The old stones of Southern Brittany

The main driving route to Europe from Ireland is a 20 hour ferry crossing from Rosslare to Roscoff in Brittany.

Brittany is very like parts of Ireland with a strong celtic tradition and so we Irish often feel at home here. Our family spent many summer holidays in Carnac when our lads were young. From pottering around shallow pools when they were toddlers to the beginnings of the party years as teenagers, I reckon they experienced a rite of passage here. They would be so sad leaving to return home and then one year they didn’t want to come any more.

It’s full of old stones, ancient stones. Les Alignments in Carnac are rows and rows of standing Menhirs, not fully understood, which seem to exist just to be marvelled at. We re-visited them for old times sake.

A Robin family is hanging out around our camp. They get close enough to eat the soft bread directly from the morning baguette. While charmed by this familiar southern coast we are ready to move on.

“Inklings” was my word for 2015. So here I am in France with no plan and no destination. It seems a perfect antidote to the “strategic future action planning” of my day job. This road trip will be one day at a time. Our first big decision is whether to go South or to go inland? A hunch says to meander inland along the Loire Valley.

We will see how we feel in the morning……