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Despite the storm we sleep well and wake to a dry, partly sunny and mild morning. The wind has dried the muddy parking spot and we extract ourselves with no problems.
Our travels start by heading north towards..... Leclerc! We stop for a good load as it is a while since the last big shopping session. Leclerc d'Oleron also has a conventional fuel station and LPG, if only we'd known. Then it's on to St Denis d'Oleron, through lots of small vineyards, with a big, high-clouded sky ahead. We stop at the Phare de Chassiron on Oleron's northern tip and have lunch in sight of the grey and white banded lighthouse tower. Lunch is a muted affair caused by Nick W sitting on and destroying Ali's new glasses, failing to apologise and then saying it was stupid of her to put them on a seat.
After lunch we head back via St Georges d'Oleron, a charming, sleepy little village with a wooden market shelter and a typically French chateau that has been smartened up considerably since we saw it in 2008.
From the car park we need to travel 10 metres to the road we want, but it's no left turn so we have to squeeze all around the village through medieval width streets to reach our desired route.
Further towards the north eastern side of the island we meander through a large area of oyster farms; little gangways lead down to the edge of the channels of muddy brown water. Brightly coloured huts and 'restaurants' advertise 'huitres a vendre'. Still pools have red rims of algae.
By late afternoon we are back on the viaduct and leaving the island. Below the tide is falling and shell fishermen are already out on the patches of exposed mud raking for cockles or clams.
Our original plan was to go to La Rochelle tonight but with light fading and traffic getting busy, we have the luxury of changing plans at any time, and divert into Fouras and find the aire at the headland overlooking the sea, with Fort Boyard visible in the distance. Soon after we park there is a fantastic sunset.
This evening Ali cooks baked cod and we open a bottle of bubbly to toast Chris and Paul, and hope they enjoy the forthcoming adventures in their motorhome.
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