off.
With my ankle visibly swelling I went to Aire after Aire, all full, Then finally, at Noirmoutier sur L'ile, the Vendee island perched into the Atlantic ocean, all the Aires full.
I turned off on to a dirt track looking for somewhere to wild camp. I found a car park. No pesky 1.9m height barrier, it was a 2.1m one, no sign saying "camping-car interdit". Beside a gloriously deserted beach this haven of peace became my stopover. Yet another demonstration of what a Cali can do. I had water, I had electricity, I had food and I had a bed for the night.
View attachment 16289
It was just in time. The skies had been getting Darker. Big blobs of rain was falling from it. Amazingly I could get my mobile WiFi signal, the first good signal in days. I clicked on to Accuweather. There was a big red weather warning for the Vendee, Thunderstorms and torrential rain. As if I needed a hint a flash of lightning cut through the gloom.
The rain that night was torrential. I shudder to think what would of happened to me as the Marais would have been flooded. Almost certainly my rear wheels would have sunk into the marsh, if just that. Instead I was warm and cozy, tucked up in my ever-trusty shelter as the tempest raged outside.
Onwards Albert! You don't have to swim just yet! By the way, have I told you, "You're a star!"
![Comfort Insurance](https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/square20ad20image.jpg"")
