Form VI French Visit 2010

We arrived bleary eyed at the harbour just after 7am on Monday 7th June ready to greet Form VI pupils for our fun-filled trip to France.  When all had arrived, we embarked the ferry and an hour later we were in St Malo.  After a few navigational errors, thanks largely to an errant Sat. Nav., we found our way to the farm house in Lower Normandy and were welcomed with the first of many delicious meals.  During the afternoon we kayaked down one of the many rivers heading towards the bay of Mont St Michel.  As we wound our way through the salt marshes, we were amazed to see flocks of sheep grazing right up to the water’s edge – apparently it gives their meat a uniquely ’salty’ flavour.  Thoroughly exhausted and after yet another delicious meal we all headed off to bed for a very sound sleep.

 
The following day saw us cross the bay of Mont St Michel; a 10km walk through the tidal mud plains.  Fortunately our guide was extremely experienced and was able to steer us away from the treacherous quicksand.  At one stage he asked us to jump in unison on the saturated mud.  Miraculously the estuary bed suddenly became very fluid – very similar to a water-bed.  Further on Woody demonstrated how to escape the mud having first allowed himself to sink beyond his knees.  We arrived at the famous and wonderfully splendid abbey of Mont St Michel to start our ascent – 400 steps to the top!  In the evening Guédé, one of our monitors, treated the children to a French quiz in French - needless to say Nathan’s team did very well!!

 

 
On Wednesday we made our own French bread for lunch; surprisingly very tasty with very few ’extras’ thrown in.  The afternoon was spent at a goat farm where we learnt all about goat husbandry, how to make goat’s cheese and how to milk goats.  The children enjoyed a very ’hands on’ afternoon.  The samples of cheese at the end of the visit were met with differing degrees of appreciation! 
 

 

 

On Thursday we awoke to torrential rain which made the visit to Dinan market a damp one!  A few saucissons restored our spirits and we were then in good form as we headed off to go blo-karting.  The constant rain and cold did little to dampen our spirits and everyone enjoyed racing up and down the beach.

 

 
During the evening we held a talent show.  The girls danced and sang whilst the boys explained the world cup to Mrs Kiddie and me.  Mrs Kiddie and Harry made us laugh with their very bad jokes and Mr Moore’s act with Alexander demonstrating how he trained Barney his dog, left us all in stitches.
 
Friday morning arrived all too soon and we packed up the cars to going swinging through the trees at Accrobranch.  A quick stop at La Madeleine to finish off spending our Euros was followed by a ’Benny Hill style’ chase up and down the dual carriage way as we tried to find the best route to the port.
 
We eventually found the ferry terminal and an hour later, eighteen very tired and grubby Form VI pupils were safely delivered back to their parents.  A fun time was had by all, Vive la France!