RtG The Daily Dispatch - Carrera Riviera - WEB - Flipbook - Page 8
Day 3: La Rochelle to Cognac, 7 June 2023
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
area itself is renowned for its oyster farms and the sight
of millions of empty shells heaped up by the roadside got
some of us thinking about lunch. Luckily, a short drive
down the coast took us to a Time Control on the beach
where we were treated to a plateau of fruits de mer in the
Manger sur la Plage restaurant.
It was another very hot day and we’d have forgiven
anyone who entertained thoughts of sitting out the rest
of the day in the shade, watching the waters ebb and flood
with a cooling drink or two. But, just like time and tide,
the Carrera Riviera waits for no man and the afternoon
session 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 us
some great views of the Gironde. A Time Control in Le
Comptoir de la Rive was set-up on the quayside alongside
a squadron of yachts gently tugging at their mooring lines
in the lightest of breezes. The boats weren’t the only things
keen to get moving though and the two Tests at Kart Extrem
in Saint Genis de Saintonge gave the crews a whole load of
fun and confirmed two things to us. French kart circuits are
really awesome and a La France can take a racing line, as
was ably proved by John Harrison who hustled his 14,500 cc
from apex to apex whilst Catherine held on tight and called
out the directions around the cones.
The last Section of the day followed almost immediately
and, from Clion, the route took us through acres of
well-tended vineyards just beginning their journey from
inflorescence to véraison and onwards to the various
bottles we’d be enjoying this evening. With day three all
but done and dusted a tired, but happy, Rally made for the
night halt at the, one of a kind, Hôtel Chais Monnet. After a
very satisfactory dinner the crews settled in to an evening
of cognac tasting.
Otakar Chládek and Hana Neumitková, 1973 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL
Bill and Julie Holroyd, 1927 Bentley 4½
Time to savor some ‘water for life’... Eau de Vie
Robert Collinge and Tony Brooks, 1966 Ford Mustang
www.rallytheglobe.com