The day started promisingly with a little sunshine as I drove up the Medoc peninsula following the route du vin, Bordeaux, to Le Verdon-sur-mer to catch the ferry to Royan, across the mouth of the Girande estuary. There was a forecast of rain later but I could not have imagined how heavy and prolonged it would be. Light rain on the ferry continued to Saintes for a charge to the car and a panini for lunch but within a few minutes of heading towards La Rochelle the rain just built and built. Heavy at La Rochelle and torrential at Le Roche sur Y’on and then all of the way to my overnight at St Gilles-Crois-de-Vie. (the Vie refers to the river that bisects the town). In many places the road was pretty much flooded, particularly on the dual carriageways around Le Roche. The resut was a little traffic chaos and a couple of detours. Fortunately when it came time to head out for dinner the rain had passed. The problem then was to find anywhere open. The hotel recommended restaurant was closed, the Google top recommendation was closed, in fact but for a couple of bars and takeaway pizza places there was only one proper restaurant open and as I noted on a Facebook post, it was packed and the food and drink were just fine. I managed to get my dailly excercise wandering the streets in search of sustenace, so all good. Not too many picture opportunities today, one because of the weather and the other was time constraits to catch a suitable ferry. Anyway here are a few wine route pictures, including the headline and include a stop in Pauillac, situated on the Girande, and I could not resist one at the entrance to Chateaux Latour, not that I can afford the wine. I remembered from a previous trip here about 20 years ago the unusual fishing system along the river. I am sure it must work. It was fascinating passing so many places famous with wine named for them. Included is a snap of the empty deck on the ferry after we had all retreated to avoid the increasing drizzle.  I drive down to the old port in La Rochelle and got soaked taking a handful of pictures. I’ll finish with a few pictures in St Gilles where one could have fired the proverbial automatic weapon and not hit a soul. Another interesting day and a good test of the car’s defoging system. It works well without killing the range.