Audenge (France) | Arcachon Bay - 4 Sept, 2023

Audenge, France, lies on the southeastern part of Arcachon Bay. As I look out across the estuary,  the dramatic sunset reminds me that I am turning another page on my travels.

Around 8 a.m., Isabel says, "We'll ride with you to Antwerp-Zuid. You can follow us on a rental bike. That way, you can leave the bike outside the station." That's a great idea. I really appreciate everything. I would have liked to spend more time with you both. Next time, I say. 

Outside of Antwerp-Zuid train station, the three of us take a picture. Unfortunately, we were staring into the sun, and I didn't notice the shadow across Isabel's face. 😂 I give Boots and Isabel big hugs, and make my way into the station.

My trip is a long one today. I have about a week left before I head back to Idaho, United States, to help my parents move. My birthday is also in a couple of days. 😁 Before I left for the Netherlands, I faced some challenges when planning to return to the US. One option was to explore another destination by myself for my remaining time here. This didn't appeal to me. It isn't that I don't have a long list of places to experience. I do. But there were two problems with this option. First, it would have complicated my return to Idaho and cost me more in airfare. Second, I didn't want to spend my birthday alone. 

So, before leaving for the Netherlands, I asked Céline if she was willing and able to join me on another adventure and bike around Arcachon Bay with me. She said that she could make it work on her end. I visited Arcachon and Cap Ferret last summer and knew I wanted to return to this area. My cards have aligned for this trip, and I plan to take advantage of it. 

Returning to France and being near Bordeaux, instead of exploring another country, was much more economical and facilitated my return to the US. Bordeaux has a direct train to the Paris airport, and airfare back to the east coast of the US was super economical. The plane ticket cost me about $400, and then I used points I'd accumulated on my credit card to buy my airfare to Idaho. Voila! Everything is easier when I return to France. 😁

I have many connections to make in my travels today. Once in Brussels, I need to catch a one-hour bus to Charleroi Airport. Then I fly to Bordeaux, France (1.5 hour flight). Once there, I take the bus from the airport to catch a train southwest of Bordeaux. The train takes me to Biganos, France. From there, I have a short car ride to Audenge. This may be one of my longest travel days, with the most connections so far. It makes for a long day. Although I encountered a few delays during some of my connections, I had enough buffers built in to absorb the delays. This long travel day allowed me to reflect on my recent travels north.

Reflecting on my time up north, I know that my bucket overflows from my recent experiences and connections with my friends. I am delighted I took the time to make this trip. In addition, the last three weeks have energized me. Sometimes, when I travel solo, things can feel repetitive, especially if I frequently change locations. This is why I continually look for new experiences to ensure I don't fall into a comfortable routine. Spending time with friends while traveling is something I have done little of until now. I found it extremely rewarding, a nice change of pace, and a great way to round out this trip. Plus, it enabled me to strengthen my bonds with my friends.

When I land, I text Céline: I'm in Bordeaux. "Super!" she writes back. She then sent me detailed instructions informing me which bus to take and where to meet up with her near Pessac, France. "I found a place to stay for tonight in Audenge. We can rent bikes in town and ride to Cap Ferret. I'll meet you at the train station. The rest of the plans can be made up as we go. See you soon," she texts. 

I arrive at the designated meeting point and wait for Céline to arrive. When she arrives about 15 minutes later, I give her a big hug. Thank you for setting this up. Shall we buy our train tickets? I say as I look at the electronic kiosk tucked away in the corner. "No need. I already have them. All we need is you," she says with a smile. I shake my head. You are an amazing woman, Céline. You're a woman with resources. I love that. How's your new car, I ask her. "It is just like my old one but black. I really like it. You'll get to see it soon," she says. 😁

Audenge is southwest of Bordeaux, France. Arcachon Bay is surrounded by small villages. The primary industry is farming oysters. Last summer, I wanted to cycle around the Bay but was short on time. This was my first choice of destination and what I wanted to do for my remaining time here. I am excited to explore the Bay by bike.

Audenge lies on the southeast side, the shallow side of Arcachon Bay, and is part of a large man-made estuary conservation area. The quiet little fishing village of about 7,000 people has a unique feature: a man-made outdoor seawater swimming pool. The pool is connected to the Bay. However, the flow of water is controlled. The pool retains water at low tide, even when the mud flats of the Bay are exposed. This pool is the largest outdoor seawater swimming pool in Europe. It is heated passively by the sun, which makes the pool much warmer than the ocean. It was built in 1904 and remains a popular attraction in Audenge.