ST. MALO, FRANCE

On the northern coast of France, the 17th century ramparts of St. Malo face the elegant chateaux of Dinard across the Rance estuary. Sailing between them gives you a stiff neck because your head turns back and forth and back and forth taking in these magnificent sights. But we weren’t to see them for long; we left quite early to drive to Mont St-Michel via the lovely medieval town of Dinan, surrounded by beautiful ramparts and planted with lovely and well-planned flower gardens.

Hope was last in Mont St-Michel with her son Bruce in 1983; Bill last visited in 1989. Both of us remember the long causeway crowded with tour busses. No longer so! Because the sea was silting up and connecting this magnificent island with the coast, forward thinking engineers have reconstructed the area, removing the causeway that blocked water flow, and adding a gentle low bridge (along with multiple other complex structures) that allow the water to go freely around the island and wash the silt away. Finally we ate omelets at Mere Poulard and returned to the Silver Whisper.