We were on the move today so had to have our suitcases outside the room by 8 am, then eat breakfast before heading north on our ride to Rochefort. The whole bike ride today is a total of 45 miles. The first leg of the trip includes 21 miles to lunch.

We start out along the ocean, Ross is far in front of me as I struggle to get the phone out of my pocket for a photo. We have a very wide bike path on the right side and a single-track for cars on the left side of this road.

Much of our morning ride was through the woods. It was advertised as “rolling” and fortunately it was. I could get enough momentum going down to make it up the next hill. Only had to walk part way on one hill.

Debby, Marylou, and Jerry in the woods.

Ross and Tom compare jackets. We had lots of sunshine on this trip, but mornings were frequently a bit chilly. Usually shed those long sleeves by afternoon.

We had a variety of surfaces to ride on, similar to yesterday. This section was gravel.

Here we are riding on a narrow road along a wheat field bordered by poppies.

After a 21-mile ride we reached our lunch stop in La Tremblade. This photo is along a canal and almost all the buildings are restaurants where we could get very fresh seafood. Tourism is a major economic source for the town, thus all the restaurants. Plus, La Tremblade is located in the heart of the oyster basin along the coast.

The canal behind the restaurant-lined street.

This is an area replete with oyster beds and mussels and the mussels are cooked on a bed of pine needles.

Several people in our group tried the mussels.

After lunch the next section of our ride is an 11-mile stretch to Brouage. This includes riding across the bridge over the Seudre River. I stopped at the top in the bike lane for a photo.

As a sign that we are in the oyster area of France, the center of this roundabout contains a statue called the oyster boy.

By now, the sun is out and it’s a bit warmer. Here, Tom and Ross are riding along the path.

The next area we rode through was marshland with lots of birds including swans, herons, and storks. At this point we were riding along a regular road with occasional traffic.

More of the many hollyhocks we saw in this area.

Finishing up this 11-mile stretch, we ride into Brouage. This old walled city dates from the 1600s when Cardinal Richelieu fortified it as a Catholic bastion to withstand battles against the Protestants from La Rochelle. It is also located in the area of salt production but silt gradually closed up the port and left the marshy area we have just ridden through. Walls still surround the town and today it is an interesting historical tourist stop with several quaint shops.

Brouage is also the birthplace of Samuel Champlain.

Our ride continued to Rochefort, another 13 miles, but the majority of the group stopped in Brouage after 32 miles and had their bikes loaded on the trailer for the rest of the trip. I think a lot of us were getting hot and ready to look for ice cream.

The van takes us into Rochefort and to our home base for the next two nights, the Hotel Mercure.

Dinner tonight was at the hotel which was characterized by these large paintings of French military personnel such as in the bar.

My dessert choice tonight was raspberry cheesecake.

The next day we start out heading north for 17 miles to Fouras on the La Vélodyssée bike route. We leave via the bike path just behind our hotel.

Then we ride towards the transporter bridge, the metal structure sticking up in the distance, which most of us missed yesterday; the last leg of yesterday’s ride came in across this bridge. It was built in 1900 and is the only remaining operating transporter in France. It goes across the Charente River and is currently available for use by pedestrians, bicycles, and mopeds.

A closer view as we board.

The transporter is frequently used by cyclists so they don’t have to ride across a big busy bridge to get into Rochefort. Here, riders other than our group are boarding.

It’s basically a ferry that goes back and forth across the river. We sit and enjoy the round trip. A crossing supposedly lasts 75 seconds not including boarding times.

Done with the transporter, we continue with our ride and travel along country roads, canals, and villages. We stop for a donkey sighting.

Ross, making a turn onto a different section of road after taking a photo of the donkeys.

Hedgehogs left over from World War II.

A long stretch of road ahead. Here, the GPS told me, “continue straight for two miles.”

A somewhat ferocious-looking bull who was keeping an eye on us.

Turning a corner onto another road, we pass by this lady on a morning ride.

Some signs along the way.

We reach Fouras and have lunch at this nice outdoor restaurant along the oceanfront. I had the best pizza here – thin and crispy crust with mushrooms and other stuff. It was the “Parisienne.”

After lunch we checked out the Vauban Fortress established around 1300. The “keep” or donjon was rebuilt in 1490. Everything for closed up for lunch.

The return trip was a 12-mile route back to Rochefort, covering some of the same area and Debby and I decided to take the van back. Ross, Tom, Jerry, and Marylou rode back to Rochefort.

Later, we cleaned up and walked over to the nearby Corderie Royale, a 17th century royal rope-making factory and now a museum. Constructed in 1666, the building was used for 200 years to furnish the rigging for the French Navy. The length of the building corresponds to a single cable length which is 1/10 of a nautical mile or 100 fathoms.

Today was also a celebration of some sort with people at the museum dressed in interesting costumes.

Tom checking out some rope.

Rick, making a piece of rope.

Dinner was a group event at a restaurant just a short walk from our hotel . Tomorrow we pack up our suitcases and move to a different hotel for the last two nights of our bike trip.