La Bouexiere family

Spent another lovely day with my cousins and auntie. We were served some wonderful meals and had a great time together. We are very lucky to have been so warmly welcomed and once again appreciate the effort and time taken for us.

Pascal et Jacqueline dairy cows.

Chez Marie

Chez Patrick et Pierrette

La Bouexiere

Travelled: 180km

Stay: at family

Had a lovely afternoon and evening with some of my family in and near La Bouexiere, where my father was born. We had a delicious meal at my cousin Pascal and Jacqueline's home and shared many different wines! We are very appreciative of the warm welcome we have received and enjoy the time spent sharing our lives and experiences.

Cecile and mum Jacqueline.

Cecile's and Maxime's new home.

Pascal's prize catch 

With my Tante Maria

Megaliths & Malestroit

Travelled: 91km

Stay: Malestroit- aire next to the Canal, free parking, no services N47°48.747' W2°22.939' /47.8125, -2.38253  

After a bit of bookwork, tiding up and a chat, we went to explore the Carnac alignments. There are about 3000 megaliths that are left that were erected 6,000 years ago during the Neolithic era. They are in rows and enclosures as well as isolated menhirs, individual tombs and collective tombs (dolmens). It is believed they served a religious function.

 

 

 

 

Later we stopped and gave Bluey a much needed wash in a lovely quiet aire in Nolff. We decided to head up the road to Malestroit and were surprised once again at the beautiful town and the great aire facilities right next to the canal and the town. 

 

 

 

France is fantastic to travel around in a Motorhome, offering great facilities and often for free and the fellow Motorhomers are friendly, respectful and quiet. Even if you can't manage to find an  aire, the supermarkets will tolerate an overnight stay. How great is that! 

To Carnac

Travelled : 137km

Stay: Carnac- Aire free parking, € services, N47°35.0976' W3°04.9698' / 47.58464, -3.08333 

Our first stop today was Pont Aven. A very popular spots for painters since the late 1800s. We wandered along the banks of the Aven River and sampled some yummy local butter biscuits.

 

 

 

 

 

We then went to the port town of Doëlan, where the french version of Doc Martin is filmed.

 

 

 

Next we visited the WW2 submarine base built by the Germans, but then used by the French during the 'Cold War', in Lorient. We spent on interesting couple of hours in the museum and the submarine Flore S645. Always amazed at how much they can fit in the submarines.

 

 

 

 

As we still have had no news from the Italians regarding the panels we need to fix Bluey, we went to a motorhome accessory store to ask if the steps and door where a standard piece. Bottom line, no luck, we will need to continue to be VERY patient.

So from here we decided to head towards Carnac, an area famous for its megaliths. Something we will explore tomorrow.

Point Raz to Concarneau

Travelled: 182km

Stay: Concarneau - Aire free, € services N47°51.796' W3°54.309' / 47.86342, -3.90538

The sea fog was heavy on the coast this morning, so heading to any lookouts was a waste of time, and as we need to get to Macon, we need to get through a few kilometres.

We stopped in Locronan, which won the second most favourite town by the French populace this year. It was a lovely town of granite townhouses and cobbled streets with the usual stores selling local produce.

We drove along to the end of the peninsula and walked to Point Van, offering great views of the coast, Point Raz and lighthouses.

From here we drove to Concarneau. The highlight here is to visit the walled city built in the 14th century, linked to the mainland by an old drawbridge. We walked along the cobblestones passageways and the ramparts and also peeked into a few 'tourist' shops. 

Instead of staying in the Aire at the SNCF station we went to the Aire near the Hospital, which was much nicer. After dinner we went for a stroll through the wooded parkland and along the bay and watch the sunset. Beautiful.