10 years since Storm Xynthia (2)

More photos from the days after the storm.

It's hard to realise the power of the sea and its waves...

...but the distorted wreckage of l'embarcadère says it all.

This was a replacement jetty, only a few years old. The next replacement has withstood all weathers ... so far.

Walking along to 'our' beach we encountered more evidence of the previous night's storm.

The bench at the end of our access point chucked over by the waves...

...and a new lake that didn't exist before...

...draining back into the sea. In the distance is where Pedro's (now Marie's) bar is in the summer. 

As for the cycle path...

...it would be hard to get through this debris.

10 years since Storm Xynthia (1)

The weather has been very wild recently but nothing like last night 10 years ago when this coast was devastated by Tempête Xynthia. Here in La Tranche there were no casualties but in neighbouring towns La Faute and L'Aiguillon 29 people lost their lives in their own homes.

Dreading the worst we awoke next morning to find minimal damage, just one panel of fencing down in our garden. A walk down to the coast told another story.

Our first view of the boating lake: there's a suspicious looking gap in the dunes...

...and a boat not ready to sail any time soon.

Moving towards the jetty, the tarmacked car park is no more...

...just an extension of the boating lake.

Walking further round we see that the dunes have been breached...

...with water disappearing fast into the sea.

Further again, another upturned boat...

...one that's been carried over the fencing by the waves...

...and a storage container blown to the opposite end of the lake.

Another odds & ends

Well, you know how it is, there are always a few photos that don't fit any theme.

Big Dave busy installing Dick & June's new kitchen in their La Tranche second home

A couple of days later, a full English breakfast courtesy of Big Dave. You can invite me again, sir!

Le Forge is the restaurant next to the Starfish and we helped to celebrate their last night of  their 2019 season with Cynthia & Sacha (Matt working of course)

Little Marilou thematically dressed like Sacha and totally transfixed by him!

As you can see, it was a popular venue that night

A few shots on my daily walks, these times inland...

...complete with rainbow...

...grasses in the wind...

...and new cycle path bridge near the aerodrome.

Mustn't forget the wildlife: an elegant swan on the ragondin walk

Foie gras anyone? 

Plus a horse in spotted pyjamas It gets cold in La Tranche out of season.

L'Aiguillon & La Belle Henriette

It's now the end of October 2019 and fed up of the grey skies and making the most of a break in the rain we ventured down the coast a bit.

First stop, L'Aiguillon:

...with a fishing trawler in dry dock...

...one of the special flat-bottomed boats for mussel farming...

...and logs ready to use in the mussel beds.

Next, onto La Belle Henriette

We love the 'new' windy bridge down to the beach (no walking on the conservation area)

It's hard to realise how big tides have completely taken the dunes away

You couldn't see the sea before! 

In the middle distance, a bridge to nowhere

Beach walks

Since joining the Fitbit gang I have been somewhat obsessed with walking my 10,000 steps each day. I have to say I'm pretty successful when at home in La Tranche, but who wouldn't be when the weather's good and the beaches are 10 minutes away?

It's 20th October (happy birthday, sis) and sunrise isn't too early... 

...but shadows are long!

Further round the bay to 'our' beach and a view of l'embarcadère... 

...and further still looking towards le Pavillon.

A few days later and there's an equally beautiful sunset

Some days Tine accompanies me...

...especially when there's a very high tide to witness.

Very high tide means very low tide too. Can you spot the people doing 'pêche à pied' (collecting their seafood starters) from the rock pools?

Those of you with good eyesight might make out the 'bouchôts' where mussels are farmed and harvested in the local tradition