Join me on my trips

Had a nice pedicure on the ferry, a treat. Came home by 11and alls well except that two of the hens have almost destroyed the rose bed and two others.

Hardly slept. Too hot, too uncomfortable. Or maybe I'm getting too old for this kind of caper. Somehow the trip to Uz set me back and yet that was a guided tour when I didn't have to make any decisions. It's obviously not the decision making process that is the problem, rather a physical one? By getting to the mount very early.  Arrived as the bells rang for 8am in the fog almost had the place to myself and missed this long crowd. Some some steps I  avoided. Not a soul in sight. Visited Cancalle which was a delight. Then the rather down market Dinard which was full of the elderly and/or infirm eating ice creams in the drizzle. Though just up the coast is Saint Lunaire which is much smarter. Maybe you can make out the coast path.

Got out of Rennes early and made my way across Brittany to Combourg, home of Chateaubriant the author. Here I found the market on and a lovely lake called the Lake of Tranquillity. Then this Menir or standing stone. HUGE and all alone outside Dol. Taking the coast road Cerruiex found me a place for lunch, a bench by the sea although it is miles away, and some nice views for painting. St Anne's Chapel. A garlic field. Mistletoe. Don't think much of the hotel here at Mont S M more like a hostel but with the millions of visitors I can understand. Relais have  a series of hotels probably at different prices.  Nearly evening. Spot the balloon top right somewhere. Late at night suddenly wondered about Peter Sarstadt and his famous song. Always thought he was French. Very uncomfortab...

What a lucky break to get into a decent hotel. View of the rooftops  Proper shower, breakfast and a lift to top floors and lift down to basement which takes the cars! St Antoine Hotel. Dreyfus exhibit. The canalised river.  I had forgotten how dead France is on  Sunday. Nothing open, even finding a cafe in the city is not easy. However I did find the Musee de Beaux Arts. Some lovely Egyptian artefacts. There was an exhibition of Roger Edgar Gillet on. So that brings in tiny tots with parents for a half hour with stories about the artist. His distorted series from the 60s. Then exciting seascapes at the end of his life. He died 2004. Then amongst the many modern pictures was this of Joan Mitchell who Robin talks about. Not sure why. I liked this. A walk back and a spell in Saint Georges Garden. Been good to just stop with no drivin...

Leaving today in brilliant sunshine and no breeze. Some pics right by this little house. The house and terrace. Attached to the very bright tree above. The passageway that leads to the centre. Got up to Chateaubriant eventually only to find the hotel was like a rundown motel on the edge of town, even the edge of the industtial area. No restaurant and altogether so awful I cancelled. Booking.com very accommodating as they should be when a place reckoned 8.5 by them is barely a 4 and although advertised with a restaurant has none.  So had to quickly find somewhere else and have ended up in Rennes at a proper hotel, a Best Western, near to the centre. Parking and now having a little Michelin supper in the station complex at Paris Brest. I watched people coming and going to this amazing station. Then a man came along and unpacked 4 pairs of shoes and left them on a ledge. Within a few minute...

25 years since. I read how many other people have died since from the toxic particles in the air. Mainly asbestos and how people were told it was safe despite reports saying it was not. Same old story, cover ups. And now Trump is offering $5000 to every US adult if Republicans win in Nov. Though Vance qualified that by saying not the wealthiest!. So glad I dont live there. Check out this lighthouse. It is low down and between it and the sea is a huge dyke, not much good for a passing ship. Need to read up a bit. Went painting by an old fort which overlooks oyster farms. Thousands of cages. No doubt a centuries old industry.