Golf Hotel Lacanau

September 8, 2019

A cycle way all day

We tried to leave late because of a late check in but we were away by 9.30 which was really far to early for what was ahead of us. We would just have to dawdle which we did. It was straight back onto the cycleway that we were to follow all day. It was 22km of dead flat perfectly straight riding to St. Helen. Really there is not much to say about it, just keep peddling and let the training cyclists pass you. The surroundings were bracken and scrubby looking pine trees the only little bit of interest was when about half way along we did a bit of a wiggle to go through a very tiny village and saw a horse in a paddock eating hay. Our big hope was St Helen, it was a slightly bigger blob on the map. We were excited going in but it was dead, no services but hundreds of cars tearing along. We came back and there was a seat under a tree so we stopped and had a peach and a drink of water. The direction changed and there was another straight line for about another 20km, no change in scenery

We passed the old station as we got on the cycleway

Old steam engines once went to the beach

This was our view all day of this section of the route

And then we came to Lacanau and the day changed, we didn’t go into the town but turned to follow the route towards Lacanau Ocean. In just a few km we came to Lacanau lac and there it was a big cafe looking out over the lake, we stopped for a cafe creme and sat as long as it was decently possible to enjoy people watching, looking over the lake and seeing holiday makers having their cycle rides. A bit further on and there was a great picnic area beside the lake so we stopped for our bread, cheese and peaches. Families were picnicking and their picnics varied from being almost a basic as ours to one with a well ironed table cloth, china plates and food I would have enjoyed eating. This part of the lake is great for families with a sandy beach and very safe looking waters. Kite surfers were also trying to get under way but without much success as there was just not enough wind to lift them

The kites up but it won’t hold the man up

The cycleway continued to Lacanau Ocean and we decided despite our turn off being before there we would go and have a look. Lacanau Ocean is French Seaside in full bloom. The beach itself is a beautiful long sandy beach with good looking surf - there was a surf school in operation and many people enjoying the beach. But there were all the other things as well the carousel, the icecream shops, the long pedestrian street with its multitude of shops selling nick knacks and the restaurants selling moules. We sat and enjoyed the scene as we ate our ice creams then off to find our Golf Hotel which was around 6 or 7km back. It is great and a very comfortable room looking out onto the swimming pool and if we liked we could have a round of golf It is so peaceful

Today's ride: 57 km (35 miles)
Total: 1,995 km (1,239 miles)

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