I spent three weeks in the Loire Valley with the Saint-Jean-de-Monts gendarmerie.Saint-Jean-de-Monts is a tourist resort on the French Atlantic coast with 9,000 inhabitants Many vacationers come to Saint-Jean-de-Monts especially in the summer months of July and August The bars there are particularly popular with tourists at night time the gendarmerie in Saint-Jean-de-Monts receives reinforcements from the "mobile gendarmerie" (roughly comparable to the riot police) the equestrian squadron of the "Garde républicaine" "reservists" (retired gendarmes) and the German police during the high season A major fireworks display is held in Saint-Jean-de-Monts every year in August An elaborate security concept has been drawn up for this including restricted zones throughout the town center The military was also called in due to the latent threat of terrorism The military patrolled the entire beach promenade with long guns This reminded me once again how present the issue of terrorism is after various attacks in Europe and especially in France Traffic monitoring is also a focus of the gendarmerie's work in Saint-Jean-de-Monts as many tourists drive under the influence of alcohol I'll always remember one of my missions involving the suicide of a 63-year-old French tourist The woman was on vacation at a campsite with her seven-year-old grandson she hanged herself in the awning and was found lifeless by her grandson Delivering the death notice to the daughter of the deceased was particularly difficult as she was also informed that her seven-year-old son had found his grandmother and was currently hospitalized for psychological treatment In addition to establishing the facts on site looking after the seven-year-old boy proved to be a particular challenge There are interesting differences between the gendarmerie and the police (Police Nationale) The gendarmerie is part of the military and is structured differently for this reason A gendarme does not work a fixed number of hours per week Their working day often consists of on-call and fixed patrol times Gendarmes must always expect to be called out to an operation during their on-call time They therefore live in gendarmerie apartments and houses on the barracks grounds or in the immediate vicinity the gendarmerie draws on so-called "reservists" to increase its personnel strength These are retired gendarmes who help out their active colleagues young gendarmes also have the option of accepting a reservist contract in order to study at university The young reservists are then free to return to active service at any time I had the impression that all the colleagues I met in Saint-Jean-de-Monts were proud to be "gendarmes" I was warmly welcomed by my colleagues at the station and they made me feel like I was part of their "brigade" the third stage of the ENGIE KITE TOUR will be in Saint-Jean-de-Monts (the Vendée département on the south-west coast) between 6 and 8 October 2023 This year’s stage will feature a three-day regatta with kitefoil speed crossing organised by the Saint-Jean-de-Monts water sports centre will be an opportunity for all kiting enthusiasts – amateurs as well as experienced kiteboarders – to get together after the summer.  all the riders – particularly those who have their sights set on the podium – will head out onto the water to score points and move up in the general ranking the festive and friendly atmosphere will provide riders and spectators alike with opportunities to engage in discussion and share some moments together at the ENGIE KITE TOUR village The ENGIE KITE TOUR ambassadors will be there The ENGIE Youth Academy is an internship for young people from the region who have a local coach and is sponsored by ENGIE Kite Tour ambassadors the youngsters will take part in the stage – under supervision The whole idea is to give them the opportunity to get acquainted with wind sports as well as leaving a mark and a legacy in the region training the enthusiasts and champions of the future Alexia and Benoit will be the sponsors for this stage in the Vendée.  As part of their partnership, the ENGIE Foundation and the Fondation de la Mer organise initiatives to pick up waste from beaches along the circuit for each stage of the ENGIE KITE TOUR The aim is to raise awareness among the general public as well as kiteboarders of the need to reduce our waste on a day-to-day basis and preserve our oceans Come along on the afternoon of Friday 6 October if you want take part in the waste collection initiative at the Saint-Jean-de-Monts beach  You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed An official website of the United States government VA|News America250 This week’s America250 salute is Army Veteran Leslie MacDill Leslie MacDill joined the Army in April 1912 commissioning as a second lieutenant in Coast Artillery Corps MacDill completed heavy artillery training at Fort Monroe in Virginia before transferring to Fort Hamilton in New York MacDill became interested in military aviation in 1914 he transferred to Army Signal Corps’ aviation section MacDill completed aviation training at Rockwell Field on North Island in San Diego which made him a qualified junior military aviator Because of this qualification he promoted to first lieutenant His first assignment was with the 1st Aero Squadron at Fort Sill He later transferred to the 2nd Aero Squadron based in the Philippines during World War I MacDill temporarily served in the Office of the Chief Signal Caller in Washington D.C he organized a detachment of aviation cadets deploying to Europe The aviator detachment was assigned to go to Italy but stayed in England while MacDill served in France as a materiel officer for the American Expeditionary Forces During this time he also commanded an aerial gunnery school in Saint-Jean-de-Monts teaching the weaponry mechanics of aircrafts like the Nieuport and Sopwith Camel biplane fighters where he worked at the office of the director of Air Service and as a member of the Air Service advisory board he promoted to major and enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to study aeronautical engineering He earned a doctor of science degree in 1922 the Morrow Board was conceived with the intention of reshaping aviation policy Through his successful advocating for the creation of an Air Corps to work with the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps he worked with the War Plans Division to assist Air Corps efforts to urge Congress to allocate funding for more aircraft he assisted with producing a proposal of a five-year plan to expand the Army Air Corps MacDill continued to rise through the ranks by attending the Army and Naval War Colleges from 1933 to 1935 MacDill piloted a BC-1 plane from Bolling Field in Washington MacDill was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors. During his service, he received the World War I Victory Medal. In 1941, MacDill Field (now MacDill Air Force Base) VA is highlighting 250 Veterans leading up to July 4, 2026, which marks 250 years of independence. Learn more about the count down to 250 years of the American spirit at https://america250.org/ america250Armypilot The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411 never put personally identifiable information (SSAN etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection I was stationed at MacDill for over two years during my service time I never did know anything about the namesake of the base I even met my wife there and so thankful for my deployment there I am truly grateful for reading this article Thank you for this article on Leslie MacDill I was born at MacDill Field on 4 July 1943 and until now I did not know anything about the field’s namesake Today's America250 and #VeteranOfTheDay honors Army Veteran Clifford Sims We want to hear the story of your service and your reflections on our nation’s past Today's America250 and #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran John J who became General of the Armies of the United States the highest rank possible for any member of the United States Armed Forces Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Looking for U.S. government information and services?  Visit USA.gov Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) steps onto the podium(Image credit: Getty Images)Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) pulls on the leader's jersey(Image credit: Getty Images)Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) on the inside as Aberasturi comes on fast in the middle(Image credit: Getty Images)Jon Aberasturi thought he'd won it so did his teammate(Image credit: Getty Images)Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) don't know who's won(Image credit: Getty Images)Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) won the opening stage of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour in Saint-Jean-de-Monts besting Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in a photo finish bunch sprint David Dekker (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) was third A day's breakaway composed of Declan Irvine (Novo Nordisk) Louka Matthys (Bingoal WB) and Jean-Louis Le Ny (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur) escaped early on the stage but the sprinters' teams kept their lead under control The trio managed a lead of five minutes but they were reeled in before another trio to escape: Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) Kévin Ledanois (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Rait Ärm (Van Rysel-Roubaix) Despite a few riders trying to foil the sprinters the race was all together for the bunch gallop Van den Berg started the sprint but saw Aberasturi coming up fast from the middle of the peloton After a frantic bike throw and a photo finish the jury declared Van den Berg the winner and first leader of the race “I didn’t see who had won so I was waiting for the photo finish,” Van den Berg said “We had to wait for the photo finish I came a little bit early and I saw him coming and had not much left I saw that he dropped a little bit of speed Results powered by FirstCycling The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! - San Diego State junior women's tennis player Jenny Moinard (Saint Jean De Monts France) has been named Mountain West Player of the Week This is the first career MW weekly honor for Moinard Moinard owns a 14-5 overall singles record and is 8-2 in dual match play this spring 6-3 win in the fourth-seeded match over No 6-4 victory over Cal Poly's Caroline Williams Moinard's accomplishments in doubles with partner Mia Smith has contributed to much of the team's success this season as the duo is 11-5 (6-3 dual) this year regularly capturing wins in the top-seeded match to contribute to the Aztecs' six straight doubles point victories (eight total this season) 26 Rianna Valdes/Angela Kulikov (USC) last Friday the Aztecs went on to win matches two and three to claim the doubles point against the Trojans Moinard and Smith were not required to finish their match against Cal Poly's Molly Reed and Seriana Saltzen as the doubles point was decided for the Aztecs with wins on courts two and three for a pair of matches in the Aloha State this weekend SDSU will play a neutral site match against Grand Canyon on Saturday « Back Island Territory - Inhabiting the Marsh.  Le Perrier is a small village in the Vendée marshes, nestled halfway between Challans, a charming coastal town, and Saint-Jean-de-Monts, the nearest bustling seaside resort. Here, we find ourselves in the heart of the “Marais de Soullans”, so beloved by Charles Milcendeau, the Vendéen painter and student of Gustave Moreau, who masterfully captured the unique horizontal expanse and luminosity of these landscapes. At the village center, the project's site blends seamlessly with this horizontal panorama, where only the bell tower and the concrete mill emerge, resembling two beacons—one temporal, the other spiritual. It is precisely and wisely here that the Town Hall has chosen to establish a tourist information bureau, to promote the history, knowledge, and local traditions. © François DantartRenovation: Preserving Local Identity. A tourist information office must promote and narrate the history of a region in the noblest sense, embodying its history, knowledge, and traditions to project into the future and inspire dreams. The choice of renovation appears obvious in this context. The simple and poetic architecture of the traditional longhouse in the town center depicts a strong local identity, built within the marshes. © François DantartThe two existing longhouses are preserved and exposed, with renovations made to the walls, frames, framework, and roofing. The stone walls are re-plastered with lime. Inside, a luminous architecture proposed by new framing preserves the rustic character of the place with a lime-hemp plaster. Finally, the contemporary extension, with ample glass overlooking its surroundings, is marked by traditional natural materials such as rush. © François DantartThe Signal: Language of Public Architecture. At the juncture of the two restored longhouses dedicated to the Cultural Center, the contemporary entrance introduces a third vertical element to the village skyline—a new landmark indicating the presence of a public building, bridging the gap between local tradition and modernity. Even the thatched reed cladding of this semaphore extends this dialogue. © François DantartThe project of the cultural center and tourist information office in Le Perrier reinterprets this language by employing all the codes of the traditional “bourrine”. The use of thatch for the signal placed on a CLT (cross-laminated timber) structure, hemp for insulation, lime plaster for stone protection, and occasionally wood for carpentry, make this building manifest in favor of traditional and local construction. You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Combining the sunny Vendee with the joys of Disneyland Paris, Vickie Maye took the family on an ambitious 3,000km road trip through France. When we decided on a driving holiday to France Flights to Portugal and guaranteed sun had been our holidays of choice up to now so we decided to play it safe with the weather and spend a few extra hours in the car to make it south to the Vendee We arrived in a rain-sodden Roscoff — and five hours later we were in sun-soaked St Jean de Monts That’s not to say the driving was a breeze two-year-old and six-month-old in the back seat will never be plain sailing But the French motorways are nothing like their Irish counterparts Their service areas aren’t just about filling the tank with petrol and picking up a coffee They have microwaves (a necessity for feeding a baby) picnic tables — and some even had play areas though — make sure you check the requirements for driving in France before you travel and watch their tolls Our plan was to spend nine nights at Le Clarys Plage resort in St Jean de Monts in the Vendee with Keycamp (now operating as Eurocamp) and then drive another five hours to La Croix du Vieux Pont in Berny Rivere Our Eurocamp operator was hesitant — did we realise it would be another eight-hour drive back to ferry from Paris She feared we would spend most of our holiday in the car there was a lot of driving — over 3,000km in two weeks — but would we change anything about our holiday The eight-year-old is still yearning to return to Le Clarys Plage with its five-slide swimming pool and the friends she made in the adjoining cabins They played every evening until dusk on the leafy roadside just outside our door We watched from our deck and soaked up the cosy who held our hands through the whole booking (road maps and a personalised itinerary were all part of the service) had given us a few words of warning about this resort It would be busy and noisy because it was August she told us with queues for the pool every morning (towels on deck chairs were the order of the day) and theme parties at night in the resort bar that could be heard from our cabin until midnight None of that bothered us really — we didn’t want to spend the day by the pool with young children in searing temperatures And once the kids slept through the night time noise (they did) we didn’t mind nearby restaurants to stroll to in the evenings The beach was a five minute walk — but there were few appealing eateries and ice cream parlours en route we probably wouldn’t have tried them — not when my daughter was charged €20 for a hairbraid around the corner from Le Clarys Plage We were happy to base ourselves at our chalet Our BBQ was used every night as we sat out on the deck Our family dinners were by far the nicest part of our holiday The kids clubs were an option to keep the children entertained Puy du Foy — a historical theme park complete with full reenactments and shows — was an interesting day trip And the little town of St Gilles Croix de Vie Then it was back in the car for the five-hour drive to Paris We arrived at La Croix du Vieux Pont and fast realised we could have spent our entire two weeks here there’s no beach or sea breeze — but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any sand Around the corner from our cabin the camping site had its very own man-made beach we had our own deck and BBQ (the decking gate was worth the extra charge to keep the two-year-old with us still had a slide big enough to thrill the kids Not that there was much time for them to splash around in it We arrived at opening time at 10am — and stayed right through until closing time at 11pm with its spectacular fireworks display and very affordable way to experience the House of Mouse We picked up 25th anniversary tickets which saw all of us pay just €150 for day passes Compare that to two and three-day deals with hotel accommodation and it was a bargain We paced ourselves for the long day ahead by making good use of the Fastpass option Lunch was at Café Mickey in Disney Village — it’s a good way to meet the characters and get autographs and saves you queuing later in the hot sun to meet the characters (booking recommended) Watching our two year old’s enchanted reaction to a real-life Minnie Mouse is a memory we will never forget Including the three-hour return journey from the resort even with three kids in tow (including a baby) The next day we set off to Paris to give a very curious eight year old her first introduction to the Eiffel Tower And we were left with more precious moments we will treasure forever The next day we said goodbye to the Eurocamp cabin that had been a home from home for us The drive to the ferry was undeniably long (there was a stop en route for wine) — but Paris and Disney made it worth every minute Brittany Ferries have great sailing times with children in tow — both journeys see you travel by night and the cabins cosily slept the five of us with four bunk beds and cot in the centre of the floor (again discos and even a cinema and swimming pool kept the children entertained until bedtime Portugal and a three hour direct flight from Cork might be the more straightforward option — but our ambitious 3,000km roadtrip through France was an adventure we’ll be embarking on again A seven-night stay at Le Clarys Plage in North Vendee on June 6 is €400 rising to €606 on June 25 and €966 on July 15 (Prices are based on Esprit range 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom with decking.) A seven-night stay at La Croix du Vieux Pont on June 6 is €400 rising to €606 on June 25 and €930 on July 15 ¦ A family of four can travel with Brittany Ferries with their car in a 4 berth cabin from €66 per person each way The new sailing season is due to commence on Saturday From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more courts articles This year’s race begins in the Vendée and heads across northern France before turning south to the Alps and the Pyrénées Stage one, Noirmoutier-en-Isle-Fontenay le Comte 201kmStage 1A flat opener no doubt amid relief that the race is not crossing to the mainland via the tidal causeway of Le Passage du Gois although with long stretches on exposed coastal roads if the wind blows the race could splinter as it did in Holland in 2015 a sprint from a reduced bunch is a near-certainty with a single fourth-cat climb: another day for Mark Cavendish and company Time to explain a minor change to the format intended to liven up the the first nine stages; as well as time bonuses at the finish a few seconds are on offer at a sprint close to the finish; today’s is 14km out and should make the finale even more hectic For the GC men days one and two are about staying upright and in touch This is the first chance for gaps to open – particularly if it’s breezy or wet – and all eyes will be on Team Sky who have yet to win a Tour team time trial peppered with corners and with two little hills after halfway to put any strugglers under pressure Into the cycling heartland of Brittany for a third sprint day - no wonder the young Australian fastman Caleb Ewan was devastated to be left out The race should have a more controlled pattern now – breakaway sprint – where it is to be hoped that Peter Sagan will stay in a straight line avoiding last year’s controversy and a final 100 kilometres with five climbs with the bonus sprint on a further short ascent near the finish A good day for a break as the finale will be hard to control or for a sprinter who can climb like Sagan or Arnaud Démare A classic tense stage when the Tour won’t be won but it could be lost dead straight Breton Alpe d’Huez in the final 16 kilometres: the first true test for the overall contenders The run-in to the climb the first time will be hectic as the riders fight for position; a crash or a puncture could be ruinous this climb favours riders such as Spain’s Alejandro Valverde or Chris Froome probably with the wind on the riders’ backs on the rolling roads of Normandy; this will be fast and it is destined for a sprint although if the breeze is north-westerly and teams feel enterprising the race could split up in the finale One for the usual suspects: Mark Cavendish André Greipel and new kid on the block Fernando Gaviria The fifth flat day out of the first eight; let’s hope the sprints haven’t all gone to Marcel Kittel and that the shenanigans have been relatively restrained repeated small climbs and descents which look innocuous on the profile the wind could make life interesting; again Lots of cobbles on a potentially key stage: the final 109km includes 15 pavé sectors but offering little respite - the longest tarmac stretch is 12km - leaving little chance to regroup after a puncture or crash Toughest section is Camphin-en-Pévèle at 18km to go this could be carnage; Geraint Thomas will fancy his chances but Vincenzo Nibali won the 2014 race on a similar stage A lengthy transfer to the Alps for more off-roading two kilometres of unpaved road on the hors-catégorie Col de Glières; three other climbs will provide a rude awakening after nine stages on the flat With a descent to the finish after the brutal double of the Cols de Romme and Colombière the script is an attack from Romain Bardet Following the recent trend for short mountain stages this has three major ascents including a summit finish; La Rosière is draggy rather than steep so the main selection will come over the Cormet de Roselend tackled mid-stage after 38 mainly uphill kilometres One for a specialist climber with a sprint so ideal for a Movistar rider such as Mikel Landa or Alejandro Valverde a very traditional climbing stage: the Cols de Madeleine and Croix-de-Fer – 25km and 29km long respectively – followed by the Tour’s toughest summit finish With masses of points on offer in the King of the Mountains someone will take an option on that jersey here with the the overall distilled to half-a-dozen contenders at most The overall battle will go back on hold for a typical contest between a break and the sprinters teams depending on what they have in their legs after surviving the Alps rolling roads in the middle as the route skirts the Vercors The sprinters teams should handle it but it could be tight One of the few days when the break is highly likely to stay away so the tussle to get in it will be intense and the steep finish climb up to the airport is made for Julian Alaphilippe although British fans remember this as where Wirral’s finest Steve Cummings outwitted Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot for a tactically perfect win back in 2015 this includes the first-category Pic de Nore 40km from the finish with an elite selection of overall contenders behind them But these are roads eminently suited to a surprise attack from an all rounder such as Nibali the final week opens with a lengthy run in to the Pyrénées and three short steep climbs The winner should come from the early escape - a climber such as David Gaudu or Pello Bilbao - while the elite group of overall contenders are liable to watch and wait with tomorrow in mind this short stage will see the favourites “gridded” at the start as the battle for position will be intense with the race heading straight up the Col de Peyresourde before a summit finish made for Rafal Majka or Nairo Quintana – 2,215m above sea level after a 16km climb it should at least whittle the overall contenders down to two or three An abrupt transition to flat roads could offer an intriguing diversion from the main plot; a similar stage in 2012 witnessed a desperate contest to get in the early break This is the last chance for any non-climbers to try for the stage win – Edvard Boasson Hagen for example – and the sprinters’ teams may not be in sufficient shape to pull a group back A final day of classic Pyrenean climbing: the triptych of Aspin Aubisque – climbed via the little known Col des Bordères – before a descent to the finish A holding operation before the next day’s time trial for whoever is in yellow with a break going all the way – someone such as the Pole Rafal Majka for the win – and perhaps a final fight for the King of the Mountains jersey over a distance that would have been termed short in the 1980s or 1990s the final contre-la-montre witnessed a fraught battle for the podium The Basque country course is far from flat so Chris Froome will start favourite rather than Tom Dumoulin although the ups and downs will also suit Richie Porte the now-traditional evening stage in the heart of Paris and again using the full circuit around the Arc de Triomphe It’s 15 years since this was won from a break so the sprint seems inevitable: last year victory went to Dylan Groenewegen and this finish has also smiled on Mark Cavendish and André Greipel – but who will be in yellow This article was amended on 5 July 2018 to correct the name of Dylan Groenewegen from Tom Groenewegen as an earlier version said There are times and places where finding a parking space at a mall, airport, or other facility is an exercise in futility and a waste of time. Now, Parkki, a French purveyor of smart-parking infrastructure has teamed with Actility Parkki currently deploys thousands of LoRaWAN sensors using Actility’s ThingPark Enterprise platform allowing to determine the number of places left to get directions to a free parking place The number of parking spaces at a large supermarket can range between 700 and 3000 for the biggest ones Parkki has deployed 6000 smart-parking sensors in various installations for the Super U supermarket in Saint Jean de Monts Parkki is currently installing four outdoor gateways and 400 Bosch smart-parking sensors connected to LoRaWAN A new deployment is planned on Reunion Island with 700 sensors intelligent and connected parking platform is a turnkey solution that connects all parking spaces it is the only tool compatible with all smart-parking devices: barriers It is a real-time supervision solution for all parking spaces that allows: Parkki’s solutions are particularly adapted to the retail sector Parkki has for several years been addressing the strategic challenge of establishing a link between what’s happening in the parking lot and the commercial activity of the retail centers (Figure 1) Parkki’s value to retailers lies in interpreting the outdoor key performance indicators (KPIs; these include metrics like vehicle flows and car parking) and the commercial activities thanks to the indoor KPIs (people flows Specific use cases require Wi-Fi, 4G, and/or ZigBee communication technologies, but LoRaWAN in particularly is an efficient way to communicate data for sensors installed on the ground and customers appreciate the open system and non-proprietary aspect of this technology Using smart-parking sensors with LoRaWAN and well-connected control systems allow drivers to easily find free parking spots And this IoT solution can be implemented with a fast infrastructure setup without transforming the entire area into a construction site LoRa-enabled parking sensors can be deployed throughout urban areas enabling parking operators to capture and analyze occupancy data in real time Connected road signs and online applications can display information about available parking spots Actility provides the IoT connectivity platform for cities and for public and private parking operators in the form of the LoRaWAN network server and its ThingPark IoT platform for network management LoRaWAN is a widely-used wireless protocol that allows battery-operated devices to communicate with IoT applications via long-range allowing longer battery life and thus lowering the cost of device ownership LoRaWAN is especially useful in large-scale deployments because of its availability and reach; its use of unlicensed spectrum; and the availability of standardized The French city of Saint Herblain’s inaugural International Visually Impaired Archery Tournament ran on 27/28 February 2016 It gathered 19 archers from four countries - Spain/Andorra Great Britain and France - who competed in 30- and 18-metre Indoor competitions over the weekend The event was an opportunity for new international visually impaired athletes to become officially classified Classification was performed by doctors from the International Blind Sports Federation with the financial support of World Archery Europe the number of participants allowed interesting and passionate confrontation as the tournament saw visually impaired athletes shoot in a head-to-head brackets for the first time outside the finals of the World Archery Para Championships Opportunities to shoot through knock-out eliminations are rare given the numbers currently listed for those categories At 30 metres in the VI1 category, Jordi Casellas Albiol beat Roger Rees Evans for the gold medal In the VI2/3 competition, Brits Steve Prowse and Philip Tranter took the gold and bronze medals, respectively, with Christophe Gerardin silver In the 18m events, Loredana Ruisi won the VI1 while the VI2/3 category victory went to Steve Prowse Saint Herblain being the first indoor on World Archery calendar since the inclusion of visually impaired divisions on official classification basis the best performances in each category set the first qualification world records at 18m: 350 for Ruisi in VI1 and 539 by Gerardin in VI2/3 The tournament in Saint Herblain was also an opportunity for archers in the discipline to compete at the highest level in preparation for the upcoming European Para Archery Championships, to be held also in France, in Saint Jean de Monts, on 3-10 April 2016. ENGIE and the French sailing federation have announced four stages ENGIE is the Title sponsor of the main Speed Crossing circuit in France Created in 2004 by the FFVL (French Kitesurfing Federation) become the go-to event for all kiteboarding fans allowing men and women of all ages and backgrounds twintip or directional) and whatever their level.  jointly organised since 2019 by the FFVL (French Sailing Federation) and ENGIE is a key competition promoting kiteboarding as a sport in France which is held at different beaches around France’s coastline is the scene of a great sporting show.  the tour will include 4 stages (including 3 new ones) between April and November large crowds of avid spectators will come into contact with the top French athletes in the sport 3rd at the 2021 European Championships; Poema Newland 2021 European champion and silver medallist at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires; Anais Mai Des Jardins 2021 France runner-up; as well as Axel Mazella three-time European Champion and runner-up at the 2021 World Championships; Nicolas Parlier 3rd at the 2021 French Championships; Théo de Ramecourt four-time world speed champion and Group Ambassador for more than 10 years Director of Partnerships at ENGIE: “ENGIE has proudly sponsored kiteboarding since 2009 This partnership fosters common values that transcend both the sport and its performance such as using wind power – a renewable energy – as well as upholding environmental standards our purpose – to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions – is expressed via our purpose statement: to bring this vision to life through our partnerships and share it The highlight of our partnership: the ENGIE Kite Tour – 4 stages to promote the development of the sport within the regions to give a chance to future champions and to help the current ones shine who are among the best in the world in their discipline To give this generation a real chance at a kiteboarding medal at the sport’s Olympic debut in Paris in 2024 For all the latest on the competition, head over to the official ENGIE Kite Tour website You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. and the reigning World Archery Para Champion She added the world record in the ranking round to her list of achievements subject to official ratification, at the Italian National Para Archery Championships in Padova – when she scored 695 out of a possible 720 points during qualification despite less-than-perfect weather conditions Sarti scored 347 and 348 in the first and second halves of the event The score beat the previous world record, set by Great Britain’s Danielle Brown in 2013, by seven points – and tied the Italian national able-bodied and open record, held by Marcella Tonioli. “I’m so excited for this unexpected result after Saint Jean de Monts where I was not able to perform to my usual standard,” said Sarti. She finished fourth at the European Championships earlier in 2016. “I’m looking forward to having the chance to display this level in Nove Mesto and, of course, in Rio. It will be my first time at the Paralympics and a dream I’ve had since starting to shoot, and leaving the national Paralympic basketball team, come true.” Sarti’s new world record is expected to be ratified in the coming week. Published: Invalid Date FROM the moment a gust of tropical air greeted me in Nantes The sun, sea and stunning coastline make this the perfect spot to explore no matter what kind of holiday you’re after And I was lucky enough to enjoy a French foodie’s dream with incredible local fare some exercise and a spot of relaxation - all packed into just a few days away The first stop on my jaunt through the Vendee area was the charming coastal destination Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie With the tourist season coming to a close the cobbled streets of the coastal town were buzzing with locals who congregated outside cafes for a lazy lunch in the afternoon heat a beautiful little seafood restaurant in the heart of the port town where I paired some white wine with the area’s speciality - sardines And while there are still some concerns about the future of seafood - with overfishing still an issue - the local fishermen in Saint-Gilles take care to practise fishing sustainably so tourists can experience the town’s sensational sardines guilt free We decided to work off the calories with a brisk cycle along a coastal path And thankfully the bikes we rented were electric We rode by some scenic seaside views, but my favourite was the LA style infinity pools – made out of natural rock formations by the ocean. so a trip to the bio organic Domaine Eric Sage vineyard was perfectly timed to quench our thirst showed us around and explained how they carefully cultivate grapes without any pesticides or chemicals This means the wine is healthy for both the people who drink it and the environment I was lucky enough to sample their white, rose and red varieties - and I can safely say the lack of additives works because it was some of the smoothest wine I’ve ever had The next leg of the adventure took us to Île d’Yeu - an island off the coast famous for tuna and lobster fishing The Compagnie Yeu Continent ferry takes you on the short trip across the water making it an easy excursion for travellers interested in taking a day trip from the mainland it felt like we’d been transported to heaven The air was balmy and all the little white cottages reflected the ocean with stunning blue shutters and doors My room at the Atlantic Hotel had a gorgeous sea view and it was great to just spend some time people-watching with locals bustling through the quaint flower and cheese markets Dinner that night was booked in one of the island’s upmarket hotels The open plan design of the hotel is breathtaking letting dinners see right through the floor-length restaurant windows to the ocean The whole area was lit up beautifully with candles and lights giving it a fairytale vibe My favourite dish of the night was a white tuna tartare with cucumber and radish complete with a soy citrus sauce poured over it - it exploded with flavour I slept like a baby - and almost missed brekkie which was classically French croissants and cheese that powered me up perfectly for our next cycle where we picked up more electric bikes complete with handy baskets which we packed with picnics for the journey soaring by sparkling blue beaches and old castles and chapels I thought this could easily be one of the best days of my life Along the tour we stopped into La Ferme d’Emilie raise sheep that are close to extinction and tend to crops The eco-friendly farm has been a family project and Emilie is passionate about showing people who visit the island an example of living sustainably The hard-working couple make their own ice cream, jam, juice and jumpers from the animals and crops on the farm and it was a fascinating insight into living off the land When we got tired of cycling we took a break for lunch in a beautiful spot with a stunning cliff top view of the ocean - and the seagulls that circled overhead seemed to be as keen on our tuna quiche as I was It was even warm enough for me to go for a dip in the sea My final stop on the trip was Hôtel Le Robinson in Saint-Jean-de-Monts another beautiful seaside town in the region Joining me at dinner that evening were a retired English schoolteacher and her husband who are part of a group in the Vendee area which focuses on making British tourists feel welcome in France They moved to Saint-Jean-de-Monts because they loved the long bright days and the wide range of family activities that are easily accessible in the area The Vendee is known as an area for slow tourism because the local council has been careful to preserve natural areas This means there are plenty of open wild spaces to adventure in enjoying the scenery and the last of my hours in the beautiful area It may have been a whirlwind Vendee adventure but when it was time for me to journey home seafood and long sandy beaches before my plane even took off We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200 Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here. It is an opportunity for new international visually impaired athletes to become officially classified and for archers in the discipline to compete at the highest level in preparation for the upcoming European Para Archery Championships That continental event will also be held in France The tournament in Saint Herblain will include 30- and 18-metre indoor competitions – and the first chance to claim world records in these events Visually impaired archery made its return to international para archery competition at the World Archery Para Championships in Donaueschingen in 2015 That tournament saw visually impaired athletes shoot in a head-to-head finals arena for the first time Classification at the event will be available at two levels “Permanent” status will apply at all international para archery events while “reviewable” status will apply over a fixed period determined by the classifiers Registration is open until 26 January 2016. Contact the organisers for more information. Olympic silver medallist Hayden Wilde helped create a bit of French triathlon history last weekend – while also giving himself a useful tune-up ahead of the next WTCS event in China next Friday (27 September) The Lindahls Pro+ Triathlon Series brings together the best French clubs over five races with 16 vying for the men’s crown this year with the first three counting and at the end of the series those who top the men’s and women’s standings are declared French champions The competition has been running since the 1990s but Wilde’s team of Lievin Triathlon had never won the men’s title – until now that is The fifth and final race was at St-Jean-de-Monts and though they didn’t hit their usual high standards the Lievin men did just enough as they and Les Sables Vendee Triathlon both finished on 90 points well clear of 11-time winners Poissy Triathlon on 79 The title was decided on countback in terms of most wins and it went to Lievin, with Wilde instrumental in that having won the third race in Bordeaux in what was his final race before that epic Olympic battle with Alex Yee in Paris Aussie Matt Hauser was Leivin’s highest-placed athlete at St-Jean-de-Monts in eighth as French duo Pierre Le Corre and Dorian Coninx led the way Writing on his Instagram page Wilde said: “@lievintriathlon FRENCH D1 Champions for the first time 😎 “Wasn’t our best race as a team but we worked together to make sure we got the job done “@lievintriathlon what a ride and a dream for the club happy to play a little part of it for our history books “Performance wise I was happy to race after the London supertri I wasn’t able to run for a week due to an inflamed peroneal tendon didn’t want to take any risks on the run leg but happy I pulled up 100% And also heading to China is none other than his great rival Yee who followed up his Olympics triumph in Paris with victory in the first supertri race in Boston But since then Wilde has hit back in style with victories at both Chicago and London Follow 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players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris the decline in the number of pitches for tents and caravans in favor of mobile homes is worrying some advocates of cheap By Jessica Gourdon Aerial view of Le Domaine du Clarys campsite DUBUISSON At Le Domaine du Clarys campsite there's a very popular spot for vacationers: the communal barbecue this brazier is a rallying point for families while the kids climb a play structure several meters high manager of this "five-star" vacation spot in Saint-Jean-de-Monts It's a way of keeping the camping spirit alive at a time when vacationers are no longer as close to their neighbors as they were in the days of tents and caravans Vacationers – up to 2,000 at the height of summer – spread out among the 600 mobile homes lined up as if in a small town these mini-homes (generally from 20 to 40 square meters) rent for between €1,500 and €2,000 a week on this estate that boasts several swimming pools and playgrounds "I had some preconceived ideas about camping it gives us time to breathe," explained Emilie a nursery assistant who was renting a mobile home at Domaine du Clarys at the beginning of April but was upgraded to a top-comfort category after a mishap with the cleaning on arrival You have 86.73% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Lucien Van Impe is perhaps the greatest climber in Tour history but in 1976 he swapped his polka-dot jersey for yellow making the difference on a stage the 2022 Tour will replicate on Stage 17 tomorrow Words Giles Belbin Photo L’Équipe Among the 130 starters who assembled for the first instalment of the 4,017km race were four of the previous year’s top five The rider who had for so long dominated cycling was injured and heading towards the final chapters of his career Most observers had Thévenet and Zoetemelk as favourites Perhaps the greatest climber ever to have turned a pedal at the Tour – he would win six mountain classification prizes and once claimed that the only reason he didn’t take more was out of respect to Federico Bahamontes the great Spanish climber who achieved six Tour mountain titles himself – Van Impe entered the race as the leader of the Gitane team With more than 90km of individual time-trials ahead Van Impe had spent the winter working on riding against the clock aware that time gained in the mountains could all too easily be lost in TTs His team had also had a change in leadership with Cyrille Guimard taking over the reins from Jean Stablinski bringing with him a different atmosphere to the team Alain Santy and Mariano Martinez,’ Van Impe said in the lead-up to the race ‘Under Guimard’s leadership this is changing… for the first time Van Impe’s relationship with Guimard would all but disintegrate by Paris The opening week was ruled by Tour debutant Freddy Maertens, who won four of the opening nine stages, spent the first ten days in yellow and would finish in green in Paris. Then the race hit the Alps with a summit finish on Alpe d’Huez It was only the second time the race had visited the now-legendary climb, Fausto Coppi having first scaled its 21 hairpins en route to a famous win in 1952 Van Impe went pedal to pedal with Zoetemelk all the way to the summit neither man able to land the knockout blow Thévenet meanwhile trailed in eighth and now lay 1min 48sec behind Van Impe overall ‘We think that it is in the Pyrenees that the Tour will play out.’ although by the time the race reached its definitive stage much had changed but his teammate Raymond Delisle had taken the lead after attacking on the stage to Pyrenees 2000 That move had apparently been made following the suggestion of none other than Guimard who had wanted to lose the responsibility of the yellow jersey for a few days When a furious Van Impe later confronted his sports director Guimard simply told his rider to leave the race if he didn’t like how he was managing things Two days later came the stage that De Muer had predicted would be pivotal – 139km from Saint-Gaudens to Saint-Lary-Soulan (a stage the 2022 Tour will largely replicate on Stage 17 on its way to Peyragudes) through covering four major climbs A cartoon by the great cycling illustrator René Pellos in the post-Tour issue of Miroir du Cyclisme caricatured perfectly what happened that day It shows Van Impe wringing his rivals out after dunking them in a giant suds-filled washtub emblazoned with the names of the mountains they climbed that day Zoetemelk’s sports director at Gan-Mercier the image of Van Impe is carved Mount Rushmore-like into the Pyrenean peak behind while a cloud-ridden Merckx watches on.  The exact events of that day remain subject to conjecture The definitive point came with 80km to go when Van Impe broke away from the group of favourites to follow a move by Luis Ocaña Yet whose idea was it for Van Impe to attack then as having to implore reporters from Het Volk to drive up to Van Impe and tell him in Flemish that ‘if he doesn’t start riding he is going to lose the Tour the idiot,’ after Van Impe was initially reluctant to chase Van Impe is quoted as saying he always knew he could take the jersey on that stage reflecting simply that ‘Guimard always takes credit for it’ Whoever or whatever prompted Van Impe to launch that attack After first reaching the breakaway group he then bridged across to Ocaña who worked with the Belgian before falling away That left Van Impe to take the stage win by more than three minutes from Zoetemelk betting that the yellow jersey would eventually take him back to the front of the race But Delisle didn’t have the legs and the day ended with Van Impe back in yellow The jersey would remain on the Belgian’s shoulders all the way to Paris although that wasn’t the end of the in-team drama Van Impe had to chase down every move himself after an argument with Guimard over bidons Van Impe was reportedly so incandescent at being left to fend for himself he threatened to leave the race despite being in yellow and just days from Paris had to hot-foot it to France to convince her husband to apologise and continue In the end Van Impe’s final margin in Paris was more than four minutes He remains the last Belgian to win the Tour Perhaps unsurprisingly he moved teams in 1977 You must be logged in to post a comment To manage an existing Cyclist magazine subscription, please visit Manage your account or visit our subscription FAQ page. To subscribe, or for other enquiries, please contact us Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter to receive curated emails direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter Log in to access Cyclist Rides using your email pertaining to your subscription Don't forget a subscription to Cyclist includes: Log in to post comments and use Ask Cyclist our AI platform that answers your questions based on our articles Register to comment on our latest articles Occasional emails from selected third-party sponsors and advertisers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Photos courtesy Lindahls Pro + Triathlon Series it was both an eye-opener and a huge confidence boost as she continues the slow burn back to full run fitness following a serious neural back injury “I personally felt like it was my best result since my back injury with second out the water ahead of the likes of Emma Lombardi Jeanne Lehair and Yuko Takahashi,” the Havelock North 25-year-old said.“We had a breakaway of two up the front until a pack of 15 caught half way [into the bike] then had my fastest run yet to finish 18th.”Goodisson’s 5km split was 17:38 just behind Roderick’s 17:24.Lehair won the sprint race in 1:00:07 six seconds clear of fellow Frenchwoman Lombardi with Columbia’s Maris Valasquez third Goodisson clocked 1:02:02 and Roderick 1:02:45 “A mass beach start with 100 girls was something I hadn’t experienced before,” Goodisson continued electric and exciting…it really was a special experience and something so valuable for triathletes.“Such a great atmosphere and competition No wonder the French have such depth running a series like that.”   Goodisson’s team was third on the day and second overall.Wilde missed the main bunch after exiting the water in 25th place He was credited with 34th after the bike but typically ran his way throught he field with the second best of the day 5km split of 13:52 to finish in a time of 54:33.Dorian Coninx (53:57) edged Pierre Le Corre (53:57) in a sprint finish with another Frenchman Please enter your email and we'll send you a new password request code Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features Website Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed Your free account has now been created. You can change your notification settings anytime here you will be required to verify your email before reading our content You are now ready to login with your new Milla account You will be asked to share permissions with the AskMontreal community You can manage your subscription anytime by navigating to your account settings Password reset email has been sent to ${C} Please check your inbox for the reset code and enter it here: We built a Welcome tour we highly recommend John was inspired to get into archery by London 2012 after watching American Sports star Matt Stutzman competing His talent for the sport soon began to show and after he was first selected to join the GB Para squad in 2014 he went on to shoot two European records and four world records John made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 the men’s individual compound (W1) and the mixed team compound (W1) where he competed alongside team-mate Jo Frith The pair excelled in their key matches to reach the top of the podium winning against the Czech Republic and defeating the Republic of Korea in the gold medal match John showed solid form through the knockout rounds before beating David Dramoninsky of the Czech Republic in a closely-fought final career highlights include individual silver and mixed team gold at the 2015 Para World Championships in Donauschingen mixed team gold at the 2016 European Para Championships in Saint Jean De Monts France and at the 2017 Para World Championships in Beijing he won bronze in the mixed team with Phoebe Pine He was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to archery John announced his retirement from archery in February 2019 but plans to explore other opportunities in Paralympic sport Tania first started archery for fun in 2014 when she wanted a new hobby which would get her out and about and meeting new people In the same year Tania was talent spotted as part of the ‘Recurves for Rio’ project when she was fast-tracked on to the GB squad in just six months competing in both the women’s individual recurve (open) where she ranked 17th In the mixed team event Tania competed alongside David Phillips The pair were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the recurve mixed team competition in a tense shoot-off by top seeds Iran 5-4 Tania’s career highlights include team bronze at the 2016 European Para Championships in Saint Jean De Monts team bronze at the 2015 Para World Ranking event in Almere Holland and third place in the Rio qualification tournament at the 2015 Para World Championships in Donauschingen Germany earning a quota place for the Paralympic Games in Rio Tania has a Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews and had a successful career in Public Relations for 12 years before becoming a full time athlete Darren Rafferty and Ben Healy were to the fore at Région Pays de la Loire Tour (2.1) in France today on a day when their EF Education-EasyPost team took another victory to add to its 2024 tally Rafferty started an attack in the last hour of racing as his and Healy’s team seeks to take on the race this week riding in a field where it should do very well from Fontenay-le-Comte to Saint-Jean-de-Monts was on flat terrain and saw a four-rider breakaway dominate the early part of the stage Jean-Louis Le Ny (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur) and Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) were up the road for over 100km and pulled out an advantage of two minutes EF Education-EasyPost was among the teams invested in bringing back the breakaway and when the catch was made Rafferty then went on the attack with 48km remaining The Irishman started a move and was joined by Kévin Ledanois (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Rait Ärm (Van Rysel-Roubaix) with the peloton having kept them on the right leash on the finishing circuit After Rafferty’s move was neutralised the honours came down to a bunch sprint won by Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) with Healy doing a huge level of work in the final 5km to ensure his team sprinter was in position Van den Bergin won a photo-finish from Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) with Ireland’s Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) finishing 19th Rafferty and Healy also finished in the bunch on the same time as the winner some 162km into Saumur includes a finale with some short climbs which may split the bunch We’re determined to make stickybottle.com much better for your enjoyment So become a ‘Stickybottle Supporter’ now from just €5 per month We’ve grown our audience significantly in recent years but the advertising market has become harder and harder each year In order to survive and grow – and create much better content – we need to develop an income from our readers By signing up to become a ‘Stickybottle Supporter’ you’ll be helping to secure independent coverage of Irish cycling for years to come Every cent collected from readers will be used to directly fund content Sign Up It wraps around the very edge of a mountaintop Walkway and lookout atop the Pic-de-la-Tête-de-Chien in Quebec's Parc national des Monts-Valin This is not a story for anyone with a fear of heights. A recently-installed walkway and lookout at the end of a Quebec hiking trail offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape The 350-metre wooden path allows visitors to walk along the steep edge of the Pic-de-la-Tête-de-Chien a 575-meter summit in the Parc national des Monts-Valin Sépaq constructed the walkway to protect the fragile alpine vegetation below the society had blocked off the end of the trail giving hikers the "impression of being suspended from [the] walls" of the Pic-de-la-Tête-de-Chien escarpment Visitors will also find a little shelter and picnic tables Walkway and lookout atop the Pic-de-la-Tête-de-Chien in Quebec's Parc national des Monts-Valin.Courtesy of Sépaq The experience is really not for the faint of heart. In addition to the heights, hikers have to contend with a 340-metre climb just to get to the lookout. Roundtrip, it's an eight-kilometre trek that Sépaq estimates will take two and a half hours. It rates the hike as "difficult" on its online directory The Parc national des Monts-Valin is an approximately five-and-a-half-hour drive from Montreal and a three-hour drive from Quebec City But if you're planning a summer road trip to Quebec's Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region — and not grappling with a paralyzing fear of heights — this might be a worthwhile bucket list addition Courtesy of Sépaq Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean; the trailhead is located at the park's Centre de découverte et de services Why You Need To Go: For a challenging hike with a big payoff: you'll feel like you're soaring above the landscape Website Making a splash: Once the children saw the swimming pool John GreeneMon 4 Jan 2016 at 03:30John Greene takes his young family on holiday to France.. a journey that starts with a luxury ferry from Cork There's more than one way to choose a holiday destination A decision like that is an important one for a family of four especially when two of the four are aged five and six charged with making such a big decision we did the only thing that would guarantee success: show the kids photographs of five campsites in France and ask them to pick the one they liked best had set my sights on one that I had heard a lot about in Brittany and tried The fact that it was about three hours closer to the ferry terminal at Roscoff had nothing to do with it I knew once they saw the photograph of the pool at Le Clarys Plage on the outskirts of the coastal town of Saint-Jean-de-Monts that I was in trouble I never stood a chance against pirate ships And so for the second time since we first began our family French adventures we were heading back to the town in the Vendee a favoured holiday destination for Irish and UK travellers the near 400km drive is a turn-off but the reality is that the road network is so good and the amount of roadside stops so plentiful - and well-equipped - that with a little bit of planning you can take the harm out of it we have grown to love travelling on the ferry from Cork Once you park below deck and head to your cabin to get settled the holiday has begun - for everybody The Pont-Aven is the flagship cruiser operated by Brittany Ferries and has everything you need and at 14 hours it is a relatively short trip to the port of Roscoff This time the kids were old enough to enjoy one of the films in the on-board cinema and they also quickly made friends with others in the play area and restaurants Our son met another family on the trip over and it turned out they were staying in the same campsite so the two families became friends over the course of the two weeks We booked our accommodation through Eurocamp who have an excellent array of mobile homes on this and other campsites across France We opted for a spacious two- bedroom model with a large living area and also a large decking with barbecue and we loved it It certainly became a home from home over the two weeks being only a short walk from the swimming pool which was as good in real life as it looked in the photographs this was also the first year that the children got full value from the holiday They were old enough to take part in the kids' club and they were old enough to let loose outside around the cabin too every day was fun-filled from morning until they collapsed into bed at night The facilities in Le Clarys Plage are good and the major plus is that there is a Super U - a huge supermarket with all you could ever need including a supply of fresh fish and meat - adjoining the campsite as well as a number of restaurants and stalls which stretches for miles in both directions Le Clarys Plage is a few minutes by car from Saint-Jean-de-Monts although there is also a cycle track all the way into town which is safe The town has shops and restaurants aplenty markets and a number of well-known attractions top of which is the aquarium on the promenade The thing about making the most of a holiday like this is getting the balance right You don't want to spend too much time on the campsite doing the same thing every day; nor do you want to spend all your time in the car driving from place to place trying to fit too much in because the facilities are so good and everything you need to enjoy the day is right there on your doorstep That's the thing about these holidays: there is never any shortage of things to do but we like to have a few day trips planned in advance and then - depending on the weather - drop them in as required arming yourself with a small picnic is advised Puy du Fou (see highlights panel below) was on our itinerary from the moment we decided we were going back to the Vendee and the family we met on the ferry came with us too which made it a great day out for all the kids or buy them in the tourist information office in Saint-Jean-de-Monts as you will save money and you won't have to queue for tickets when you arrive at the park which can be extremely busy in high season (It is France's fourth most visited tourist attraction Our new friends went to Puy du Fou based on our recommendation; and we went to a play park on their say-so information is constantly being shared around and you will always find someone who has discovered something worth visiting off the beaten track is how we ended up in the Historial de la Vendee one afternoon less than an hour's drive from the campsite It is also home to the Children's Museum and there was a fascinating exhibition detailing the history of television which had us all entranced It is also how we came upon the small fishing town of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie on this trip It's to the south of the campsite and well worth a visit with restaurants and amusements stretching along the south bank and shops and cafes on the north bank Like most French towns it has a carousel which is a magnet for children those beautifully ornate and old-fashioned two-tier types which carry such an air of mystery about them It's also home to a pretty amazing wine market It goes without saying that the food and drink will not be a disappointment With such easy access to fresh food we found that we were just as happy to use our barbecue and eat at the mobile home altough naturally it is a nice treat to dine out too it tends to be the simple things which create the most memories to stop at a pony trekking farm as we were driving by it We led the kids out on a trek through nearby woods for an hour or so and they had such a blast They had no fear - I wish I could say the same There was once a time when I thought I would never take to a holiday on a campsite this was before we had children but even then I still feared they would be sterile and claustrophobic I find it difficult now to imagine booking any other kind of holiday for the foreseeable future a world where there is excitement and mystery around every corner We are already looking forward to this year's adventure Brittany Ferries (brittanyferries.ie) operates weekly sailings from Cork to Roscoff and offers the fastest direct ferry crossing from Ireland to France The 2016 season runs from April 2 until November 5 with the Pont- Aven offering guests a choice of comfortable cabins and the 14-hour cruise allows plenty of time to enjoy the on-board experience including spa treatments and bar areas with panoramic sea views The return sailing leaves Roscoff on Friday evenings Brittany Ferries is equipped to carry both cars and foot passengers A 14-night stay in le Clarys Plage from June 1 based on a two-bedroom Esprit mobile home with decking is €978 Alternatively stay 14 nights in early July and the price is €1748 car hire or transfers can all be booked as an extra supplement The theme parks of theme parks as far as we are concerned about two hours drive from Saint-Jean-de-Monts was even more spectacular and rewarding than the first a few years ago Get there early - 9.30 or so - and plan your day as best you can to take in the best of the shows The Vikings and the Gladiators remain our favourites it's always good to allow plenty of time to get to the ferry port it's also about taking the time to explore the small picturesque town of Roscoff In the hours leading up to a sailing there is a great atmosphere in the town The restaurants and bars come alive; there is street music The Vendee is known for its beautiful sandy beaches And the two have been combined to provide hundreds of kilometres of walking and cycling tracks all clearly marked and perfectly safe for families to enjoy hiring bikes - which is not expensive - has become part of the holiday something we look forward to every time we go back there The beach in Saint-Jean-de-Monts is particularly striking Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel A light magnitude 2.9 earthquake occurred in the Bay of Biscay near Ile de Noirmoutier island The quake had a very shallow depth of 17 km (11 mi) and was felt widely in the area A light magnitude 2.8 earthquake occurred in the Bay of Biscay near Ile de Noirmoutier island The quake had a very shallow depth of 16.1 km (10 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.