France Part 1

As usual, the weather when we left Cork wasn't great, so I only took a few photos as we sailed past Cobh before we retired to our cabin, I think that last year it was too miserable to even stay on deck that long, because I certainly don't remember the Titanic Memorial, and it must have been there.

Our first stay was in the Marais Poitevin, near Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud. The Marais Poitevin is known as La Venise Verte - the Green Venice. A quick look at this map, and you will see why - there are more waterways than roads.

A few years ago we had taken a guided boat trip along some of the canals/channels, and had always wanted to come back and hire a boat ourselves; this seemed like a good opportunity as it was about halfway down from the ferry to our first longer stop in the sunny south. The weather had, apparently, been unseasonably wet and cold - but our little tent is quick to set up and for a two-night stay we weren't doing more than pitching the tent and setting up the cooker. We were camped right beside one of the smaller channels.  We had a lovely walk along one of the signposted trails on our first evening.