Bordeaux

I stayed in La Roche-sur-Yon on Monday, to have a day off. Laura and Mat were both great, letting me cook and wash at theirs. They also recommended I visit the beach at Les Sables d'Olonnes, and I'm so glad I didn't ride on Monday because it was probably the hottest day so far. In the evening we went to a bar, where I sampled 'trouspinette', and the next morning I left for La Rochelle, where Laura and Mat had gone to uni, and was recommended by them. The ride to La Rochelle was brilliant, a bit hilly leaving La Roche but the hills soon turned into long straight roads. I also managed to hold a decent conversation with a French cyclist whilst we rode alongside each other. I also met a guy from the Alps, a cross-country skier, who was on a training run, on rollerblades.
I arrived in La Rochelle at about half 3, then made my way to the city centre. I also had to buy a belt as my jeans are now very loose. There is a festival in La Rochelle this week, so the city was buzzing. I was heading toward the Rue de St Nicola, which Laura and Mat had told me about, when I saw a band playing outside a bar, which by chance had also stayed at the campsite near Nantes that I was in on Saturday.
On the Rue de St Nicola there was an Irish pub. An actual pub, not like anything else I've found in France, where I could buy a Guiness for 3 euro. Outside I met Guilhaume, who had friends in a band playing next door. I stayed with Guilhaume and co for the night, and they were great company.
On Wednesday I managed to leave the campsite by 11, with the intention of riding in the direction of Bordeaux, and then to start looking for a campsite about halfway there. I found one in Cozes, where there were a lot of Brits staying. One lovely English couple, Brian and Babs, cooked me a full English in the morning, which was so much appreciated by me.
I left Cozes at 10 o clock, and managed to arrive in Bordeaux by half 6, and find a hostel. The roads towards Bordeaux are much more hilly now, hillier even than Somerset. I was in a bad mood upon arriving as it took me about 2 hours to get into the city, and it had been a long day. It was a national holiday yesterday, and so when I arrived in Bordeaux I headed for the quayside to watch some fireworks, and hang out with some locals for the evening. I also met some English people, Claire and Bryony, who I spent today with, making it less lonely for me. I plan to find a campsite in Bordeaux now, as the hostel is pretty expensive, then tomorrow I will grab an early start then head in the general direction of Biarritz and St Jean de Luz, on what will be the final stretch of my travels in France. Give me 2-3 days and will be in the kingdom of Spain.
I estimate to have travelled around 650km so far, in 8 days of cycling, which I personally don't think is too bad. Morale right now is a bit low, I am craving a bit of company, but when I get on the road tomorrow I will be alright.
Au revoir for now.