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Down The Loire to La Rochelle
  • Martin and Debbie Kinally
Currently traveling
September 2025

Down The Loire to La Rochelle

A 21-day adventure by Martin and Debbie Read more
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    🇫🇷 Rivedoux-Plage, France
    Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
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    Ars-en-Re

    September 16 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Morning, well the weather's okay agin tuday. Weem moving agin, but on the way thems stopping tu a a look at Ars-en-Re, them unny goin there cus e likes saying Arse.
    They parks me up in a field, a field, I asks yu, but I ay the unny one, un sum of these look like them bin ere all night.
    Another little town with narra streets un shuttered house', un a very striking church with a decoratvely painted steeple. They gus inside fur a look, as yu does, very nice with a huge tapestry depicting the island, the needlework is fabulous.
    This town as also got a market un they love a market so offs they gu tu find it. Well it's all round the back o beyond, but when the gets there, it's quite big. Lovely produce all displayed nice. Round the corner is a lovely little harbour un some nice lookin eateries but them got tu get on so they con park me up in the Aire at Le Bois-plage-en-Re
    It's a big aire un there ent too many spaces left, but we found a nice one, next to a little VW., she'll keep me compny, but fust he gis me windshield a wash, it's covered in seagull shite. I'm cosyin up the the VW, she's unny about 3ft away from me sides, while they bugger off tu check out the beach, it's unny about 500 yards up the road.
    My God it's huge, it gus for miles, beautiful fine white sand, wi the sea not too for out, a few pebbles but it's okay. Her decides to gu fu a paddle, well you can't not. It's cool but okay, so it's stroll up the beach before tea, them ent are racking up the steps this holiday.
    Now sum of the parking on theses aires is a bit iffy, but when they gets back from the beach her notices the wust parkin hers sin so far, he might be got it in behind the tree, but I dow know how he's gunna got it out.
    Her ay sin too many sunsets this holiday but er looks out the winda un the sky's gone a lovely colour so off she pops down the beach for a picky. Her missed the sunset but the pics are rather nice un the beach was packed wi people ticking photos. Let's see what tommora brings.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    11

    Ile de Re

    September 15 in France ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    We're on the move agin today, weather's a bit better un according tu er apparently, it's gunna be ok fu the next few days, yippee.
    Weem going tu the Ile de Re, un island just off the coast of La Rochelle. We've got tu gu ovva a big toll bridge tu get there..
    The bridge is 2,926 mts long un 42, mts high, it reminds er of when the drove down to Key West in the States. The island is unny 19 miles long un 3 miles wide so them goin tu the furthest point u then mekking the way back. The fields are full of grape vines, as far as the eye can see.
    On route they stop off at the Phare des Baleines, lighthouse tu you un me, the as a leg stretch un nearly get blown away. Theres gift shops fur er tu look at, un them full of Salt un Soap med from donkey milk, urgh. Who knew yu cud milk a donkey!
    All the packaging ad got donkeys on, yud be alright ere Jen. They dow know why, so er asks er mate Chat GPT. Apparently, the 'Anes en culotte' or Donkeys in Trousers were used for agricultural work un fetch un movin salt from the marshes. Because of the salt marshes, there are lots of insects un mosquitoes and tu protect the donkeys legs from gettin bit the locals invented trousers for um to wear . After a while, it became a mascot fu the island.
    After the lighthouse Weem on our way tu tonight stop at Le Portes-en-Re on a proper camp site.
    After a cuppa, they gus fur a walk down tu the sea un around the little village. On this island, they as a rule, only 1 or 2 storey buildings painted white, un the shutters as tu painted either blue or green .Theres not much open, so there's no chance of a drink.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler

    Lunch in La Rochelle

    September 14 in France ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Oh my gawd, what a night, it's peed it down most of the night, that un the wind un the noisy neighbours being loud till the early hours, e reckons them bin on the pop.
    Thems worked out the bus, it's the D1, D standing for Dimanche (Sunday) so a bit later on them goin back to La Rochelle un they're gunna treat themselves tu lunch.
    It's brollies un pack a macs on un off tu the bus, it's still drizzling but them goin for it.
    Well, what a difference 24hrs meks, the place is practically deserted, it could be the weather, but it could be the fact there's no shops open. The French keep Sunday like we used to in UK.
    They walked round the other side of the harbour, only to find even more boats, all shapes un sizes.
    The restaurants are open but there's not many sitting outside unless them well under cover. Now cums the big task of finding summut to eat. They wants a Plat du Jour, but er dow like fish un neither of um like mussels so that narrows down the picking a bit. They finally find somewhere they can agree on. Out cums the phone sos they con translate the menu. He starts with Goats cheese tart, well tart anyway they wunt much cheese in it, her tried summut new Salmon Gravlax, it was okay but not quite as good as smoked salmon. Next, he has Fish n Chips, un her as another Burger. Pudding, well you ave to don't you , he has French Toast un her as Panna cotta, very nice it was too.
    Thems got about un hour for the bus, so a quick walk round the ramparts to look at the third of the towers protecting the town.
    The weather ay no better, but the forecast fu tumorra looks better, let's hope so, me tyres are startin to look like wrinkled prunes.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    12

    La Rochelle

    September 13 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Well, the weather's changes, it's wet on me bonce un it's cooler tuday. Theres a few motorhomes off this morning, so them discussing whether to try un find me a pitch wi electric before they gus out, and yep it's a goer ,weem on the move, just round the corner but I'm plugged in.:
    Off they gus tu catch the bus into La Rochelle, good start it's on time, they asks the driver for the stop, as you do, un gets answered in a Scottish accent, not what they were expecting .
    La Rochelle is heaving, very busy place. No sea front as such, but lots of harbours and marina's. At the opening of the marina, 2 huge towers stand on either side. The harbour side is full of restaurants and bars, you certainly won't go hungry or thirsty here, speaking of which it's time for a drink un snack at The Jolly Sailor . A walk around the town down the tiny streets, there is one they ay goin down tho. Then an ice cream afor heading back tu the bus, they do want tu miss it. They've enjoyed it but there still more tu see so thems decided were stopping another day un them coming back tumorra, if they con find which bus is running on a Sunday.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    2

    Bye bye Loire, Hello coastline

    September 12 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Well tuday were saying tarra a bit tu The Loire until we cross it agin on our way um. Weem off tu the coast tuday, about 180 killies tu do so I needs some juice afore we go too far. No motorways, so I cor ave a burn, christ there's a lot of roundabouts on this road. Lots of open fields tu look at but hers upset as them too late tu see the fields of sunflowers in full bloom, them all yead apart from the odd few.
    We're stopping at the Aire de camping at Port Neuf in La Rochelle, blimey this is a big site about 170 pitches, they cor get one wi electric but them on un it's filling up fast. I've got lots of French totty to look at so om OK.
    After a cuppa un a chat with anuther Brit couple they as a walk down tu the prom, it's a shame er cor get er leg ovver a bike as it ud be a great ride into the town. They watches the sailing club go out fu a sail, un a couple of windsurfers tek off tu sea, its nice un breezy here.
    Back before it rains, eye eye the sign ses the sites full.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    121

    Sampling the delights of Saumur.

    September 11 in France ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Another camping car site, but at least this un as some grass fur um to sit on in the deckchairs, shame it's rainy un cooler tuday.
    The plan is tu ave a restful afternoon reading, in her case, planning next stage of trip in his case, then thems goin intu town for a wander un summut tu eat, good luck with that. He ses he ay aving a pizza it's gunna be a 'Plat du Jour'. Ha ha.
    It's a big town un it's quite commercial as well as touristy, but as per usual there got the timing wrong, it's rush hour or at least it would be if the little tourist train addn't broke down on the bridge causing a right old traffic jam, no ones goin anywhere.
    Most of the restaurants ay open yet so they meks the way tu the old quarter where they find a bar un there they sits people watching, her favourite hobby., until the restaurants start opening. They pokes them heads in the church, as yu does, un starts the hunt fu tay.
    Fish, cunnard of duck, fish, more fish, Thai, this ay looking good un tu mek it worse no pizza either. They wanders back tu the bridge un out come Chat GPT, his new best friend, it ses there an Italian right were them standing, eye, eye, there is. Looks okay, no pizzas though, but it's ere or nowhere. They decides to eat inside, there's a nip in the air tonight. He plumps for Pork wi Apricot un Almonds un Tagliatelle, un hers an unadventurous Hamburger , it's alright though un suitably stuffed, they cum back um, taking in the sunset over the brigde. Thems gunna av another try at watching Yellowstone, still don't know about that one yet.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    1

    Montsoreau

    September 11 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We're travelling on tu Saumur today, our last day travelling down The Loire. Thems, well hims, read about some nice picturesque villages along the way, apparently, 'must see, chocolate box places', so them gunna give um a go on the way. One of um, Candes St Martin, you can't drive thru so them relying on sat nave tu get um there, oh oh, well tu say the road was narra was an exaggeration, it were dam me near enuff a cart track, still it got em tu the recommended car park just outside the village .
    The village is on the river Vendee, nice setting but what all the fuss is about they cor see, it's an OK village but thems sin better. They walked tu the edge of Candes Saint Martin but decided not tu go any further, save the walking till later. Back along the river un onwards to Saumur .    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    11

    Chinon

    September 10 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Weem moving on agin today tu Chinon, a medieval town on the banks of the Vienne river. Apparently, it's where Joan of Arc met Charles VII in 1429 un theres a big statue of er in the town. Theres another château here, but they wow be goin to it as it's up steep hill overlooking the town. It's lit up at night, so that might be nice.
    Another camping car site, glorified car park, but them okay when yu unny stopping the night, un anyway they'll be no sitting outside tuday, it's raining.
    They set up un as lunch before walking into the town, armed wif brollies un pac a macs.
    They walk uvver the bridge un get a great view of the chateau up on the hill. The towns full of narrow streets un beamed houses of various colours. They finds the statue of Joan un it's a big un, un they also sees a black London cab un a red telephone box, them a long way from um.
    Back um for the night, hers hoping tu get a picky of the Chateaux lit up so while he's washing up she walks up the road to find a good spot, well that day work, no street lights, no pavement un ers shi....g herself as her dow like the dark. No spot for a picky anywhere on the site so her cums back defeated unny to turn round in me doorway to get a great view, typical.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    1111

    Villandry Château

    September 9 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Thems off up the town in search of the market, they walks by the river tu get to it, very pretty. It's not a big place, Blere, but it ay till the last turn of the road that they find it, all half a dozen stalls, not much of interest for um but as per they find a bolangerie for a tart un sum bread.
    We're off tu Villandry un thems oping to get on the camping car site just up the road from the château. It's not a long journey un there's plenty of pitches to choose from . After a bite of lunch, they lock me up un head off to the château, this one's supposed to have a nice garden, un they like a garden tu wander round. Here's the boring bit fur yu.

    'Set in 15 hectares, 7 of which are gardens, there been a fortress here since the 12th century . In the 19th century the chateau was owned by Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. In 1906, two scientists, Joachim Carvallo and his wife Ann Coleman owned the château, after restoration of the inside they turned their attention to redesigning the gardens in the style of the 16th century, their great-grandson is now in charge of running the estate. '

    Well them well pleased with this un, not only well decorated but the gardens u summat else, very formal but stunning. There's the Ornamental Garden, the Forest, The Greenhouse, the Water Garden, The Sun Garden, The Maze, The Herb Garden un The Ornamental Kitchen Garden, ruddy el, more gardens then u con shed a stick at. It med er laf when her heard a yank ses 'Have you smelt the Lavender Garden, it stinks, but in a good way'. Unny a yank cud say that.

    They went for a walk thru the village on the way back, thought they might get a drink but couldn't find anywhere so after investigating the pizza vending machine on the roundabout and deciding it didn't sound invitingm thems back fur a sit in the last bit of sun weem expecting for a couple of days, rains forecast so I might get a bit of a wash.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    1

    Château de Chenonceau

    September 8 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Well, tuday weem doing chateau number 2, well they wud be if they cud get me ablutions done, some blokes bin parked on the dump site fur ages, at least 20 mins. He gets fed up un wanders uver , pretending tu check out the water, not really, he's tu try un chivvy um up a bit. Women sitting in van ses summut about waiting fu the driver, he's unny gon tu the privy fu a turn out un weem sat ere waiting like a stuffed lemon. Anyroads he's ad enuff un reverses over tu try un at least fill up wi water, un low un behold blokes comes out of privy apologising . What do men find tu do fu so long?
    At last wim on the road to Château de Chenonceau, this one's a floating one, or at least that's what it looks like. Built onto a bridge spaning the Cher, no, not the singer, the river.
    Built in the 16th century, it's surrounded by 4 beautiful gardens un lovely decorated rooms. It even has its own apothecary, alright fur when the missus as un ead ache.
    After spending a few hours looking round, they finally return tu me, parked up on an aire at the side of the railway, and we're on the road again. A bit of shopping in the Aldi on the way tu Bere und another camping car site in the town, ready for tommorus market. BBQ tonight, fust one.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    12

    Blois on the Loire

    September 7 in France ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Well, thought they would never wake up. 9.30 before they stirred. Eventually we got out the car park at Chambord, and headed off to Blois in the hope that it wud be quiet on a, Sunday fer a look round. Dream time again fer the yampy two. It's heaving and the bridge which we need to cross to get to the designated parking place he found is closed with a flea market. So a waltz around the town to another bridge an we are parked by a field with a camel, llamas, goats and all sorts. The circus is in town opposite. Off they trundle leavin me to eye up the livestock. Nice place Blois, the flea market is OK as well an he manages to buy a couple of glasses for his rum addiction. Nice lunch with galletes and Brittany cidre for him and they managed to climb up the steps to the cathedral after that. Back home to me waiting and a few killies down the Loire to our overnight stop at Chamoint Sue Loire.Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    12

    Chambord Chateau at night

    September 6 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Her pop outside while cooking tea to get some pictures of the sunset un the chateau looks lovely in the fading sun, the after tea they gus for a walk to see the light show. The château is turned all colours, but what helps the super light show is the beautiful full moon popping up from behind the chateau.Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    211

    Chambord Château

    September 6 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today weem off to look at the first of the Chateaus he's got planned, but first me ablushions need doing. Aire we stopped at last night says no services, so he plans to pop up to the next aire so I can have a dump. We'll we go down through the village and gridlock. Vans and people everywhere looks like a Sunday flea market. Well I ad to do a lot of shunting to extract me self and return to the road. So what to do, I'm desperate for relief. We goes back to last night aire as herself said she saw a bloke emptying in a shed, and yes there is a water and emptying point, thank gawd for that. OK so off to Chambord the daddy of chateau apparently.

    Well we drives through the wooded parkland un park up on the 100 van aire where weem stopping the night, another car park, but there's plenty of room and not crowded. Aquick cuppa before they sets off. OMG it's a big un, as they leaves the car park they gets the first view of the chateau The château features 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces, and 84 staircases. One of the highlights is the spectacular spiral staircase in the centre of the chateau, with 274 steps, her knows as hers walkedup some of um, un down all of um . The two spirals ascend three floors without ever meeting,
    There's not much decoration un furniture here but it's full of rooms un stais, here's glad here dow ave tu go up un dawn um all day. Theres un art display from someone they ay hurd of, un they ent impressed. Apparently the chateau was used during the war to hold works of art in the hopes it didn't get destroyed, one of um being The Mona Lisa.

    They walked all around the outside of the upstairs un the view were great, everything as far as you cud see belongs to the chateau .
    Lunch in the sunshine, a shared baguette un muffin and then it's a walk round the gardens, not many plants but lots of tress .
    Back for tea before popping out tonight to see it all lit up.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler

    Down to the Loire River

    September 5 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Well we leave Le Crotoy fairly early for a 350 killi journey down to the Loire whereby all accounts the holiday begins. Just as we pull out from the aire they spots a market in the town....... bugger she says - they do love a French market, but too late he sez, they need to get me rubber on the road. He wizzes me down to Rouen but me fuel is really low and e ain't noticed. when he does it's a case of finding a station on the route around Rouen on the tablet thing he uses to direct me,and then it has a hissy fit and they miss a crucial turning to avoid goin over the Seine river. Well we sail on into the city and try to avoid the emission zone, find a diesel fill up, and the way out in the right direction! Well I braced meself for a right old ear bashing between em, but unbelievably all three things were OK and I survived.
    Late afternoon we arrived at Meung sure Loire aire for the night and it's full. Bugger! Luckily, we find a space a few killes downstream at Beauancy aire, which was a relief I can tell ya. They ups and out for a leg stretch round the very nice small town, and a drink was had in the square as they do. Small Ipa for him, bit crap at 4.5 euros he reckons and an Apertol for her,nice. And there is a market on the Saturday morning, so all is well for today after all.    Read more

  • Martin and Debbie KinallyDown The Loire to La RochelleTraveler
    1

    Outward Bound

    September 4 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Wotcher muckers, Bertie here long time no spake. Well theym off tu France to ave a meander down the Loire. They gets un early start off tu the tunnel. Good journey, no one gets in me way un I'm in good form so we arrive early un manage tu get on an earlier train Thought we'd left the rain behind us, how wrong can we be , after a while we hits a downpour un me lovely clean body work, he gave me a spring clean before we left, is now grimey un covered in mud splats..
    He's decided to use the toll motorway un heads for La Croytoy, a nice little town on the estuary. Thems bin ere before, a couple of years ago, The aire is a big car park a short walk from the town, last time they was packed in like sardines, but today there's plenty of room un they even manage a spot on the outside for me on a bit of grass to rest me weary tyres, I've dun a few miles today u know.
    After a cuppa, they walk into the town, very fish oriented in the restaurants un they even has two fishmongers. They wants tu see if they con find the little bolangerie where they bought some flan from last time. They finds it but no flan so they cums back with a couple of pie/cake things un a baguette tu go with the salad fu tea. Aye aye, another bolangerie so they gus in there un cums out wi a cake un a tart, so much for their diets then.
    Weem all having an early night as I've got a big journey agin tumorra. Night night.    Read more

    Trip start
    September 4, 2025
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