1991 - Challans, France

In 1991 we went back to the same gite near Challans because we had enjoyed it so much the previous year.
Monday 1 July
We left home at 1440 and after successfully negotiating the A34 roadworks. Arrived in Portsmouth at 1750. Boarded the ferry at 2030 and set sail at 2100. After a snack in the restaurant we all went to bed.
Tuesday 2 July
Docked at 0830 and had breakfast in the old town of St Malo. After a walk around the town we set off for Bruz. As we did not intend to arrive until about 1400 we had lunch, ie crêpes, in Rennes.
When we arrived in Bruz we drove around looking for Remi’s house without success until a man stopped us, Remi’s father Claude, and gave us directions. [Paul had a pen friend, Remi, and we were invited to stay at their house on the way to Challans and also on the way back home]. At the house we met Remi and his mother Mady. We were introduced to Remi’s other brothers and sisters, Claudette, Joseph, Gabrielle and Guimette, later.
When Paul and David had finished playing tennis with Remi, we all went for a walk around a disused water mill.
In the evening all 11 of us enjoyed a dish local to the south east of France – cheese grilled individually with ham, sausage, potatoes, nuts and gurkins washed down with wine. I drank too much and went to bed just after midnight.
Wednesday 3 July
After we had walked round Bruz including a visit to the church, we said our goodbyes about 1130 and set off for La Chiron. We drove through some heavy rain and arrived at the gite just after 1400.
Madam and Messieurs recognised us and gave us their usual warm welcome, wine, tart and coffee. We were all saddened by the news that their dog Ochfie had died in a road accident but they now had a new dog who we will have to befriend.
Our first shopping expedition was not entirely successful because the supermarket had moved. The traffic was so congested approaching the new supermarket that we went to a different one and bought sufficient supplies to keep us going for a few days, including 5 packets of Crok Image, the shop’s entire supply.
As it was getting late we went straight to Chez Charles for a meal.
Thursday 4 July
Woke up to rain but by mid-day the sun was shining and we set off to the beach (our favourite one). It was so good that we stayed until 1630 and hopefully did not get too much sun.
In the evening we went to the crêperie in Challans (Paul had 3) but the waitress who made fun of my French last year was not there.
Friday 5 July
Another sunny/cloudy day. We set off for the cause way to Ile de Noirmoutier but when we arrived the tide was in and we had to use the bridge (toll 8FF). The first stop was the town of Noirmoutier where we had a walk round and a beer.
Then we went to the port of L’Herbaudière where on one side there were many pleasure craft and on the other fishing boats bringing in their lobsters, crabs, thornback rays, garfish and others we could not identify. There was also an auction of the fish going on.
We returned home via the causeway which was open, just. It was very windy and the sea was lapping over the causeway. I had to drive round a jellyfish 2 feet across stranded on the causeway. The others wanted me to squash it.
After a visit to the hypermarket we decided to eat in and had pizza, cheese, bread and apple tart.
Saturday 6 July
Another cloudy day, so we decided to visit Pornic. When we arrived it was rather windy. After a quick look round we drove around looking at the small coves in the area finishing up at Tharon-Plage where it was very windy. It looks like a good place for windsurfing.
On our return to the gite we all went for our first bike ride to see if the cottage was still for sale, it was.
In the evening we went to La Marais restaurant in Challans. I asked for the English menu and as usual it caused more trouble than it was worth. Next time I will stick to the French version.
Sunday 7 July
Rain – stayed in.
Had a pizza and orange givre.
Also played boule – I won.
Played table tennis – I won.
Played Yahtzee – I won.
Listened to tennis – Becker lost.
Monday 8 July
Decided to go south and find some sun and ended up at La Sables-d’Olonne. After a walk round and conversations with two other British families we headed up the coast to the beach near La Goninière where the sun was almost shining. The beach was quite good but it was windy. However, we did manage a quick sunbathe between clouds.
In the evening we went to the crêperie for the second time.
Tuesday 9 July
Tuesday is market day in Challans and we had decided to buy some food at the market and eat in that evening. The whole town was very busy and we bought prawns, tuna, chicken, potatoes and strawberries all for about £15.
By lunchtime the skies had cleared and we went to the beach. For a change I parked on the side of the road and we walked through the trees and over the sand dunes to the beach where we spent about 3 hours sunbathing.
We returned to the gite for our meal which had to be hurried in order that we could be out by 2000 to see the Auto Rodeo. This was being held in Challans and was due to start at 2100. It started at 2115 and continued until about 2240.
There was some excellent trick driving in the first part and in the second, a demonstration of how to flatten 4 cars using the Exterminator, a tracked vehicle, and Big Foot.
Wednesday 10 July
Woke up to a clear sky. This had to be a day at the beach.
When we arrived at about 1100 it was very hot and I decided that I would remain covered up, we left at about 1530. Others decided to expose certain bits but luckily without any ill effects.
On the way back we stopped in Challans because Dorothy was feeling the need for a custard tart. Before going to the cake shop we all enjoyed an ice cream at La Marais.
Our evening meal was at Chez Charles and ended with 3 Ile Flotants and 1 Crème Caramel.
Thursday 11 July
After a late night we did not wake until 0920 and breakfast was not finished until 1000. It was cloudy but this did not matter because we were going to Noirmoutier again.
We crossed the causeway at about mid-day and then walked back onto the causeway a short way to look for crabs, etc.
As one of the reasons for going again was to see the tide come in and cut off the causeway, we went to Barbâtre for a drink before returning at about 1400.
When we got back people were lined up above the road waiting for the entertainment to begin. Others had started to walk onto the causeway.
Suddenly the water started to cover the causeway very fast and those on it had to return before getting cut off. Unfortunately for those watching there were no cars left stranded on the causeway.
We then had a drive around the island but it was too windy to stop anywhere finally returning to Barbâtre for crêpes. Those were some of the best crêpes outside Brittany.
In the evening I started to make a video of “The Bicycle Race” but unfortunately my batteries ran out.
Friday 12 July
In the morning we went to the market in Challans and bought supplies to eat in. As no one felt like doing very much, we had a lazy afternoon around the gite – reading, playing cards and two bike rides.
Our evening meal was to be a repeat of Tuesday’s except that David wanted sardines instead of Tuna. Unfortunately the langoustines were not cooked as much as Tuesday’s and they were almost raw. In the end the only one who ate any was Minute the cat. The remainder of our meal, tuna, sardines, chicken and strawberries with fromage frais was excellent.
Saturday 13 July
The morning consisted of a visit to Super U in Challans to stock up with things to take home – Crok Image and jus d’orange
The afternoon was to be more educational – a visit to Chateau de La Garnache and windmill near Chateauneuf.
When we returned, we made the Bicycle Race Video. The day was rounded off by a meal at Le Marais.
Sunday 14 July – Jour de Bastille
After a late breakfast we drove to St Giles which, due to it being Bastille Day, was very busy. We had a drink followed by a walk around the harbour. Paul bought a Vendee badge.
By this time it was about 1300 and all the clouds had gone. We therefore made our way to the beach where we stayed until about 1800.
For our evening meal we went to La Napoli for a pizza. When we returned to the gite, I was feeling rather warm and on closer inspection I was sun burnt from head to toe. I hope it was worth it.
Over the next two days we traveled home but for some reason I never made any diary entries so I have no idea what happened but it was probably uneventful.

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