Thursday 6 June

It is summer!  The sun is shinning brightly and the temperature is predicted to be 28C!  So it is on with the shorts and sleeveless t-shirts.  We are still not sure when we will leave.  My research into Royan does not show that there are any launderettes near the harbour, so we decide to do laundry.  

Doing laundry while on the boat is always a bit of a challenge.  Today it was strange in many ways.  Firstly the launderette was incredibly busy and we had to wait for a machine to come available.  Secondly and most weirdly, we met a New Zealand couple there.  They are travelling around France mainly by public transport and what was weird is that they met Sue and Nigel Gee on the train last week!  I can’t believe what a small world this is!  I’m beginning to feel something odd is going on.  Finally the experience was odd because we had two down and outs in the launderette, one of whom was carrying all his worldly goods in a wheelie bin and washing them!

It is well past lunchtime when we finally finish the washing (and drying which took the longest and we still had to hang the towels out to dry).  After a light lunch with leftovers, we go off to explore the towers.  Only two are open, but they are very interesting, and cooler than outside.

Back to the boat.  We stock up on stuff for lunch tomorrow because in the light of the weather forecast which is for rain on Saturday we have decided to go to Royan tomorrow.  At the boat it is very hot so we finally put up our new bimini for real.  It is very effective until the sun goes down low enough to go under it.  

Then for our real treat.  Dinner at Restaurant Christopher Coutanceau.  It is a beautiful place right on the beach with all the tables facing the sea.  The food is wonderful.  We have the degustation menu with langoustines cooked three ways, their signature lobster dish, mains (lamb for me, turbot for R) and desert.  I thought the deserts were a bit of a disappointment, but the rest was divine.  There were four amuse bouches, if you count the chocolate petit fours with coffee!

So now back at the boat sated and hot.  Hope we can sleep.  We have an early start in the morning with a 50-mile trip to complete!