OK...here are some more lodging possibilities for those who are not catered for yet (with apologies in advance to francophones like Emma and Andreas for the lack of accents on my keyboard and my complete ignorance of the appropriate ASCII codes for them!)...
All are "chambres d'hotes":
Chantal et Michel Frere 12 rue du Port 85420 Le Mazeau (about 2 or 3 km from La Garenne farmhouse)
Tel: +33 2 51 529549 _______________________
Le Pot a Lait M et Mme Guttierez Leroy 23 rue du port Grenouillet (special prize for the person who can pronouce "grenouillet" correctly!) Ste. Christine 85490 Benet (probably about 6 km from La Garenne)
Ferme de la Longee Eric et Nicole Barbace 14 route du Mazeau Damvix (about 2 km from La Garenne)
Tel: +33 2 51 871204 ______________________
I hope with La Bosselle in Damvix, details of which I posted earlier and where some are already booked (and where we will have our Saturday night), these will satisfy the needs of those still in search of inexpensive accomodation. If you don't have luck with these, I have the details of other that are slightly further way (but still quite close).
If anyone without their own independent transport want to visit La Rochelle (e.g. on Saturday when there's a market) or other nearby places they fancy, let me know and we'll see what we can arrange.