10

29TH. MAY 2017:

HERE IS THE NEWS

Sunday`s visit to Mont St. Michel. `Fetes des Meres`

On this day in 2017 was the completion of the road races, marathon and half marathons which were held over a three day period culminating in the grand finale along the banks of the River Courtesan in view of Mont St Michel.

It seems that from 1st April until 30th.September cycles are forbidden on the causeway to the Mont after 10:00 hrs. and before 16:30 hrs. Cycle racks are provided near the Barrage. From here it is necessary to continue on foot or to catch the free shuttle bus over to the Mont. Alternatively pay for the horse carriage to transport you.

Sunday night – We spent the night in a thunderstorm and the following morning in the rain.

This was the night when “A thunder storm the size of Wales battered England,” let me tell you before it battered England it battered Pontorson. I was there.

Still when the thunder rolls, the lightening flashes and the rain cascades down there are other things that you can do;

We know how to cycle in the rain.

POINTE GROUIN – TUESDAY.

A trip to Cancale was interrupted by the attraction of Pointe Grouin which we noticed on the map. We by-passed Cancale and continued straight ahead to the Pointe.

Like a non-commercialised version of Land`s End, Cornwall, this spot provided spectacular views over water, in this case the waters of the English channel.

Looking past the Ile des Landes, Mont St. Michel can be seen on the distant far side of the Baie.

CHILDREN`S ANIMAL PARK AT HAOLIOTIS:

Never tried to draw a goat before. You would never know!

The campsite includes a small collection of goats, hens, guinea pigs, ducks and sheep.

We topped up the water trough for the hens and roosters on a very hot, dry afternoon on our way to the super market.

I have since been back to look at the goats. They have a triangular shaped head. Not the twin spheres I had given them

This is the interior of our caravan awning on a sunny day: Oranges and wine. We still have the oranges.

On Wednesday the 31st May, we spent a leisurely morning onsite, followed by a visit to the Wednesday morning market in Pontorson.

After lunch, a dip in the pool, pina coladas and a beer before returning to base camp and heading on to the super market for steak, sun umbrella and general provisions.

Empty bottles of interesting shapes make for good candle sticks, but watch out for naked flames.

THE SWIMMING POOL.

We visited the swimming pool from time to time.

MARKET TIME IN PONTORSON

Wednesday 31st. May2017

Tonight was declared serious bat hunt night. One earlier attempt at seeking the bats had proved unsuccessful due to the early start of the search. Poor weather had intervened on one night, so here we were at 22:15 hrs. French time sitting at the back of the awning, near the trees, holding a buzzing bat detector but for ten minutes no bats. Then it began; Clicking from West side of the hedge, a bat flew at tent height towards me and flapped and flickered and clicked over my head, then a swift change of direction and it headed off North across the site, the clicks stopped.

For ten minutes or so, bats or maybe the same bat flew past along the hedge line and out over the camp site intermittently, clicking briefly as they went.

About 22:40 hrs. things started to warm up, two bats, then three, then four, five or six, at a time, stuttered in over the hedge, clicking madly and continuously as they swooped backwards and forwards in tight circles around the vacant pitch next to ours. Two such displays took place, each lasting two or three minutes, as we watched in the gloom. Clicking filled the air courtesy of the bat detector. We hunted on from our camping chair for some time.

It was hard to leave the scene and go to bed, but the body must rest and so at 11:00 hrs. we switched off the detector and retired.

A CLICKING COCOPHONY OF ECHO LOCATION!

THURSDAY 1st.APRIL – 11:21hrs.

The awning is packed away. We are ready to leave at a moment`s notice. We ride at dawn!

FRIDAY 2nd JUNE – HOMEWARD BOUND.

At 08:15 hrs. we pulled out of the site, caravan in tow and followed Mrs. Garmin`s instructions almost to the letter. At the first roundabout we left at the second exit instead of the third and had to turn back and try again. Mrs. Garmin led us straight into St. Malo after that but she was taking us to the city centre. As soon as possible we switched off Mrs. Garmin and followed signs for the Port. And so we arrived at border control shortly before 09:00 and were on board by 09:45hrs. and safely installed in our cabin.

There was a thick mist over the Channel in St. Malo but this cleared away as we ventured out onto the waters toward Portsmouth.