Travelhector
Hector ist der Größte! und andere Reisen…
Category: France West: Ile de Re
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In fact, this is not how it looks like on departure day. Instead, rain and stormy wind ease my decision to get up and going – if not for the closed barrier at the campsite’s exit. It remains stubbornly closed until I place an early morning wake up-call for helpful staff with a key. Hector…
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I wake up in golden light with low tide at my feet. Today is my last day on Île de Ré and there is one village missing on my list. My destination of choice, La Flotte, is a quick win: just a few kilometers against the wind and easy to find – as long as…
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The bridge Pont de l’Île de Ré is the most dominant object in and around Rivedoux. Picking up the coast line, stretching in a smooth curve over the sea, it is a nice piece of a monument. The instable weather rewards me with fantastic light, luring me out of my van, with the camera in…
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Rivedoux is the perfect starting point for a day at La Rochelle. The bridge is toll-free for cyclists and the pistes cyclables enable a relaxed visit. No parking fee, no traffic jam. While the route along the shore is closed down for construction, the alternative is pretty okay as well. In the banlieus of La…
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It is unusual for Hector to stay in one place for such a long time. Today, we move on and settle down in Rivedoux, the village right at the beginning of the island. Le Pont = the bridge is always in sight. My wonderful van yearns for the beach, and even though our campsite is…
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Far from being spectacular, La Couarde sur Mer is charming and an excellent base for my stay on Île de Ré. The tiny center consists of a handful of shops, a church and the place des voisins sympas = square of pleasant neighbours. The square counts a carousel, a café and a salon de thé…
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Another perfect day for a bike tour enfolds on Île de Ré. Today, Prince Harry (the currently unfolded foldable bicycle) aims for the far end of the island: Les Portes-en-Ré. Road signs, cafés, shops or any other trace of civilized diversion is rare in the north-east. Still, the typical white houses and small alleys are…
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It has been a challenge to get used to >30°C, but with a bit of surfing here and a bit of siesta there, it was not that bad. In fact, summer temperatures start at 28°C only, so I have been more than happy in my first holiday week. However, this is about to change now.…
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The past days have been filled with surfing and all the excitement about the progress I have made on the board. With life being all about balance, it now is time to lean back, relax, se reposer. Consequently, I hang around between Hector and the beach, with a chat here and there, with good books…
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Ah, finalement! I knew all along that Île de Ré is not surfer’s paradise, yet I had hoped for the best. As this island is a bit like the French version of Sylt, it is more about wind surfing than about wave surfing. Still, I am willing to bite my way through any obstacles until…
Travelhector 