The Roadtrippers I Lake and ocean in one place: Carcans
01/06/2021de La Rédac' Huttopia
“We’re now heading for the 7th stop of our road trip in Huttopia! We carry on following the coastline towards Carcans lake in the Landes du Médoc, an area populated by pine trees between the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gironde estuary and the wine-growing area alongside it on the other.”
Setting Up Camp
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“We park Rosalie – our van – on our pitch for the next two nights. The best thing to do is to bring your bikes or hire some here, since once your vehicle’s parked up, you can do everything on two wheels. The Vélodyssée cycle route passes right beside the campsite, allowing you to follow the west side of the lake or to get to Maubuisson (the nearest town, to do some shopping, eat at a restaurant, etc.). The signposted path is over 700 miles long and goes all the way from Roscoff in Brittany to Hendaye on the Spanish border, allowing cyclists to travel the entire length of the Atlantic coast. Even just a small section of it is worth doing!
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There are no ‘solid’ lodgings on this site, just brown canvas tents on wooden decks that blend in perfectly with the surroundings. But we’re not the only ones staying in a van. Our neighbours are travelling in a VW T4 with their two kids. We get settled into our camp, setting up our folding chairs, a little fridge and our camping stove. Rosalie will be our comfy bed.”
A Little Visit to Lacanau
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“We’ve heard quite a lot about Lacanau over the last few years. As well as a little paradise for surfers, it’s a lovely seaside resort. Its pretty white villas with coloured blinds remind us a bit of Pornichet, in Brittany. It’s nice seeing the little shops open again and people sitting outside cafés and restaurants. Seaside towns are gradually coming back to life.
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We decide to go and visit a couple of friends who have just opened a shop and café in Lacanau: Le Beachee Café. It’s the perfect place to find some pretty clothes and accessories while sipping a frappé, cookie in-hand.
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The trip also gives us the opportunity to enjoy the beach, which stretches on as far as the eye can see in both directions. Now we understand why we call it the ocean here and not the sea!”
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Paddle Boarding on the Lac de Carcans
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““And if you prefer your water fresh and without the waves, you should head to Carcans-Hourtin lake. We go at the end of the day, when the sun’s rays are less strong, for a paddle boarding session. We rent two boards at a little beach hut (Force 7), which also offers canoes and pedalos. There is a bit of wind so we have to be careful not to lose our balance on the little waves. You wouldn’t even know that we’re on a lake and not an inland sea. The lake is one of the largest natural lakes in France, at 18km in length. We only cover a small area of it on our paddle boards, but it’s enough to feel that we’ve made the most of the place and the activity, and we even have a little swim at the end.
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Our stay amidst the pines of the Landes du Médoc, with freshwater on one side and seawater on the other, has us feeling revitalised once again, and has even made us want to spend more time in the area!”