Clairmarais

A naughty pancake, bacon and maple syrup breakfast today and then we are off on our bikes.

The plan is to cycle through Forêt domaniale de Rihoult Clairmarais. The sun is shining, we have a route map courtesy of Nicholas, our lunch is packed, water stowed, suntan lotion and deet have been applied and we’re ready to go.

Very quickly we are cycling through the forest. Lots of butterflies and happily no people or cyclists. It’s lovely.

Eventually we land in Clairmarais and visit St Bernards church. It’s brightly painted walls and modern stained glass windows are unusual and attractive. Spend 50c trying to light a couple of candles but failing. The cemetery next to the church is full of monumental grave stones and two WWII war graves.

Next stop is the Marais Audomarois, where we think about taking a boat trip but decide against it and instead buy a couple of cold beers and enjoy our picnic lunch in the shade overlooking the marshes. The beer is local and at 5.8% abv the lowest of the three biere blonds on offer! They like their beer strong in these parts.

After a lovely lunch we visit the Romelaere National Nature Reserve. On foot this time. It’s a route around the marshes and ponds, sometimes on boardwalks, eventually leading to a hide where we see tons of birds and especially enjoy the arial acrobatics of the Cormorants. On the walk back T gets to pretend he’s an extra again in A Knights Tale as he pulls the chains to move the little ferry across a waterway. Lots of bird song, birds, water lilies, fabulous views quite a lot of fishermen and a few goats!

Back at the bikes it time to start making our way back via a different route along the canal. We get to see huge working barges using one of the large locks on the canal. It’s a tight squeeze to get two of these massive things into one lock but they manage it. The barges are floating homes too with accommodation at the back and boats and cars parked on the top of them.

After getting slightly lost on our way back we finally arrive in Renescure 17+ miles and quite a few hours later. We’ve managed to walk over 6 miles too so are very ready for a couple of small beers in the Auberge before heading back to the campsite. A welcome shower followed by a yummy BBQ and a few Spotify quizzes ends a really fabulous day.