Brittany 1979

Brittany 1979

Holiday to Brittany 1979

Monday 23^rd July 76 miles (from Cherbourg)

We got up at 6 o’clock and left without any hitches about 8.30. An uneventful journey to Southampton and after a bit of a traffic jam, boarded our ship “Viking Valiant”. We noticed how friendly all the officials were aboard ship.

We took a little while to settle down. As usual there seemed too many people for the amount of seats, but eventually settled ourselves in the restaurant area and had a coffee and tea and cream doughnut. Thomas was rather a struggle and had to be taken on numerous walks. We had an early lunch, complemented with some chips from the restaurant and a small bottle of wine between us and more tea and coffee. Soon afterwards we managed to get a more convenient place near the window.

Leaving Southampton

Rosie with 'busy' Tom

Thomas went to sleep and the children were given their new books and pens, so time passed quickly until we neared Cherbourg. After the usual scramble of getting back to the car, it was a slow crawl until the passports were checked, we were off and driving down through France. The sky was now very blue and it was a lovely afternoon-evening. We drove via Valognes, Carentan and St Lo, and although we had been heading for Avranches, we stopped at Villedieu- les-Poëles, a very pleasant town campsite. We had driven through the small town, called “the town of copper”, which was full of shops selling copper and brass articles. The tent was soon put up and supper enjoyed. The beautiful warm evening became cloudy, but we had a pleasant walk through the town, now closed of course. We saw some large bells obviously something important and worth seeing properly. The children eventually settled down when we got back and we soon did the same having had quite a long day.

Passing the 'Needles'

Paul, Emma & Simon with their new pens and books

Tuesday 24^th July 168 miles

We had some surprising and annoying drops of rain in the night, but everyone slept well, and we got up to a rather damp and cloudy day. We left soon after 10 o’clock intending to stop in the town and do some shopping and look around. However, none of us had realised that it was Tuesday and market day, although we had noticed signs the night before saying “no parking on Tuesday” and said “oh that must be market day”. Consequently the town was packed and we had no hope of parking, so we drove off towards Avranches. Here we missed the turning to the park which we had visited before, so had to drive through the town and south. We could see Mont St. Michel out to sea, but decided not to visit it again and with some confusion, due to the lack of maps, drove south, eventually towards Rennes. We managed to stop at a small town, where it was again market day, and buy some French bread and after a difficult drive through/round Rennes, we found a nice French stopping place to have our lunch. Afterwards we took a cross-country road towards Vannes and all the boys fell asleep, so it was very peaceful. Near Vannes we joined a main road past Auray and towards Quiberon, where we came to a municipal site right on the beach at Kerhilio and after some deliberation began to pitch our tent. The children spent most of the time on the beach and in the water. The sky had cleared as we neared the sea and it was beautiful and hot with a clear blue sky and in fact a bit too hot for putting up tents! Still half organised, we had supper, then walked along through the campsite and back along the beach, which is in fact only a few hundred yards from where we used to come a lot on our previous visit to Quiberon.

On the beach at sunset at Kehilio

Tom on the beach at sunset at Kehilio

Wednesday 25^th July 0 miles

A day spent at the campsite. After a rather uncomfortable night – we were on a bit of a slope and with Thomas as well, we were in a bit of a heap – it was about 8 o’clock when we woke up. The day was cloudy to begin with, but the sun soon broke through, to another very hot and sunny day. The children spent nearly all the day on the beach, swimming and playing, while we finished organising the tent. Adrian found a nearby shop for some bread, wine, beer and milk and after lunch we eventually got Thomas to sleep after taking him for a walk in the pushchair. He slept for quite a long time, but we don’t know how long, as all the watches had stopped and we found out that it was 7 o’clock and time to get supper. Afterwards we all went back to the beach and then to bed.

Thursday 26^th July 0 miles

Another day spent at the campsite. The clouds cleared by mid-morning and the day again became very hot and we all got a bit sunburnt. Adrian eventually got Emma’s kite to fly, by adding a tail to it. We blew up the lilo and all had fun on it in the sea. Thomas spent his time going “round and round” at the edge of the sea, as happy as a sand boy! I found a swallowtail butterfly in the sea. Thomas said “butterfly – special”. After supper we played frisbee on the beach. The children went to bed very late, then we returned to look at the sea under the now dark and starry sky.

Tom in the tent

Friday 27^th July 21 miles

A slow start to the sun. We left the campsite late morning, bought some bread at the village shop and drove to the sand dunes at Quiberon for lunch. We found a little dip, where it was sheltered and by the time we had finished lunch, it was very hot. We drove on to the Co-op, where we did quite a bit of shopping and found the prices not too bad and the children particularly enjoyed the “help yourself” vegetable section. Afterwards we drove to the shopping part of Carnac Plage and bought postcards and a mat for the front of the tent and one or two other things – Breton dolls for Emma, badges for the boys and Paul bought a car and a “snowstorm”. We also chose an ice cream from the “Igloo” ice parlour – delicious flavours and we wondered at the ice cream gateaux on display. We came back and cooked supper – fresh carrots, courgettes, potatoes and pork chops, followed by pancakes and yoghurt. We then again went to the beach for some races before bed. Rather windy tonight, with noisy waves.

Saturday 28^th July 0 miles

A day at the campsite again. The day started with the sea mist, which cleared by mid-morning into another hot day. I did quite a lot of clearing up of the tent etc. We all had showers and the children had several swims and goes on the lilo. After supper we returned to the beach – always nice then as it is practically deserted and the children did acrobats on the sand and then had another swim about 9 o’clock. After they had gone to bed we opened another bottle of wine and made an omelette.

Saturday 29^th July 25 miles

A cloudy start to the day and windy. We left the campsite at about 3.30?, by which time it was rather drizzly and damp. We drove to Plouharnel, where there was some kind of fete and after a traffic jam, parked the car and dressed up in caggies etc. as it was now raining quite hard. We walked back to the fête entrance and found that it was Fr.10 (£1) entry for adults and 50p for children and thought this was a bit much, so we all had a walk in the rain for nothing! We drove back westwards. The rain soon stopped and the skies cleared and when we stopped at Étel, a little town on a river estuary, it was a lovely day again. People were windsurfing on and inner harbour and there was a slide, roundabout and see-saw for the children. We walked round a bit and the boys had a go on a merry-go-round, to Thomas’s delight. Paul was lucky and had a second free go, as he caught the tail of a furry animal – part of the game.

Our beach at Kerhilio

We drove on a bit further to a bridge over the river, marked as a nice view on the map and it was very pretty, reminding us of Dartmouth. Back at the campsite, the others all went for a swim in the rough sea, then we had supper, including a semi-home-made pizza, which was very tasty.

Emma, Paul & Simon on the slide, roundabout and see-saw and the merry-go-round at Étel

Simon in for a swim in the waves at Kerhlio

Monday 30^th July about 32 miles

Again a cloudy day, which turned to beautiful sunshine by mid afternoon. We decided to go and see if we could find Adrian’s friend Alan, who was staying in a villa in Quiberon. We found the place quite easily, stayed for a cup of coffee and a chat, and arranged for them to come and see us at our campsite the next day. We drove down to the “Côte Sauvage” and had lunch, then drove down to “Conguel Point” – a nature reserve where we had been before and we spent a long time amongst the rock pools finding crabs and fish.

We then drove back along the Côte Sauvage and towards our campsite. We stopped by a little hut where a man was selling wine. After sampling several different kinds, and deciding that we had better buy some, we found that it could only be bought in packs of six bottles, so we said thank you and goodbye. Back at the campsite we started to cook the chicken we had bought, in red wine plus an artichoke I had bought and had no idea how to cook. Afterwards we went to wash up and came unexpectedly upon another Englishman, from the Midlands and looking rather like Bernard Breslaw. After great amusement listening to him, we returned to the tent and settled the children. During the night the wind got up and we had quite a lot of rain, but without too many disastrous results.

Paul, Simon and Emma 'playing' in the rock pools

Adrian, Paul, Simon, Tom, Emma & Rosie on the 'trig' point

Emma & Tom

Tom

All at “Conguel Point”, Quiberon

Tuesday, 31^st July 0 miles

The least pleasant day weatherwise so far. The sun was shining early, but with a cold wind which stayed all day. Alan arrived at 11.30, with his family, and we sat around and chatted until after lunch. They had bought their rubber dinghy with them and our boys were longing to try it out. The waves were rather rough, but they all had a good time.

Thomas was tired and fell asleep in my arms and as we sat in the sand it got more and more windy, so we all moved back to the tent, where everything got covered in sand. Thomas stayed asleep all afternoon and we sat around and chatted and watched in amusement as some drivers got stuck in the sand. The others left and we got on with cooking supper, deciding not to go out and brave the wind.

Paul, Paul & Scott Lipscombe, Emma, Tom & Simon in the dinghy at Kerhilio

Wednesday 1^st August about 100 miles

The weather gets worse! We had a night of wind and rain, but the tent stood it! We left late morning and drove to Vannes where we arrived at lunchtime. There was a huge hypermarket and we all enjoyed looking round and bought lots of things, including a caggy for Simon and a chair for Thomas. By the time we had finished it was nearly 3 o’clock and we were very hungry. We tried the cafeteria, but they had just finished serving hot meals so we ate lunch in the car, including lovely eclairs and then drove on around the Gulf of Morbihan.

Occasionally the rain stopped and we were able to see how lovely the Gulf really was and I was determined to come back for a return visit. We came back via Le Bono – a bridge over the River du Bono and then Auray itself – where we stopped to look around.

A wet Arradon, Gulf of Morbihan

Boats in Port Larnor Baden in the rain, Gulf of Morbihan

We arrived back about 7.00 pm – still drizzling, and cooked supper – all fresh meat and veg. It was then down on the sand to play with the children. A nice sunset, so hopes for tomorrow.

View down to Le Bono, Morbihan

Auray, Morbihan

Rosie, Simon, Tom, Emma & Paul in Auray, Morbihan

Thursday 2^nd August 15 miles

Another hot day. We left late morning and drove to a beach on the other side of Quiberon where we were to meet Alan and family. After a swim and the children going in their boat, we had lunch and then I spent the afternoon lazing on the beach, while the others occupied themselves in various ways. Thomas was looked after by Alan’s two sons, so I had a really peaceful time and Thomas kept going non-stop until 6.30 pm, when he fell asleep not to be woken up!

We all left the beach then and drove back. The beautiful day suddenly went and we had a nasty, windy shower, but the sun came out again for a pleasant evening. We all enjoyed a peaceful evening meal without Thomas and then went for a walk along the beach, heading for a Martello tower which we didn’t reach as it was too far away.

PaulL, EveL, ScottL, AlanL, Simon, RosieC, Tom, Emma & Paul on the beach at Quiberon

Friday 3^rd August 23 miles

A hot sunny day, but windy. Thomas surprisingly slept until 8 o’clock – a record sleep of 13 ½ hours! We got up late and then I went for a swim before breakfast. Perhaps “swim” is the wrong word – more a bashing in the huge waves. We then had an excellent breakfast of bacon, egg, mushrooms and fried bread. Afterwards we made the awful discovery that we had lost the car keys and that the second set were locked inside the car. We spent the rest of the morning looking for them and when we had really given up, Adrian “broke into” the car, where we eventually found the second set and then Simon rummaged in the boot and said “this is where I saw them” and there were the first set, locked inside the boot! So, with relief at having two sets of keys again, we all drove down to the shop and bought bread etc. for lunch and came back and ate it. Afterwards the others all went to the beach to “jump the waves”, and Thomas followed and had his own fun running up and down to the waves, until I found him, then we all had a shower and hairwash. Feeling very clean, we walked along to the entrance to the campsite, stopped for an ice cream, and then continued along the beach – packed with cars and people, although there was such a cold wind. We stopped by some rocks, where the children played for a while – climbing the rocks and playing in the rock pools, before walking back along the sea to our tent. Thomas loved it and had to be encouraged to walk back and not just play in the sea. We had supper fairly early for us and then got Thomas ready for bed as he hadn’t had a sleep today and drove off towards the Menhirs at Carnac. Thomas was soon asleep. We drove into the campsite that we had stayed at last time and found it very crowded and with more English people than before.

We walked round the menhirs and looked in at a little craft “shop” or studio we had visited on our previous visit and found things very nice, but expensive.

On our way back to the campsite, we stopped for Adrian to take a photo of our campsite in the sunset and Thomas woke up, so we had to drive around again to get him off to sleep!

The Menhirs at Carnac

Looking down to our campsite at Kerhiio

Saturday 4^th August about 20 miles

A beautiful day. The night had seemed cold and was definitely damp, but the day started with blue sky and no wind! and stayed that way all day. The morning was spent on the beach and round the tent and we all had a swim or jump of the still large waves before lunch.

On the way to St Columban, Croix des Emigres, Le Breno, Carnac

Afterwards the children all had another swim and then we drove off to Carnac to get some money from the bank. We had a look around Carnac, rather hampered by Thomas, then the children all had an ice cream and we found a sunny seat on a busy corner to sit down. We then got some petrol and drove to see the beaches of St. Columban, next to Carnac passing Croix des Emigres at Le Breno on the way.

We found the beaches much more crowded and uninviting than our own beach. Also the campsites we saw were more crowded than ours and as in the evening we saw a “complet” (full) sign at the entrance to our site and there is still plenty of room to move about and for the children to play, we realised how well off we are. We drove back through an area called in “Le Po”, an oyster growing area and on impulse, stopped by a little shack to buy some oysters. The rather large, typical looking Breton fishermen serving us was quite helpful, but didn’t understand when we asked him how you ate oysters and whether you cooked them and although we later looked through all our books, we couldn’t find the answer and ended up cooking them for a short time. I thought that they tasted like winkles and Adrian said like sea water. The boys surprisingly were quite keen. As we weren’t sure what one ate them with, we ended up eating them first and opened a tin of spam to have with our vegetables and ended up with buns we had bought in Carnac. Afterwards we walked up to the entrance to the campsite, where we had seen a “Cortriade” (fish stew) advertised. As we arrived, it was the end of some Breton dancing, performed on a makeshift stage and then there were one or two songs, before the “interval” when there were records of Breton music, which we rather like. The whole thing was rather like a local barbecue, with a mixture of local people and holidaymakers. Some people were sitting at long tables eating the menu of fish soup, muscles and far (a type of cake). There were little stalls selling other things and we sampled several – red wine at 10p a glass, cider at 15p, coffee at 15p, pancakes (like English ones) and a hot dog. At 40p, this proved rather a disaster, as the rather inebriated man filled it with a very hot pepper sauce, which I mistook for tomato and we all burnt our mouths out, and had to buy more drink! It was now getting dark although we would like to have stayed to see if there was more dancing, we had to take the children back to the tent. The evening was beautiful, with a large moon and the sea with its attractions. Back at the tent we could still here the Breton music played far into the night.

Sunday 5^th August 19 miles

Another beautiful day. In the morning we went to Carnac Market, which was quite huge and very crowded. We didn’t find things particularly cheap, but it was interesting to look around and we bought one or two things, including two records of Breton music. We bought some hot French bread from a nearby shop and finished for lunch what hadn’t been eaten on the way home. After lunch we all went to the beach and spent the afternoon there

. In the evening we drove to Erdeven where there was a Breton fete. We weren’t sure what to expect and again arrived just as people were sitting down to eat, but eventually some more music started up and there was Breton dancing with everyone joining in.

Emma and her 'drippy' sandcastles and shadow

Tom, Paul and Rosie

All at Kerhilio

The Breton fete at Erdeven

Monday 6^th August 34 miles

The day started fine, but clouded over, with one or two showers and brightening into a lovely evening. The children collected some more shells etc. and the rainbow (sunset) shells we cooked and ate. Thomas had trouble in getting to sleep, so I wheeled him in the pushchair round the campsite. In the afternoon we drove to the Co-op at Carnac and restocked our supplies, then drove to la Trinité and round to St. Philibert, all looking very pretty with the tide in and full of boats.

We drove to an old bridge over the River de Crac’h. We then drove back cross-country to our campsite, where we ate pizza and tutti-frutti ice cream, before going for a run on the beach.

Luffang on the River de Crac'h near La Trinité

The oyster farm near La Trinité

An oyster farm near La Trinité

La Trinité, Morbihan

Tuesday 7^th August 87 miles

The children got up and went for a swim and then had a shower, although the day was cloudy and later turned to rain. We left late morning and stopped at Erdeven and bought hot French bread and cakes and the children had an ice cream – the cheapest yet at 1Fr.60. Adrian and I went in a little supermarket there and then we drove off round the tributaries of the River Etel, eventually stopping for lunch on the shores of the river in a very calm and peaceful spot at L'Istrec.

Adrian and I enjoyed seeing the very French character of the countryside, the little old farmyards contrasting with the beautiful white painted houses. We drove north to Baud .

We then drove on to St. Nicolas des Eaux and then on the River Blavet. It reminded us very much of the River Wye – a very meandering river with steep-sided, wooded sides. We climbed a little look out tower and then drove down to the River, where we walked across a little footbridge and then found the single track railway, which we walked along, under a tunnel.

Peaceful beside the River Etel at L'Istrec

An old windmill in rural France

Simon under a bridge somewhere today

Walking along the railway track at St Nicolas des Eaux

The weir and lock at St Nicolas des Eaux

The afternoon had become very hot between the clouds. We then drove back by a rather quicker route and cooked supper.

Wednesday, 8^th August 21 miles

We got up late after a rather disturbed night with Thomas. We decided to drive to Erdeven for our bread for lunch, as it is much fresher than our local shop. I bought one large loaf and then they’d sold out – obviously the end of the fresh bread before the afternoon rest. The children again had ice creams, while we looked in the supermarket – again with no bread and neither had a second bakers I tried. After lunch Thomas went to sleep and we went to the beach, but it was rather blowy, so we decided to drive to the beach on the other side of Quiberon that we had been with Alan. It was much less windy there and the tide was almost in and so we all went for a swim. We came back and had supper and then all had a shower before they closed, although mine was cold.

Thursday 9^th August 51 miles

After a very blowy, gusty night, it was accompanied by rain in the morning. We got up late and gradually the weather improved – it stopped raining, but still the wind blew.
After breakfast Simon took Thomas for a walk, while we got ready to go out and were delayed a bit, as they hadn’t come back. Later on we found out that they had walked as far as the tower that we couldn’t reach the other night and back again. We drove to Erdeven, where we stopped for shopping and the children spent some of their money in the supermarket. We drove towards Gâvres, along a very long sand spit, which turned out to be an army firing range. We nearly turned back, but decided to drive to the end and when we did come upon a little town with houses shops and camping, looking no different from any other town, despite its long and lonely access. We got out of the car at one point and found it still very windy and drove further on, where we found that down on the beach it was right out of the wind and the sun was hot. After lunch we spent an hour or more exploring the rock pools and marvelling at the variety of seaweeds.

It was now mid afternoon and we drove back through the army territory and back round to Port Louis, facing where we had just been. When we got out of the car it was very windy, but as we walked around the ramparts, and towards an old castle we were able to get out of the wind.

Emma, Paul, Simon, Tom & Rosie on the beach at Gâvres

We came upon a lovely sheltered beach, where a group of young people were singing Breton music, but walked on to another little beach where the children paddled at the foot of the castle. On our way back to the car, we stopped again by the entrance to the first beach, where we all had “whippy” type ice creams, which we all voted the best yet at one Fr1.50 each (15p).

The castle at Port Louis

We drove home and back at the campsite found it still windy, but not particularly cold. The tide was right in and very high and choppy. The children played on the beach, while we got supper, which gets later and later and included very nice pork fillet bought this morning. Afterwards we all walked along the beach and found that the wind had dropped and it was a beautiful evening.

Simon, Emma, Rosie, Tom & Paul eating icecreams on the beach at Port Louis

Friday 10^th August 82 miles

A still night, but we awoke too low cloud and it soon began to drizzle. I still decided to have a shower and wash my hair after breakfast and we decided to go out, as it was still raining off and on and no apparent sign of clearing up. We drove first to Erdeven, where the children had an ice cream, and we bought some hot bread and delicious flan – a type of custard tart. We drove off northwest – over the bridge at Pont Lorois and up to a similar bridge of the River Blavet, just before Lanester on the way to Lorient. We had been to look at this bridge before, with its modern concrete bridge next to the old picturesque suspension bridge and decided to stop there for lunch. The clouds had miraculously broken up and the sun shone, and our walk through the woods to find a picnic place was very pleasant. We stopped for lunch by the river at the foot of the two bridges.

The sun had brought out the butterflies and we walked along the river a little way, then back up through the scented pinewoods – a really lovely stop altogether. We had decided to drive to Le Poldu, so drove through Lorient – a huge but quite pleasant town and then northwest for a bit before we could turn off and cross another bridge over the River Laita to Le Poldu, which lies on the other side of the river. We thought it was quite a crowded little holiday place, but stopped by a very pleasant looking beach, with lots of rocks and pools. We found a secluded little place all on our own and the children had a very happy time playing in the pools behind the rocks. Thomas decided he liked “swimming” and kept lying down flat in the water.

The old & new bridges at Pont du Bonhomme near Lanester, and looking up the tower to the old bridge

The tide was gradually coming in and we had quite an exciting time as it “took over” our bit of the beach and eventually we decided we had to go! After driving down to look at the mouth of the River Laita we decided to drive back to Lorient via the coastal route, which we found very pleasant – full of beaches, crowded of course, as the French always visit the beach late afternoon and also several campsites. Another drive through Lorient, then back to our campsite where we stopped at the entrance and bought some chips. It had got quite windy again, or perhaps had been all the afternoon, but the wind seemed quite warm. The tide was right in – very high, and the waves very choppy and we couldn’t resist going in to “jump the waves”. There was quite a strong current pulling us along the beach. Eventually we got supper which was enjoyed by all and decided to go for a walk, to reach the wartime tower we had attempted before. We set off across the land this time and had a really pleasant walk, eventually reaching the tower and passing the “look out” tower which Simon and Thomas had walked to yesterday – a really long way and we marvelled at them doing it. The sun was setting as we walked back along the beach, where the now receding tide and left numerous shells. A very pleasant day.

Simon, Paul, Emma, Tom & Rosie on the beach at Le Pouldu and Tom 'swimming'

The “look out” tower which we finally got to

Saturday 11^th August 10 miles

A still night, with a cloudy day, which occasionally cleared to give warm sunshine. The children went for a morning swim, and then we left late morning to go to the Co-op supermarket, after getting some money from the bank

After lunch we gave the children a promised game of Yahtzee and a game of boule and generally lazed around, until we had a piece of “gateau” late afternoon and then we all went to the beach. Adrian and the children made their “ball run” and Thomas had fun on his own running across the huge beach and lying in the little pools of water made by the sea. We all went for a swim and “jumped the waves”.

Adrian then went up to the office to pay and bought back some chips, which were eaten enthusiastically before supper. We ate our quiche Lorraine and fruit cocktail and it had now become a lovely evening and the children decided to have another swim before bed, while we began clearing up before our return journey.

Out tent and location at Kerhilio

Tom!

Our beach at Kerhilio

Sunday 12 August 120 miles

It was a very still, warm night – so much so that Adrian and I got very little sleep. Consequently we were awake at 7 o’clock and got up soon after. It was cloudy but warm. It was still 11.30 before we left the campsite – Emma and Paul having taken Thomas for a walk to the “tower”, which gave us some peace! We stopped at Erdeven to buy bread and butter, which we did with some difficulty – the place was packed out. We drove on past Auray and Vannes and stopped for lunch just after at a place called Elven on a little side road and sat in the corner of a maze field. It was quiet and peaceful. Afterwards we drove through Ploërmel, Mauron, Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Dinan where we stopped as we have done before to look through the old town. Thomas loved striding out in front and calling out “hello down there”.

On returning to the car, we found that we had a flat tyre and Adrian had plenty of help in changing it! Thomas seem to know just what to do! It was now 5 o’clock so we drove on just a bit further to Dol, the campsite that we stayed at on our return journey last time. This was again a municipal site, quite pretty, with lots of trees. The children enjoyed themselves at the little playground and liked the toilet block, with its individual sinks with hot water. After pitching the tent and eating supper – outside, it was a beautiful warm, still evening – we walked up to the quaint old town of Dol.

Tom & Emma, Paul & Simon on the climbing frame and Tom on the slide

Around Dinan

Monday, 13^th August 174 miles

A very noisy night – three church bells rang through the night and we noticed how noisy it was being in the town – at one point a motorbike drove right round the campsite and then Paul woke up to go to the loo. We woke at 7 o’clock and then heard church bells and then a siren – presumably a fire alarm, so we got up about 7.30 and had breakfast and cleared up quickly and left the site by 9.30 am. We bought some petrol then drove to St Michael’s Mount. Already at 10 o’clock there were lots of people and we soon realised that there had been an exceptionally high tide and some of the car parks were not in use. We had a walk around the “Mount” and found several different parts from our previous visit and realised how large it was, and what an achievement it was to have built it. When we left, the tide had come rushing in and was lapping against the sides and also there were hundreds more people arriving, so we were glad to have been early

We drove towards Avranches and stopped to look round the beautiful gardens we had visited on our previous trip to Brittany.

Views around St. Michael's Mount

Simon, Paul, Emma, Simon & Rosie about to leave St. Michael's Mount

The gardens in Avranches

It was now very hot, as we tried to find a stopping place for lunch and eventually stopped just before Villedieu, where another English family with four children stopped on the outward journey and we rather envid them. At Villedieu, we missed our turning, so went a rather longer way to St Lo but were soon heading for Cherbourg, where we arrived about 4 o’clock. We saw a “Continent” hypermarket and after some difficulty parked there and bought a few last minute things. We then drove on to the ferry, arriving at 5 o’clock for what we thought was the 6 o’clock ferry, but we found it left at 5.30, so we were only just in time. We boarded the boat – being on an in between deck and had to wait to be “lifted up”. We luckily found a table in the dining lounge and the voyage went very quickly, helped along by a very nice anniversary meal – delicious Gammon steak – and a bottle of wine. The crossing was so still and foggy, that the boat's fog horn was blown all the way across. The worst part was getting off the boat – we were the last car to leave and had to wait an hour and then every car was checked by customs officials and our official started quibbling with us. However, we drove home through the dark, rainy countryside, arriving just before midnight, very sorry that our holiday was over.

[We awoke next morning to find the following, a summary of which is taken later from an unknown paper:-

"From 10 pm on the night of August 13th, 1979, until 6 pm the following evening a storm in the Western Approaches tore at the very vitals of the 30-strong fleet taking part in the Fastnet Race. It was a storm that was to kill 19 people at sea, all but four of them yachtsmen racing aboard competing boats in the Fastnet. It was a storm that was to lead to many others ashore when the inevitable questions had to be answered.
Summer storms are not unknown and the Fasntet Race has a legendary record of strong winds, but the 1979 storm was one of some complexity which built up from depressions in such a way that it lulled the weather forecasters working from the satellite pictures into a sense of false security. The combination of the winds from one depression supercharging those of another came too quickly for the British forecasters to relay details in the BBC Shipping Forecast that was transmitted at 5.50 pm on August 13th."

So we can only assume that we were in the ‘eye’ of the storm ]