Guerande

Chan and Richard are leaving us tomorrow and it is our last day in Brittany. We are going back to Paris for a few days (as we loved it so much) then to Calais on Wednesday to get the ferry back to the uk. It's hard to believe our wonderful trip is coming to an end! We have 2 weeks in the UK before returning to Australia. We'll be busy.... Catching up with family and friends, Charlie's UK birthday party and of course sorting out all our stuff. The caravan needs servicing ( after being used more than most caravans get used in a lifetime some things need fixing), the car needs selling and the kids pile of souvenirs needs packing.

Anyhow back to Brittany ......

We visited the picturesque walled medieval town of Guerande. The fortifications were built in the 14th century after the town was destroyed in the Wars of Succession. The town is surrounded by walls and a moat (complete with ducks) which are pierced by 4 gates. Guerande prospered in the Middle Ages and the 19th century due to the nearby salt marshes. 10,000 tonnes of coarse salt is harvested each year but only 300 tonnes of the delicate fleur de sel which is highly prized by chefs. The 15th century collegiate church has a famous out door pulpit and very fine stained glass windows. 

We ended the day with a lovely meal and salted caramels which are a local delicacy.

Fruits de la Mare

We moved to a campsite overlooking the ocean just outside the hidden gem of Penestin in southern Brittany. Penestin is on a peninsula with magnificent golden cliffs and sandy beaches. It's well known for it's aquaculture due to its large inter-tidal zone and nutrient rich water. On the beach outside our campsite were mussel and oyster farms. The mussels are grown on stakes surrounded by wire netting and the oysters in horizontal wire cages. The beach was a hive of activity at low tide with fisherman tending their produce in tractors or boats and many others digging in the mud for peppies or harvesting oysters and mussels off the rocks. Not to be outdone we gathered an abundance of peppies, mussels and oysters which we cooked up for lunch. Sam was particularly good at digging in the mud!

To continue the seafood theme we visited the local poissonerie and bought langoustines, sardines, crab claws as well as more peppies and mussels. Then we had a cook-off. Richard did moules with a very fine fennel and white wine sauce, Chan cooked langoustines and sardines on the BBQ and Rog lightly floured sardines and fried them in garlic and olive oil. They were the best sardines we've ever tasted. The mussels are particularly sweet... Apparently it's mussel season.

You may ask what my contribution was... Chief taster!!

Chan and Richard come to visit!

We're very lucky as our good friends Chan (who I went to school and uni with and was my bridesmaid many years ago) and Richard have come to visit us. We've had a very busy time hanging out in Bretagne, trying not to eat too much seafood.

We visited the picturesque fishing village of St Pierre Quiberon which is on a very narrow penninusula. We had a lovely time swimming in the sea (along with a large group of nuns) and then had very fine galettes (savoury crepes) for lunch. Later that day we picnicked and watched the sunset over Lamor-Baden.

Paddling nun

St Pierre Quiberon

Striding purposefully

Picnicking with Chan and Richard

Lamor-Baden

Sunset at Lamor-Baden

Sailing in the Gulf of Morbihan

Today Alex and I hired a yacht for the afternoon, 

We went sailing in the Gulf of Morbihan. The Gulf has a fantastic series of islands and inlets, ideal for sailing.  The day was perfect mid twenties with a fresh North Westerly Wind. The boat was a small Harmac cabin cruiser with a main sail and small outboard motor.  We hired it from David at Le Blan Marine in Arradon. Alex took the helm a few times and we had great fun cruising around a couple of the inshore inlands. We then met up with the girls and ended the the day moule frittes again!

Gulf of Morbihan

Alex at the Helm!

Brittany

From Paris we have traveled a long way west to Baden in Brittany. I needed to see the Ocean before the end of our trip. The last time we saw the sea was in Naples in early June. Brittany does not disappoint. We are staying on the beautiful Gulf of Morbihan. This has many tidal inlets and at low tide you can collect cockles. We did this and cooked them in garlic and olive oil. The kids are loving the 5 star campsite with 7 waterslides, 5 bouncy castles and a rope park! Life is tough!

Miss C with a cockle

Baden

5 of the 7 water slides at Le Mané Guernehué

Cockle (or a peppie in Australia)