A long time on my visit list, the Arcachon area on the Atlantic coast is about 200 miles from Le Dorat, once again via empty ‘D’ roads through historic villages to the fantastic dual carriage N141 which didn’t appear on my lorry satnav so built in the last few years, and then free autoroute A10 along and past Bordeaux. Beautiful countryside, fantastic roads, lovely weather again – definitely warm Spring rather than hot Summer, brought me to my first campsite in this resort area which was closed, despite being on all the apps I use. No problem as there are lots of alternatives, and I followed the nearby signs to the municipal campsite of Gujan-Mestras.
What another find! Right on the coastal path, with a beach about 3 mins walk away, although this is in a large inlet bay area, rather than ocean-facing. I have a lovely large pitch for the total cost of 20eu per night including tourist tax, but I’m not paying for electricity, relying on the solar panel on the van roof and my power pack lithium battery/inverter and its 2 portable panels. Oh and free wifi. Happy me.
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- Lots of little leisure harbours
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- with cafes and oyster vendors
The campsite is also 5 mins from the train station on the Bordeaux-Arcachon line – 45 min journey to Bordeaux for 12eu – and lots of cycling infrastructure so a cycle across from here to Pyla and the Dune du Pilat, plus a train re-visit to Bordeaux provides my next two days of exploring. It’s a definite start of season feel here and I’m sure it will be heaving with people and cars accessing these areas in a few weeks. It seems to me from my first ride to Arcachon yesterday very like the Il de Re & Oleron.
My next set of days from Wednesday to the following Tuesday has as of yesterday already been planned given the unexpected week’s visit of my brother to his house (formerly Mum’s) in the village of Courry, north of Nimes – see former post for its story. So I will do the driving down & across to the Mediterranean to pick him up at Perpignan airport, east to the Cevennes/Ardeche region for a few days and then back again to Carcassonne irrespective of the increased fuel cost – minimum 2.09eu a litre for diesel here. It will be great to spend a few days with him, the places and the memories.