30 degrees forecast today and already hot when we set out.
Quite hilly on leaving Pornic but as we dropped down into the Vendee it was like cycling from West Wales into East Anglia with muddy creeks crisscrossing the landscape - many with fixed fishing nets - and then back into West Wales again.
Some imaginative person had also thought to broadcast wild flower seeds (poppies, cornflower etc) along the sides of the path which transformed the ride.
It was like cycling through the ends of the earth with isolated houses and tiny fishing ports here and there.
We decided we didn't want to face the busy road from Beauvoir to Fromentine so decided to take the 5km tidal causeway to the Ile de Noirmoutier - which meant we were forced to dawdle over a leisurely lunch and bottle of wine waiting for low tide.
Theoretically you can cross from an hour before low tide but long before that cars were edging out along the causeway - some to park half way in the sea to look for oysters. We decided to go for it once the water was 4 inches deep as that guaranteed us a traffic-free crossing - but wet feet. Such fun!
Then along the island and over the bridge to Fromentine. Wall to wall caravans but a lovely beach and the hotel was very individual and attractive - sort of colonial style.
The only drawback to the resort was that it was so packed (being Aug 15) that we couldn't find any where to eat without a long wait so ended up buying pizza and a bottle of wine to eat on the terrace of our room.
And a beautiful sunset to round off the evening!
348km to date
