Day 4

Grande Dune
I was worried about getting a parking ticket Monday morn, so we got up early and retrieved the car from its spot across from the museum. After making almost a full loop on the bypass around Bordeaux, we finally found the correct road and headed west, happy to be free from the city. We soon made it to the Dune du Pyla, an unusual beach on the Atlantic coast.

The dune got its name from the mountain of sand that piled up in this one strange spot along the coast. At over 100 up, we were quite tired long before we got to the beach. We set up shop about halfway down the ocean side. Midori and Yai taking naps and sunbathing while I read 3001 and rested. After a bit I made the long journey back to the Oasis Cafe to buy some food and drink. I returned to find the women ready to leave. It seemed they had had enough of the sun. Because of the cool breeze, one could easily get a good sunburn while still being cold.

To Spain
The plan was to make it Spain by the evening, but it soon became the group joke. I had a lot of trouble following the roads here in France where many of the intersections of smaller roads are not well marked. I often went around those little roundabouts a couple times before choosing a new direction.

Anyway, it was starting to get late and dark when we were still lost and out of gas. We saw a lot of cool countryside, but that soon became unimportant when we realized that none of the local gas stations are open past seven. Yai asked a couple people about getting gas and they kept pointing us in the same direction which led to dead-ends. Rather than put up in a hotel till morning, I decided to push on to the next town where I knew there was gas.

Engine Stop
Just when we got to the highway exit for Pau, the gas ran out. We coasted to the tollbooth where I payed the woman eight francs while Midori and Yai pushed me through the gate,... laughing. We thought we might push the car into town, but luckily a nice mother and daughter stopped to help. They took Yai to a couple gas stations before selecting the right fuel and filling a couple of our Vittel bottles. Alexandra and her mother both spoke decent English and definitely went out of their way to help three hopeless foreigners. After getting the car to a gas station, they made sure we filled up all the way. We then took a picture and wondered at our luck for today.

Formula 1
We decided to accept the omen and put up for the night in Pau. We found a room in the automated F1 Hotel. It seems this is a famous French chain of hotels that runs all over Europe. They specialize in cheap lodgings (US$25) for people who don't need a lot of space or special service. It was not a particularly classy place in the traditional French style. Rather it operates with the efficiency and lack of rich atmosphere that one my expect from an American company. But all stereotypes aside, we enjoyed the little room with the bath down the hall and the cheap continental breakfast in the morn. Hopefully tomorrow will bring as many stories.