Around La Rochelle

EV Cycling Day 29 (5 June): Montalivet - Royan - Marennes - Ile d'Oléron 110 km

We don't leave Montalivet too late because we want to catch the ferry to Royan at 12 o'clock. In the morning we chat to a cyclist from Hamburg who is on his round trip to Irun and from there wants to cross France and reach Aachen in 2 1/2 weeks. He had seven days of cold and constant rain in Brittany and slept in a tent. We're real wimps!

Before the ferry ride, there is still time for a second breakfast. In the absence of croissants, we get a desayuno - tostada con mantequilla and mermalada! In Royan, we stay on the coastal path and make good progress. Shortly after 3 p.m., we reach our planned destination, Marennes. Over a coffee, we decide to cycle another 20 km to a campsite on the Ile d'Oléron. There is a wide shoulder across the busy viaduct, so we can get to the island without any problems. There is a well-developed network of cycle paths there, including directly to the campsite right by the sea. In the evening, we drive to the beautiful fishing village of La Cotinière. When planning the next day, we realize that the ferry to La Rochelle only runs early in the morning and in the evening. So we have to go back to the mainland and cycle a few more kilometers.

EV Cycling Day 30 (June 6); Ile d'Oléron - Rochefort - La Rochelle 85 km

After the relaxing day of cycling and the ferry ride to La Rochelle didn't work out, we got on our bikes for a day trip like we have done (almost) every day for the last few weeks. We still managed to take a short but special ferry ride. But first things first. We cycle over the viaduct back to the mainland until we reach the Velodysee again. It is now signposted yellow for a few kilometres, which is probably a sign of a diversion. Komoot and us don't mind that much. The days of the pine forests are over, we cycle through wetlands, see fields, meadows and herds of cows as well as where we are going. After 40 km a barrier goes up directly in front of us and we are allowed to go straight onto the Rochefort transporter bridge. It was built in 1900 to cope with the increasing traffic over the Charente without disrupting shipping traffic. Today the Transbordeur is operated for pedestrians and cyclists, other traffic uses a large bridge. On the other side, things initially go quickly until we find ourselves in front of a locked gate at a military airfield and the only option is to take a mown meadow path to the road. This is also EV 1 en France. On side roads we come back to the sea and after many turns to the right and left we reach La Rochelle. The city with the beautiful old port, which is particularly protected by the two towers at the entrance, is full of life. The streets and boulevards are lively, the bars and restaurants are full, the shops are full of fashion. And the network of cycle paths is exemplary, and there are lots of cyclists out and about. We like it here a lot and it is a fitting place to celebrate 3000 kilometers of cycling.