We had spent our final evening in Arçais over a very convivial BBQ with our friend. Convivial it may have been but it also felt a little dangerous since one of the tripod legs of the BBQ was prone to collapse. I managed to navigate the issue and produce food – not for the first time yours truly had been volunteered as BBQ chef.
For one reason and another Frodo had become a bit of a potted plant in Arçais but, after six nights, it was time to move on. We had paid up before attending our BBQ.
We planned a shopping trip at the Super-U in nearby Magné. Since it is a large supermarché, as well as finding supplies for a few days, I was keen to see if it had some replacements for my incorrect, problem bicycle inner tube. Once I found the bicycle section, I also found an array of inner tubes [chambre à air] covering an array of wheel diameters and tyres sizes. Joy upon joy, not only was there a “700/38C” tube but these were also available with a Schrader valve, which the French seem to refer to as grande valve, the Presta valve being a petite valve. So, it seems that it’s the Spanish who don’t “do” Schrader valve tubes for 700 [a.k.a. 28”] wheels.
France: 1 – Spain: 0
We bought two of the Shrader variant, one to replace my too narrow [now repaired but for how long?] tube and also one of the Presta variant for Francine since her bike uses Presta but she was carrying one of the Spanish incorrect size spares. For good measure we threw in a new pack of puncture repair patches which all seem to be self-adhesive these days. Goodbye rubber cement with chalk to stop it sticking to the inside of the tyre casing. Let’s hope I don’t have to find out if the adhesive works.
We were off to the area on the west coast around Les Mathes where, many years ago we had enjoyed a very comprehensive Bateau de Fruits de Mer at the fishing port of La Tremblade. See, the French can make puns – it was a plateau but served in a boat. Since a Plateau de Fruits de Mer is as rare as hen’s teeth in the UK, we were keen to try and repeat the experience.
Our short journey of just 120kms took us past a couple of interesting sights. First up was the old Rochfort-Martrou Transporter Bridge [Pont Transpordeur], built between 1898 and 1900, over the Charente river. The road section raises to allow the passage of ships beneath. It is now a listed construction. Beside it these days is the more modern road bridge that we have come to expect. The old construction looks magnificent, though, and is still the way for bicycles to cross the river.
Further along the road towards Les Mathes is an area where every pylon through a marshy region is adorned by a large Storks nest. At this time of year the large Stork nests are themselves adorned by large Stork chicks which can occasionally be seen exercising their wings preparing to fledge. They are an intriguing sight.
The Arçais campsite over our last weekend had become very busy, it having been a long weekend spanning a French public holiday. We thought the rush should now be over but were a little concerned since we were heading for a 30-pitch aire naturelle.
All was well, though, there were plenty of free spaces.
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