By Maggie LaCoste
Funny how when I planned a side trip to the Ile de Re, I never really thought about crossing the bridge. I’m not very fond of cycling across bridges, especially long ones. So as we approached the bridge to the Ile de Re, on of my favorite places in France, my palms got a bit clammy and I felt a knot in my stomach as I looked at the massive structure in front of me.
I proceeded in a long dialogue of self-talk: the weather is clear, it’s only moderately windy, it’s not the weekend, so it isn’t too busy. But there was the bridge, all 4 km of it, half up, half down on a narrow bike path. Unlike the St Nazaire bridge on the Loire, I had never read about anyone having a complete meltdown on this bridge, so I wasn’t about to be the first one!
I have to admit, it wasn’t as bad as I anticipated, as is often the case with things we dread. Initial fears started to wane as I caught my first glimpse of the island as I neared the top of the bridge. Because the cycle path was not too crowded, I was able to stop and take a couple of pictures, something you probably wouldn’t get away with on the weekend.
All in all, it was a great experience, and a great way to travel to the island. I’d do it again in a minute, but I think for most people, I’d recommend that they walk or travel by car or bus and rent a bike on the island! Here are a few of my pictures of the bridge and the Ile de Re from the bridge.
I don’t know how I would have managed going over the bridge either, but I loved cycling on Ile de Ré, particularly through the marshlands. Don’t forget to let me know when you’re in the Loire!
It’s definitely not for everyone, but good news is that there are plenty of alternatives! Having fun here, but I will miss not visiting the Loire this summer!