Day No. 20 - hop on hop off - La Bernerie-en-Retz

Our pitch at Camping La Goélette has no entertainment, no supermarket and the sanitary facilities are basic, but clean. - But the view from the bus is all the more pleasing. A direct view from the "living room window" of the sea glistening in the sunset. So far so homely. - But the moment you leave the sheltered bus, there is a stiff breeze.

The howling of the wind accompanied us into the dream world as a lullaby. - When we woke up in the morning, the wind had died down a little. Nevertheless, the wind is whistling quite a bit, but there are always brave people who consider this to be the best sailing weather. We take it easy today, write the last few lines of the previous day's blog and then get back to our daily Tetris. As the weather forecast continues to predict cold and wet weather for this and the next few days, we decide to leave La Bernerie-en-Retz and slowly make our way towards Bordeaux. No sooner had we packed than we got our first shower from the sky. It's going to stay like this for the next few hours. Everything is gray in gray.

Our destination for today is the citadel of Blaye, so we continue south for almost 350 km. - As the view of the sea is impossible in this weather, we decide to take the direct route and switch to the highway. - On the road again. - Only at the "Sortie 38 Péage de Saint-Aubin-de-Blaye" do we switch back to the highway. - The appearance of the surrounding houses has changed radically compared to Brittany. Instead of slate, the roofs are covered in clay and the façades are plastered in a Mediterranean style instead of quarry stone. Everything is a little reminiscent of Tuscany, even the vines. But here, a kind of swampy landscape is added at times. Shortly after the town sign for Blaye, we see the cemetery on the left and take another spontaneous turn. - Don't worry, we're not morbid, nor are we into the gothic scene. But the old crosses and chapels seem to have done it to us:

Do we plan our route or is our path random? - We believe that what is due falls to us!

With regard to our spot today, it was a tip from a surfer. His description was clearly an understatement. - I definitely had a different image in mind. - Anyone who knows the Gironde or the citadel knows what I'm talking about. Even the drive up over an old fortress bridge is impressive. But the view of the Gironde from our pitch right at the highest point of the citadel is more than that. An approximately 3 km wide river flows at our feet. - We sit on an old stone bench right in front of our bus, enjoy the view and cook a modified ratatouille: we fry onions, garlic, zucchinis and peppers. Unfortunately, we forgot to buy the eggplant. - Everything is sautéed for about 5 minutes. Seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, tomato puree and a few Mediterranean herbs, almost done. - We fry a few ox heart tomatoes, salami and chili in a separate pan. - Not only vegetarians, but also carnivorous plants should be considered here. - Today we vary with pasta, and "pasta courgette" is ready.

Refreshed, we take a short evening stroll through the citadel. The fortifications and walls lie deserted. Nobody seems to wander around here at this time of night. Everything seems peaceful and out of time.

Then it's down to the village, to which another fortress bridge leads - on the banks of the Gironde, an old English double-decker bus is parked right by the harbor. The lettering reveals it to be a former hop-on hop-off bus from Windsor. Inside is the restaurant "Le Bus du Carrelet" The burgers look great, but unfortunately we are already full. So we spontaneously decide to have a beer. - Ultra IPA from PIP, "The beer of imperfect perfection...

... "Aromas of apricots, peaches, then pineapple and passion. Creamy on the palate with fruity flavors and this very nice aromatic persistence characteristic of IPA. Bitter but just right!" - We had to read up on the latter. -

We guessed elderberry. -

Either way, it was delicious. If the weather is good tomorrow evening, we'll be back.

Insight of the day: It doesn't always have to be the German Purity Law, because panning can also taste good.