Hello, you are under arrest!

Now the plan is to move away from the crowds of Le Gouffre, but the day is already late in the evening. It is still very bright, and the late sunset provides for extended evenings with wonderful light. However, we don't want to travel many kilometers anymore and we explore the surrounding area.

The Bretons have set tight limits on camping fun. The stay on parking lots near the sea is severely restricted. Depending on the municipality, the ban on overnight stays in these places may be limited to motorhomes or to the period from 22:00 to 07:00 or from 21:00 to 6:30 or from 00:00 to 8:00 or from 23:00 to 6:00, or or or... However, it can also be an absolute ban on parking for all vehicles or only for caravans, vans, and motorhomes. In other places, there are no restrictions at all, and there is a party atmosphere on the beach all night long. Many variations are possible. A small photo series of prohibition and command signs would be worthwhile.

We decide to spend dinner on a beach parking lot until sunset. The stay for motorhomes is not allowed from 22:00 to 8:00. Strictly speaking, our Kangoo is not a motorhome, and a French couple with a similar camper joins us. However, we don't feel completely safe, so we move on for the night. During our exploration, we discovered a small parking lot. There is a parking ban sign and around it are five or six cars, locals going for a walk with their dogs or having a picnic. So we assume that the ban is referring to the place where the hiking trail crosses, so that the hikers can walk undisturbed.

When we arrive around 23:00, the last family with a dog and a picnic basket is just leaving the place, and we look forward to a peaceful night with a view of the slowly rising tide, the soft sound of the sea, the fiery red horizon, and the increasingly round moon.

For breakfast, we move to the beach. The temperatures in the shade and the constant breeze are still cool in the morning, so we seek refuge in the warming sun.

The coffee has just bubbled up and smells delicious, and the cereal has just been layered into the bowl when a car enters the parking lot. Monsieur le Policier municipal gets out of it and barks in our direction, asking if this is our vehicle. From a distance and not in my native language, I don't immediately understand and have to ask for repetition. Monsieur is not particularly amused by that, so he asks the question again more impatiently. Then he authoritatively commands us to remove our vehicle, as it is parked illegally! And no, we are not allowed to finish our picnic, maintenant!!!

I can hardly believe it, this is the first Frenchman who doesn't consider having a meal outside as an excuse for everything! The first Frenchman who doesn't turn a blind eye when it's just a picnic!

I can clearly see the exclamation marks on his face, so we gather our coffee cup and cereal bowl together and one after the other, we transport breakfast, our folding chairs, and the catering box back to the car. Monsieur takes advantage of the time and notes down the license plate. Oh no, not a fine on top of everything!

The getaway vehicle is clearly still in sleep mode, the seats are pushed forward, the curtains prevent any view, and there is a general chaos of clothes and things that were quickly removed in the evening. Denying is probably pointless, it is clear that we illegally camped here in a no-parking zone.

I put on my most pitiful expression and activate the begging dog look, which always works with Zappa too. I explain to Monsieur that we arrived very late at night after a long, exhausting drive and didn't know where to go. And we assumed that the ban was referring to the obstruction of hikers. Monsieur strokes his beard while occasionally looking perplexed at his phone, into which he is trying to enter our license plate.

When I return from the beach with the last mouthfuls of breakfast cereal, he generously announces that he is giving us 'un cadeau', a gift. He lets us go unpunished, but only if we promise to immediately vacate the place and never-ever-ever wild camp again!

I promise, I vow, I swear!

With that, Monsieur rushes off the site, and we have our now cold coffee.

Phew, lucky escape, the wrong parking would have cost 15 euros, but wild camping can cost up to 1500 euros!

While we assure each other to take signs and their messages more seriously in the future, two old Twingos drive onto the site and park right on the hiking trail.

After all, it's dog-walking time, like every day.