The day started well. Up at 6 and at the station by 7.25 - 20 minutes before the train was due. The station wasn't manned (and there were no toilets). By 10 to 8 we were getting worried about the next connection. Then a man came around the corner, gesturing us to follow him. The train was replaced by a bus - which took a lot longer (and didn't have a toilet).

Some lovely scenery on the 55 minute bus trip to Perigueux - just wish I could've appreciated it more . Missed our train by 15 minutes (and the toilets were closed). The moral of this story is to always have a Plan B for the trains; and use a loo whenever there's one available! I had to go to a bar.

We had an hour or so to fill in when we got to Bordeaux, so we walked towards the river. It was going to be too far, so we just sat and watched the world go by. French drivers park anywhere; do U-turns anywhere - even in one way streets. One guy, with his front mudguard dragging along the ground, parked on the footpath and then did a 4 point turn (holding up all traffic) to go back the way he came. We seemed to be at an unofficial drop off point for the station too - which explained all the U turns on the one way street, which started just near us. I mean - who wants to go the long way around?

An uneventful trip to La Rochelle. This is where we hired a car for 2 days - but 2 and a half hours later than planned. Must remember to drive on the right. Still raining.

I enjoyed the drive to Cotiniere on Isle d'Oleron, but I'm not sure about Bryan. Once off the autoroute there was a roundabout every few kms.

We didn't get the room we'd booked and the wifi didn't work ("it doesn't work very well on the island - keeps cutting in and out").

Cotiniere was seething with tourists - it's small, so not a lot of room for them. Our place was right on the beach - we tried walking on the sand, but it wasn't at all firm. We did walk around the 'town' a couple of times. Had take away fish and chips, with take away beer and wine, and ate on a bench overlooking the harbour. Fantastic.