Start of the 2016 Tour de France ....

2nd July 2016 

Down here early...

Before the crowds

Brits arriving 

Fighting for our spot now 

French airforce marks the start of the Tour

Some of the favourites Contador, Froome, et al 

Shirt still in one piece....

Ian Stannard and Tejay Van Garderen

a selection of others

anticipation

Here they come 

Geraint Thomas 

Ian Stannard

Watched the Tour on the big screen.

Great finish Cav... 

The last leg of our French 2016 tour....

Thursday 30th June 2016  

Packed up and left Vendee, heading for Brittany bordering Normandy. We used the motorway all the way, much easier.

Arrived at Camping Haliotis at Pontorson near Mont Saint Michel and as anticipated it was busy. Glad we booked…

Camping Halitosis 

Pitch OK

   Cycled along the river to Mont Saint Michel.  

     Bora Team training the day before the start of the 2016 Tour de France.

Heading to La Vendee....

Our next journey was a long haul up the A20 to Limoges and then towards Poitiers and into the Vendee. We found Le Camping Rouge Gorge on the road out of Saint Laurent sur Sevre, known as the 'Holy city of La Vendee'.

The Sevre in Saint Laurent 

The Basilica 

La Sagesse

viaduct, once used for irrigation 

The site is quiet and very pleasant. 

Nice owners who set us off in the right direction on a cycle route via Rochard to Mortagne sur Sevre.

Crossing the Sevre at Rochard

Great views across to viaduct Barbin 

crossing the Sevre 

What big eyes you have....

The peacocks caught our attention at first then this fellow came bounding over. Think he maybe a Llama rather than an Alpaca, but not sure.  

crossing the Sevre again

When we returned to the site, we made use of the covered swimming pool and hot tub.