Day 12: Wednesday 22nd July
Very please ride but ended with bicycle woes
I left Rochefort after what should have been a couple of days’ rest. But unfortunately, I’d had an upset stomach for some reason, and I spent most of the time mooching around the self-catering apartment.
It was a lovely day when I ventured forth, although the predictions were yet another hot day so I set off fairly early. The EuroVelo 1 route, (the La Vélodyssée) takes you onward in a somewhat circuitous route up to La Rochelle. It’s a good idea to follow this because it’s clearly marked and often the surface is really good. It follows the River Charente, which is the reason why there was a naval base at Rochefort in the 17th/19th C, because sailing ships could come in and out on the wide river.
It wasn’t a long cycle ride, and I was grateful for that because of not feeling too well. But coming closer to La Rochelle, it’s pleasing to cycle through along the edge of the sea, with lots of little restaurants selling huîtres and seafood.
Coming into the environs of La Rochelle itself, I enter the suburb of Châtelaillon-Plage, and was pleased to note that outside the Mairie, the town hall, the Ukrainian flag was flying prominently.
I found a budget hotel on the edge of La Rochelle with a fairly cheap restaurant nearby. That did me for the night. I was impressed with the Ibis Budget Hotel, as in the garage below, there was a special cage for bicycles.
But I had bicycle troubles, one of my panniers nearly fell of with a broken clip so I have to spend the earlier part of the evening finding a place where I can buy another one. After a hot ride out to the outskirts of la Rochelle a massive Decathlon store has the very thing!