A totally different day with much more variety than the previous one in the swamps.
We enjoyed a good breakfast; always a good start!
Then, when ready, we had to lug our bags down only one flight of stairs into the garage below. There was power in the garage so we had not needed to dismount the heavy batteries and charge them in the room, as per usual 👍🏼😁.
As we pushed the bikes out of the garage, we were already on the vélo route. We had a quick ride to the canal and headed to the coastal town of Le Grau-du-Roi.
As we entered the town there were crowds of people about, and loads of roads were closed, with many police on duty. I immediately thought that there was a protest going on; as seems quite common in this country!!
Actually we’d arrived on the town’s boat jousting day!!
There are very simple rules for this sport:
2 different colourful boats charge at each other, whilst various town folk take turns to stand, armed with a lance and a shield, upon the long plank on the stern. Whoever stays on the plank, in the inevitable joust, is the winner! 😁😁
The town had a distinct theme. It seemed as if you’d only get a planning permit if your design was radical and nautical!
Soon after La Grande Motte, we were on a path along a very unspoilt coastline for about 3 kms. There were plenty of free parking spaces and 80 odd access points to the beach. We stopped for a dip; (well, at least I did) and an ice cream!
Much of the latter part of the day’s cycle was along a spit of land between the sea and huge shallow, smelly lagoons. The flamingos loved this!
This was the busiest cycle route we’d had this trip. Sometimes it was quite narrow and very difficult to find a way past other slower path users as you can see. 🤭
Euro Vélo Route 6 