Day 03: Châteauroux – Saint-Martin-de-Ré (Île de Ré)

Brigitte has always wanted to visit La Rochelle, and since there are several campsites on the Île de Ré, we set off for the next long leg of our journey.

We stop for lunch along the way. The plat du jour (dish of the day) is usually good value and delicious. Today, we have two portions of pumpkin soup, a chicken dish to share, and three profiteroles—perfect, just right.

The Île de Ré turns out to be a great choice; it’s a lovely spot. It’s quite touristy and rather crowded, but the overall atmosphere—thanks to the many cyclists, pedestrians, and the general seaside holiday vibe—is pleasant.

The municipal campsite is located on the outskirts of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

Brigitte heads out for a quick shopping trip (we’re having a simple spread of bread, cheese, and cold cuts for dinner). Meanwhile, Wolle tries to figure out a way to bypass the glitchy digital control system for the cabin heater, hoping to at least set up a manual on/off switch. There’s always something, and it’s honestly quite annoying. A working heater would have been really nice, given the damp, chilly weather…

After dinner, we take another stroll through the town—which is a bit quieter now—and then it’s off to bed.