Day 3: La Rochelle to Cognac, 7 June 2023Photos: gerardbrown.co.ukarea itself is renowned for its oyster farms and the sightof millions of empty shells heaped up by the roadside gotsome of us thinking about lunch. Luckily, a short drivedown the coast took us to a Time Control on the beachwhere we were treated to a plateau of fruits de mer in theManger sur la Plage restaurant.It was another very hot day and we’d have forgivenanyone who entertained thoughts of sitting out the restof the day in the shade, watching the waters ebb and floodwith a cooling drink or two. But, just like time and tide,the Carrera Riviera waits for no man and the afternoonsession was even busier than the morning.First up was a Section from the village of Cozes which,as well as providing yet more impressive driving, gave ussome great views of the Gironde. A Time Control in LeComptoir de la Rive was set-up on the quayside alongsidea squadron of yachts gently tugging at their mooring linesin the lightest of breezes. The boats weren’t the only thingskeen to get moving though and the two Tests at Kart Extremin Saint Genis de Saintonge gave the crews a whole load offun and confirmed two things to us. French kart circuits arereally awesome and a La France can take a racing line, aswas ably proved by John Harrison who hustled his 14,500 ccfrom apex to apex whilst Catherine held on tight and calledout the directions around the cones.The last Section of the day followed almost immediatelyand, from Clion, the route took us through acres ofwell-tended vineyards just beginning their journey frominflorescence to véraison and onwards to the variousbottles we’d be enjoying this evening. With day three allbut done and dusted a tired, but happy, Rally made for thenight halt at the, one of a kind, Hôtel Chais Monnet. After avery satisfactory dinner the crews settled in to an eveningof cognac tasting.Otakar Chládek and Hana Neumitková, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 SLBill and Julie Holroyd, 1927 Bentley 4½Time to savor some ‘water for life’... Eau de VieRobert Collinge and Tony Brooks, 1966 Ford Mustangwww.rallytheglobe.com
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