Grotte de Apothicairie on Belle-Île off Quiberon peninsula
Went for a trip with Wendy & Trevor to Belle-Île off the Quiberon peninsula. We arrived at La Grande Metairie early, and had to wait 1/2 hr for le car! Bill thought it had gone! We started about 8.50, but because of slight overcrowding, we had to wait for the boat to take us across from Quiberon until 11.20 so we had a croissant and a coffee. Quick crossing - Le Vedette certainly moves over the water. We went all round the coast, stopping at Grotte de Apothicairie at lunchtime (grande sandwich!). The climb down the rocks is hazardous, mainly due to the smooth steps cut out, which are slippery when wet - there is not much room for erreur, and the end would be spectacular and messy! Wonderful views though, an erstwhile resting place for gulls. There seems to be some variation in the story as to the name ‘apothicairerie’, from stationary cormorants looking like chemists bottles, to the holes where the nests were, looking like shelves. I fancy the first explanation. We continued round the island - me paddling at any opportunity. Very steep headlands and many rocks. The east side is sheltered, so there are trees, and some agriculture - the island is very short of water now, because of the drought, and water has to be brought from the mainland in very large ships. Went to Locmaria in the evening to see fireworks which don’t go off until tomorrow. Had a drink in the bar, and I had a galette avec confiture (fraise). A good day - for the record, it cost £14 each, Trevor & Wendy came and ate with us. We fetched food from Jackie who is still here, but her husband now works in the Bistro on Carnac Plage.
FRANCE 27 JUNE - 04 AUGUST 1989 holiday overview
- Crossing the Channel on the 'Reine Matilde'
- Rain in Caen and the tomb of William the Conqueror
- Lost spare keys and "where the 'ell are we?!"
- Wine at lunchtime, sleep, walk around the Dahouët port, cards
- First swim. Still no keys.
- Château Bienassis & Church St Jacques Majeur & Port Morvan
- A swim and a drink/welcome by local mayor
- Forte-la-Latte & Cap-Fréhel & St. Cast
- Our Dutch friends' story of 1944 Germany
- Château de la Hunaudaye
- A 4 hour walk with our Dutch friends in Erquy
- Cliff-walk in Val André & Listening to tennis
- Route to Carnac
- Market at Trinité-sur-Mer with Wendy and Trevor
- Doing the washing at a laundrette
- Grotte de Apothicairie on Belle-Île off Quiberon peninsula
- Re-enactment of French Revolution with Bagad players and fireworks
- Late morning, bank, shopping for wine glass and nice meal
- Nice meal in Carnac with Wendy and Trevor
- Étel, Kerhillio, and Port Louis
- Shopping in Cholet, Bill fishing, calling Maxine & Zoë
- Communal shower, cheap dresses on market, and cheap wine
- Villegongis and Tallyrand's Valençay
- Brenne & Boules with Sammy Davis Jnr look-a-like
- Journey to Vichy
- Tennis, petanque & St.Germain
- Visiting Paul & Yvette in St.Germain in their beautiful 100 year old house
- Vichy centre & repairing broken wheel
- Wheel is back & Traffic controller's strike
- Moulins Cathedrale and new campsite in Bourges
- Visiting Bourges Cathedrale and Roman crypt
- Abbaye and Meillant Château
- Journey to Nogent and a rainy new campsite
- Montmirail château
- Another circuit touristique in St Cyr-la-Rosière
- Moving back to Falaise via Alençon
- Last minute beach at Caen before uneventful ferry crossing
- Meal with Chris & Maxine & Zoë for anniversary