Day twenty

 

Wild camp four is an abandoned log hut with a bench.

Wild camp four the following morning. The bench was actually better than most campsites, being flat and horizontal. However my legs and especially my ankles drove me crazy most of the night, itching and restless. I applied antiseptic cream to the worst bites and sprayed my socks with Deet. However my feet cooked inside my socks and I was forced to abandon that idea and take them off, risking further bites. I applied tiger balm later hoping the mix would at least confuse the mosquitoes. I was awake most of the night but it felt quite safe and eventually dosed off around 05:00. My alarm woke me at six and I was up and about by 06:30.

Around 07:00 a guy in combat gear appeared and I suspected the worse, maybe security of some sort. However he was a wildlife photographer with a Nikon D500 and 300mm lens, my dream wildlife setup. We chatted a bit but his English was non existent and my French equally bad. He complained about the canons going off, disturbing the wildlife, which have been firing through the night every time I have wild camped. Soon after he leaves another guy in combat gear arrives, but this time with a shot gun. I think this is what is meant by Ying Yang.

After a breakfast of tomato soup and a buttered baguette I am ready to leave and begin pedaling at around 09:30. The ride continues to take me through the spectacular wetlands and eventually to Sete a very touristy place with a yacht harbour and all the fun of the fair. I have to keep checking it's Sunday as it is so busy I can hardly believe it.

Sete is quite an impressive touristy town.

I stop for an ice cream at a fun fair carousel and then follow the coast for the rest of the day. I even get the chance to dip my feet in the Med but instead of cooling my feet the water turns out to be surprisingly warm. Nevertheless  it feels nice, especially walking on sand. I don't get far today and by 14:30 I have found a campsite in which to rest. I buy a bag of ice as my ankles are swollen again but I suspect sunburn is the culprit this time. Let's see if that works. I am still right on the coast and I can see the sea as I type this, the beach is just 50 meters away. It is still so hot at 17:00 that I am reluctant to go back to the tent, which will be like a hot house, but I want to give this ice pack a go, which is slowly melting in its bag. Soon it will just be warm water, so will update later.

An ice cream break on the seafront.