The reason that these first couple of days have included only cursory stops is that I have explored these areas on previous trips and the focus is on getting to Spain quickly but still enjoying a little French hospitality along the way. So today was the run to La Rochelle with a loop through the Vendée to enjoy a couple of coastal resorts where I have spent time in the past, namely St Gilles Croix de Vie and the famous Les Sables d’Olonne. The sun was merciless again today but a brisk east wind helped keep cool at the seaside. The  breeze had subsided by the time I got to La Rochelle in the late afternoon. Like yesterday I had a mixture of motorway and departmental roads, the latter much more enjoyable. Here are a few pictures. The headline is a defining image from La Rochelle with its two towers at the old port entrance. There were a few people about and the ice cream sellers were doing good business, including from me. I’ll start with a couple more from La Rochelle and then a few from St Gilles and finish with a few from Les Sables d’Olonne.

For orientation there is an outline map is here.

The French Government crashing the ship!

Now St Gilles

Now Les Sables d'Olonne