Marans

Hello again, well due to some very windy weather we ended up staying at Bourgenay for 5nights which was long enough! It was a lovely place nice and quiet except for the wind but we had been everywhere within cycling distance and I was starting to go a little stir crazy. We had on day 1 as I said ridden to Talmont St Hilaire, day 2 we walked west to the beach and around the spit to the nature reserve and then along the edge of the salt marsh till we found civilisation and then back to beach and home, day 3 I did a short run through the woods behind the coastal path then after the tea spill on the duvet and subsequent washing we later rode to Jard sur Mer around the back of the salt marsh. Day 4 we must have looked around the junk market in the morning and revisited the supermarket so I could do some more baking, tried the cookies again but mixture much thicker so more like rock cakes this time round. day 5 I did a longer run east along coast but not as far as anywhere specific just out and back we had a lovely lunch at one of the cafes on the harbour front and later walked in land through a 'Pierre et vacances' village right on the edge of the golf course and with its own large lake. I think things would have been a lot worse but we ended up meeting another British couple on day 3 whose boat we had seen previously in herbaudiere on Noirmoiter and we spent that evening on their boat chatting and following evening we returned the hospitality and they visited Take Five. They over winter in L'Orient so we must have seen their boat then as well. But they were headed North on the return leg of their trip and we were going ever southward, but you never know we may meet again next year and hope to keep in touch as they are planning a longer trip soon.
We are now in Marans which is inland from the Bay de l'Aiguillon along a canal, the sail here, yes that's right we used sails not exclusively but we're trying, went OK, it was rough to start with but improved the further west we went.
We didn't arrive until 8:30pm as the lock didn't open till, well it was supposed to be 7:20 but it was late and then it's a further 3miles to the town. We have been put right on the end of the pontoon just outside the pedestrian bridge, right away from everyone and everything but we don't think it's personal. Had a quick wander around the town this morning, quick because it was raining and also town is not very big, but a good base for cycling and kayaking the inland freshwater marshes. More photos if the sun comes out. It did so a few more pictures addedRead more