The distances in France are very deceptive, this looks nothing on the map but its over 100 miles so another long day cycling into another headwind was on the cards but at least the weather was now most definitely warm and sunny and most importantly ... dry.
As I rode north from Royan the fields were green and lush, as I approached Rochefort the road became a busy Dual Carriageway so I turned off and my route would take me over an old transporter bridge much like the one at Portugalete and Middlesbrough. Unfortunately when I got there I discovered it didn't operate in winter and would start up on March 24th ... I was 9 days too early !
So I tracked back across to the Main Road where a new bridge crossed the river - it was busy but I did have a 1 meter wide lane painted for bicycles and the protection of a white line !
From Rochefort I stayed inland to avoid La Rochelle and after 60 miles I turned left and was cycling west for the first time since cycling into Peniche in Portugal. I passed through Triaize, a small village with a big church before continuing west through Talmont and into Les Sable d'Olonne