Today was always going to be interesting... Started off in the best way possible with our friendly French neighbours serving us tea and warm chocolate drinks for breakfast. My first cup of tea since the coach 2 days ago and anyone who knows me knows how much of a sacrifice that would be. Keeping milk ok is our problem in the heat. They also gave the children a large bar of chocolate for the journey and swapped loom band techniques between children. We waved our goodbyes at 10.15am. Today's main aim was to find somewhere to sleep and ensure we had enough food and water as I had not been able to book a campsite anywhere along today's route. We succeeded on the food front. Adrian carried 8 1.5 litre bottles of water 10km for our evening and tomorrow supply. We stopped at the 2 campsites in St-Girons Plage which were both full (18 miles in) so decided to head onto Cap de l'Homy (another 10km), despite knowing that the only campsite there was also full. Took a few sweet bribes to get going again, but the kids cycled brilliantly and were excited about the prospect of wild camping. We arrived after another hour of cycling and headed straight to the beach, locked up the bikes, lugged our kit down the sand dunes and went for a swim! The Atlantic Ocean is beautiful. Strong, powerful waves and beautiful soft sand. Cold showers to wash away the salt (Adrian was to much of a jesse to take the cold and decided to stay salty!) and days efforts and we headed back to the large car park in the pine forest which we had earmarked for our accommodation! Picnic benches made a perfect spot for cooking tea. We were joined by 4 young French backpackers also looking to hide inconspicuously amongst the pines! We had a delicious meal of pasta pesto and veg followed by fruit and cake! On a picnic bench - what a luxury to sit on a chair, even if it is one without a back! We then headed to the back of the car park to see what suitable space we could find. Three English students in a camper warned us that police come round at 7am, move you on and give you a warning notice about wild camping, so a little nervously we dug deeper into the Pine forest and found a small clearing to set up. Minimal unpack in and straight to bed using facilities 'au natural'! Adrian was on watch duty so didn't sleep particularly well, but despite being rather over excited the children eventually dropped off.
A massive 25.19 miles cycled today
Beautiful pine forests
Hannah cycling the Velodessy route through the pine forests
Leon: lovely, but very busy market town where we bought lunch
Beautiful beach at Cap de l'Homy - thanks to the Blackmore's for the recommendation and suggestion that the car park may be a good place to camp!
Loom bands whilst waiting for tea. Our first benches to sit on!
Tastiest meal so far - pasta pesto!
Look how much pasta I can fit on my fork mummy!
Taking down tent as quickly as possible after wild camping in the forest over night (Opps, forgot to take picture last night in the rush to get tent up in semi-darkness!)
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