The heat and busy harbour really makes me want to go away. I have read in my pilot book of the beauty of Ile de Ré, and decide to go there over the next night. The weather is great although the wind could be better. On the way out, there is a orchester playing WW2 military marches.

Leaving Les Sables d’Olonne

WW2 music played at the quay

Melody slides through the water and gets greeted by some dolphins before she comes into the harbor just as the sill is about to close. There is no space in the floating basin however so I am directed to dry out in the outer basin. No problem – a lot of people on the quay so it is just to hook up the lines and calculate where they have to be to avoid get hanging as the water disappears. It turns out that my theoretic calculations was right but I did not expect the soft nature of the bottom. As the water disappears, Melody sinks nearly a meter into the bottom making it necessary to adjust the lines.

The inlet to Saint-martin de Ré

Melody at Saint-martin de Ré

The city is truly beautiful. I walk the streets up and down and in the evening I find this small restaurant named Tout du Cru specialized on oysters. I get the most magical sampler platter where the first oysters are good and it continued to be better and better. I leave the restaurant in a very euphoric mode and walk this nice city before returning to Melody.

The lighthouse

Sampling Oysters

Saint-martin de Ré at night

Saint-martin de Ré at night

Saint-martin de Ré at night