Vacation in Capbreton - October 4th to October 11th

Since we have used up our food supplies, we go into town for breakfast. Coffee and croissants...! Then we make our way to Merignac, a suburb of Bordeaux. We still need a fresh water canister. There's a camping equipment store here, Narbonne Accessoires, which will hopefully provide us with what we need. It's a small shop, even though it's the largest camping store in the area...if Fritz Berger saw it, they would freak out...! But we get everything we need...and things we don't need, but still buy. Then we continue south and reach Capbreton around 3pm. There's still a nice campsite in the pine forest here, which is open until October 13th, very good! We plan for three days...!
It's nice to be back here. This time we actually manage to arrive at the destination before the rest of the MissionSurf participants and take a vacation first, from the adventurous journey we have experienced so far...nice! We sit in the sun, read and enjoy the holiday feeling, dry...with sun...barefoot...great!

The next morning, as usual, we wake up at 8am, drink coffee and have breakfast outside the bus, taking the day easy. We watch an old lady wandering around the plots around us all morning and most of the afternoon. What is she doing? Then she starts talking to us, but only in French, we understand almost nothing, just something about two cats and a leash, while she keeps pointing to the plot next to us...we smile politely...! Shortly afterwards, we realize that she's looking for a new pitch, the old one is too shady. Bam...now we have the cat lady right next to us. A bit crazy, but quite nice! In the early afternoon, we take the dog and walk to the city. The sun is shining brightly and the sun is scorching with all its might. We stroll around the huge harbor basin and finally realize that there is good live music on the other side. So...around the basin again...takes about half an hour and then we're in front of the stage. I have the feeling that the Rhine Surfers from Cologne are personally giving a concert here, same style, similar songs, perfect!

There is also a skate contest for the kids on the site and there is fresh beer for only three euros (0.2l to be precise). We listen to the fine music, watch all the hustle and bustle, and let the sun shine deep on our faces. After about an hour and three beers, we head back to the site, eat delicious salami and stinky cheese (...which only Jörni eats...), and then go to bed satisfied.

The next morning is cool and cloudy. We don't have any coffee left, damn. We walk with the dog to the town and have a delicious Cafe au lait here, buy fresh croissants, and then waddle back to the site. After a short time, it starts drizzling and we retreat into the bus. It's going to be a lazy day...well...! I throw myself on the bed and try to finally finish my 1000-page book. There's enough time for that today, because the weather is showing its familiar side...even here in the south...! In the early afternoon, a large group of three VW buses from Switzerland arrives, trying to set up their camp two plots next to us...but it doesn't work...we watch as they first sink one of the VW buses nice and deep into the sand...forward-back-forward-back-steer right-steer left-forward-back...perfectly sunk, I'd say! Instead of offering help, we just stare stupidly...but there are six people and in fact...yes, it should be possible...! I can vividly see Frank standing next to them, with a can of beer in hand, observing the spectacle...eventually he would say, "Guys...take a break and just think for a moment...!" or he would have brought Nele or Mia and said, "Now show the guys how to get the bus out of here properly...!" Man...man...man...we keep watching...after the bus is stuck so deep that nothing works anymore, they are at least smart enough to pull it out with the other bus...great! What idiots...! Then they move two plots further and here, too, they move the buses back and forth for about half an hour until they finally stand correctly...yes, yes, the Swiss...precise as clockwork! I'd rather have the crazy cat lady! Not much else happens, but it's Sunday - just a lazy day. For dinner, we fry delicious shrimps in the pan and go to bed full.

Monday's weather is better again and we set off early for the Quick-Pro...Kelly Slater is still in the field. On the way, we stop at the Boulangerie and have a typical French breakfast.

At around 10:00 a.m., we arrive at the beach in Hossegor and marvel at the skills of the world's elite surfers. I manage to capture Mr. Kelly with my camera, although my telephoto lens only arrives at the end of the week with the other thieves (Dad had to order one for me, we couldn't find one here). I take a lot of pictures and Jörni observes everything with his binoculars. The waves are pounding, so some people unintentionally get wet feet.

At around two o'clock, we head back, we still want to go to Decathlon in Anglet...we would really like folding bikes...that would be great. We roughly think about how we can best store them in the bus and find a half solution...doesn't matter...it'll fit somehow...we want bikes! We get them and after a short stop at the supermarket, we drive back to our spot.

Instead of having a fresh coffee, we have to drink a Kronenburg...of course, we forgot to buy coffee again...great!

In the evening, we have fresh baguette with nasty cheese...and delicious salami...of course! Then a bit of music outside the bus, and good night.

The next morning, after showering, I quickly put on shorts and jump on the brand new folding bike to go into town and get coffee and croissants, baguette and quiche.

We have a relaxed breakfast in the sun, today the weather is great. So we read first in a calm way and take the day easy. Every now and then you hear a few notes of a saxophone...then it's quiet again...then half a song...and then we see the accompanying musician sauntering along. Drunk as a skunk, wearing sunglasses and holding a glass of wine...it's already 12 o'clock after all...! He starts talking to our cat lady, who becomes completely frantic and tells him in harsh French to get lost...! Then it's our turn! We meet Jurek, a 26-year-old Polish guy who is not already drunk again, but still drunk...! He found his way back to the site only this morning, lost his way back from the party in Hossegor, slept in front of some house, lost his phone and skateboard, and is now just continuing to drink...! He's having trouble with his lady back in Poland, the vacation is almost over, and his skateboarding career is ruined due to a torn knee...well...cheers! What else can you do there...! Then he moves on...nice guy...a bit done, but nice guy!

Nevertheless, we move our beer supplies INTO the car afterwards...just to be safe...he had already stolen the wine from his neighbors' tent...

I continue reading for a while and Jörni goes running with the dog. We leave the dog in the bus afterwards and go for a bike ride to Soorts-Hossegor to the outlet, a bit of shopping. The sun is blazing and we start sweating, but it's wonderful! There are great bike paths here and hardly any hills...cycling is really fun this way. We easily overcome even small hills...after all, our mini bikes have six gears. The haul is not huge, but afterwards we enjoy a really good coffee before riding back relaxed. It was great!

In the evening, it starts raining again and we go to bed early!

On Wednesday, the weather is changeable, in and out. But they are only short showers, although it's chilly. Around noon, we walk through the huge pine forests with the dog, even if it starts pouring down, we just keep walking along the canal, then through the forest again, then along the canal again, and then back to the bus. The dog stays there and we take the bikes again. Exceptionally a really good investment, it's really fun and you see much more! Let's go to Hossegor City. First a coffee on the plaza, as it should be, and then strolling. This time the haul is much bigger and we're more packed than planned! On the way back, we get caught in another heavy rain and have to take cover for a moment, before we realize that we still need dog food...where should we put that...? After almost dislocating my shoulders with the tote bag, we make it and reach the base, heavily packed. Phew...! We throw everything into the bus first and relax in the evening sun doing nothing! Wonderful!

From home, we're getting pressure from various sides, asking when there will finally be something new to read...Joliver already sends us Peter Kraus songs as an interim solution...I can tell...it's time :) But we're on vacation right now!!!

We end the evening as usual with music and drinks in front of the bus!

This morning we wake up at 7:30 a.m., it's still dark...oh yeah...it's already October! We make coffee and read a little. Then I finally grab the laptop and start typing furiously! We also quickly make use of the free washing machines and enjoy the glorious sunshine before we continue to Messange tomorrow, another small section up, because on Saturday we will meet visitors from home here. Time for the annual MissionSurf. It's supposed to be 28 degrees, what a welcome! And finally autumn break...I've been working towards that...hahahaha...!

I will now try to publish this here early! We'll keep today's program open for now. We'll probably take the bikes again and ride around a bit!

The campsite here in Capbreton is really great and we like it a lot, but tomorrow, as I said, we'll move on to Messange! On Saturday, the MissionEuropa will also become the usual MissionSurf! We're very excited!

Warmest greetings to everyone back home and we'll try not to make you wait sooo long for the next stories!