The forecast was for F0. We had previously tried to explore Ré in appalling weather, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to do so on a day that forecast nothing worse than an occasional shower.
We dinghied up the cut to Ars, unloaded the bikes, and cycled to St Martin, la Flotte and la Coudre. Ré has cycle paths separate from the main roads, so you can explore most of the island free from the fumes and danger of traffic.
St Martin is the main town of Ré. It boasts fine town walls, two scenic harbours, one for fishing boats and one for yachts (but no room for cats, I think), and a historic, working prison with its own little harbour that used to be used for despatching unfortunates to Devil's Island. We enjoyed an excellent, very affordable lunch overlooking the fishing harbour.
La Flotte has a drying harbour that looked like a place to visit on a later trip. Inland were delightful little streets leading to a flower market.