My 2015 French Trip

[JOhnGw]

Thursday

After the usual breakfast I cycled down to the end beach early when I new things would-be quiet enough to get some photographs. I used my GoPro in video mode so I should have enough footage for a short video. This also makes it easier to get well framed shots.
In the evening we walked down to the beach café only to find that the concert had been cancelled owing to a forecast storm. On the way back M complained that her knees were not really up to that long a walk and that if we go down there for a sunset supper tonight we will use the car.
We went to the main commercial centre for our evening meal - the best so far at Euronat. This time I was not the only nude when we sat down but I was before we left.

Some frame grabs from the video footage I took
   

   

   

   

   


Friday
An uneventful day lazing around and reading followed by packing and clearing ready for departure tomorrow morning.
In the evening, for once, we managed to eat a little later and stay on in the central square for the evening's music – a local blues cover group – not particularly good but enjoyable for all that. By the time the evening ended I seemed to be the only nude there and M was only wearing a light cotton dress compared to the thick clothing some has put on.

Saturday

A naked morning for both of  us finishing the packing and apartment cleaning ready for leaving inspection at 9:55. We then both got into the car naked to drive round for a late breakfast at the kiosk in the square. We both stayed naked for the final drive to reception to reclaim our deposit. I went round to the front reception desk to do the reclaim while M walked round the public side of the building looking for the toilet facilities before the drive.
We then dressed by the side of the car for the drive to the Royan ferry and Fontevraud. As usual there was a 2 hour queue for the ferry but we managed to make up time on the journey and meet some naturist friends for a meal at our hotel.

Even though it was within Euronat, this was the first time M has carnuded and certainly the first time she has walked naked outside the generally accepted naturist area.

[JOhnGw]

Sunday

After breakfast we drove to Langeais for M's favourite French market where we bought a special magnum of St. Nicolas the Bourgeuil wine for my daughter's wedding anniversary (they are both bikers – picture of bottle to follow) a string of garlic and a tray of apricots to make jam when we get home.
On the way back to Fontevraud we stopped in Azay-le-Rideau to buy 10 litres of “le Vin Plaisir” and 6 bottles of the 2013 “La Gravieres” Chinon Rouge http://coulydutheil-chinon.com for laying down.
After a light lunch with a couple of glasses of excellent top fermented BEER “á l'ancienne”  we stripped off for a siesta after which I had a 20 minute skinny-dip in the hotel pool. I had forgotten to take a towel with me so I had to get one out of the car boot after my swim.

   
Showering before the swim

   
Diving in

   
Getting my towel from the car boot

Needless to say, I was not seen naked at any time to the best of my knowledge.

After my swim we spend an hour in Fontevraud Abbey where M particularly wanted to see the effigies of Richard the Lionheart and his mother Eleanor of Aquitane after which we rounded off the day with another superb meal in the hotel's restaurant.

[jbeegoode]

Just wanted to congratulate M on her carnuding and enjoyment of not wearing clothes. You go girl !!!
DF
 PS. I always enjoy reading everyone's stories and comments.

[nudewalker]

Now that I'm back from my own two week get away the envy of reading of your adventures pales in comparison to my simple excursions. Part of the problem being clothed more than naked plus the weather was not cooperating at all. Once again the areas we visited set records for rainfall during our visit. Even those days that dawned bright and sunny gave way to severe thunderstorms by afternoon. In fact one evening we were disturbed by a tornado siren which for us turned out to be a false alarm. I will post a report as soon as I catch up with reading all I missed (wifi was hit or miss) and the dreadful chore of unpacking. Thanks for the wine update, always enjoy hearing what others are enjoying. We did manage a few bottles for ourselves; Riesling for me and a few bottles of an Birbet for the misses. We also picked up a few bottles of a Niagara for a good friend. 

[JOhnGw]

A thought about the towel omission for Sunday's swim - for the past three weeks I had been in a totally naturist environment so I hadn't needed to take a towel when I went for a swim - even the skinny-dips in Lac Salagou as I dried off in the air naturally before putting on my shirt and shorts for the cycle ride back along the roads.

Monday and Tuesday
The hotel unlocked the pool for me to have another naked swim before breakfast.
After checking out we went to two of our old favourite vignerons http://lame-delisle-boucard.com/ and http://www.robertetmarcel.com/ and a new one to us www.chaintres.com whose wine we had enjoyed at dinner on Sunday. At Chateau de Chaintres we also tasted and bought some of their Cremant de Loire brut.
After picking up some BEER for myself and friends we travelled up to the ferry port.
At the Caen ring road the entry to the ring road was blocked by protesting farmers causing a blockage of trucks which are not allowed inside the ring road except to make a delivery. The truckers had allowed a zig-zag path through for cars but the road through was almost gridlocked.
Brittany Ferries had sent text messages to everybody warning them of the blockage but T-mobile chose to postpone their delivery to me until the ferry docked at Portsmaouth, in spite of have bombarded me with text messages telling me how good and cheap their roaming services were while I was in France. I shall be having a discussion with them about this.
After another pleasant meal in Ouisteham (soupe de poissons, skate wing in Normandy sauce and Normandy cheeses) we spent the night in the Hotel du Phare before taking the morning ferry and driving home.

Wednesday

I got home too  tired after a long day to do much unloading so the wine unloading from the car was done naked this morning before dressing to go to the supermarket.

[jbeegoode]

You appear to be well stocked. How often did the front wheels come off the ground during bumps? Were the truckers protesting you for squeezing in on their transport trade? Was there ever any danger of the ferry tipping over or not lining up with the dock? Do you keep a power hand trolly in your garage? Good thing that you didn't catch a flat tire, the jack would have bit the ghost. Were you excluded from certain roads at all, because of the weight? The last time I pulled a weight like that, it was my Searay cutty-cabin on the the dual axle trailer with my "85 S15 4x4 truck. The first intersection, when I applied the brakes, it just pushed me on out into the intersection, boat and all, through the red light. I had to learn to slow, to be prepared to stop. Any trouble with low gear going up the slopes at 10 mph???

AND finally, it is most convenient being nude, having much less luggage and more room for du vin and BEER.
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

You appear to be well stocked. How often did the front wheels come off the ground during bumps?

No trouble with front wheel lift - I loaded all the wine amidships on the folded back seats.
I did have a bit of wheel-spin going up the ramp to the upper deck of the ferry.

Do you keep a power hand trolly in your garage?

My hand trolley is enough to do it in about 4 loads.

Any trouble with low gear going up the slopes at 10 mph???

Automatic box and plenty of horsepower - we were cruising at the speed limit of 130 kph (about 82 mph).

AND finally, it is most convenient being nude, having much less luggage and more room for du vin and BEER.

And I bring as much as possible bag-in-box otherwise half the weight is glass. 

As usual we returned with more clean clothes than dirty ones. 

Edited to add:
I have now posted the first edited video from the 7 hours of footage that I recorded.
It is swimming at the hotels and can be seen at https://vimeo.com/134223568

[JOhnGw]

The first two videos from my trip are now available to view.

They are:


Naked swimming at the overnight hotels

and


Cycling to the beach at Euronat

Although not strictly free range the first features secret naturism and the second a short sequence outside the naturist enclave.

Click on the image to the video.

[jbeegoode]

I'm brought to long lost memories riding my bike in the woods and the asphalt tracks as a kid in France. I could feel the air and the road with my old references. That was fun.

It never occurred to me. Always carry a bike lock with a combination, not a key!
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

I've now loaded the first edit of the naturist naturalist.

[nudewalker]

Nice work JOhn, now I'll have to find the time and watch your other videos. We're still in a favorable weather pattern so I try to keep computer time to mornings so that this great naturist weather is not wasted!

[jbeegoode]

It appears very dry. Lots of brown grass and other plants. Was there a fire hazard? Is this usual?

The ants look like they have little bean pods.
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

It appears very dry. Lots of brown grass and other plants. Was there a fire hazard? Is this usual?

The ants look like they have little bean pods.
Jbee

Yes, there is a fire hazard and the evacuation plan is posted all over the site and we are given our own copy when we arrive.
One afternoon we watched four fire service planes coming in to scoop water from Lake Salagou for a fire somewhere. Perhaps I should have driven down to get some video footage but I couldn't be bothered to find some clothes.

[jbeegoode]

Perhaps I should have driven down to get some video footage but I couldn't be bothered to find some clothes.

I do believe that we ARE kindred spirits.
Jbee

[tanman]

Just read the entire thread of your French Trip, JOhn ... excellent documentation as for your canal trip reports!  I thoroughly appreciate the AMOUNT of TIME you are able to spend naked on your fine trips.  I especially enjoy the excursions to the beach, reservoir, and frog pond natural areas ...

You had a great French Trip, naked!
Larry (tanman in Texas)