Sept 9: In Nodes near Marennes

We arrived at DeGaulle yesterday after a flight that had us reminiscing about then the airlines used to treat us as well as cattle. On arrival we rented our car and began our drive to the southwest. The weather was beautiful, sunny and hot. As we zipped along at 130 KPH I was impressed with how well the French drive. Hold on though, this impression was to be premature, limited to the highway only. Could it be that the ridiculously high cost of the tolls is a limiting factor that allows only an elite class of drivers to use it?

Our drive began as soon as we arrived, 7:00, we got into the morning traffic on the Peripherique. . It was heavy and crazy. The motorcycles split lanes going at high rates of speed, dodging in and out. None too soon we left Paris behind and began out 520 KM drive.

A word about the Garmin GPS, once it is set up the way you want it, it is very effective. It took us through the many roundabouts and one lane lanes to the tiny place we stayed.

A very economical chambre d'hote (bed and breakfast), it was a good place for our first night. But first we went to walk around Marennes to see the house of Maryvonne's mother, and the school of which she was directess, and of course, the Romanesque style church. Then to the grocery store for a few supplies. We bought the things we needed and had a light dinner of bread, paté, grapes, and desert. By this time we were struggling to stay awake.

Twelve hours later we woke, 7:00, and began a new day.