Noirmoutier-en-l'Île

Sadly the weather didn't improve and we didn't stay long at La Guérinière...

...just enough time to see our first oyster dispenser: baguette and pizza dispensers  are becoming more commonplace!

Onto the island's main town, Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, where they were doing renovation work at l'Église Saint Philbert...

...but we still managed to visit the crypt.

Opposite is le château with its 20m towers behind very secure walls...

...and a pretty cold-looking Faithful Blogger!

Noirmoutier via Le Passage du Gois

We'd been planning to visit the island of Noirmoutier in the north of la Vendée for a while now, so Airbnb to the rescue.

At low tide you can drive over the causeway (' Le Passage du Gois')

A rather windswept Tine with the mud-flats behind

Are they trying to tell us something?

It was a pretty bleak day with howling winds

We managed to inspect the impressive road tiles though

The plaque says how in 1993 le Tour de France competitors cycled over the causeway for the first time

Storks & Angles

No, not storks & angels!

Every spring we get more and more storks nesting in trees near the village of Cigogne...

...which is stork in French.

Now which came first, the village...

...or the storks?

Not far away is the town of Angles,  a popular town to reside as property is much cheaper than on the coast.

What looks like an old mill now houses an antiques depot and several apartments. Matt & Cynthia once lived there.

The church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges is an impressive building in the centre

We actually visited inside this time too...

...including the crypt.

To save your eyes I'll copy (and slightly correct!) the information about the 'Malbête':

Looking out from the top of the front façade of the church is a curious beast known locally as 'the bear'. There are many myths both pagan and Christian that have been associated with this pre-Christian statue.The most popular story is that this black bear-like monster lived in the valley of the Troussepoil, and bathed in the stream named after it.

One fine day the beast-like monster decided to leave the valley, and went out roaming around the village dining on sheep and young local maidens, terrorising the local population.

One day Martin, a local hermit succeeded in capturing the beast by sprinkling it with holy water and making the sign of the cross. He led it back to the church meek as a lamb.

No longer frightened, some young village girls started making fun of Martin, their sarcastic comments upsetting him. Unhappy, Martin ordered the beast to climb to the top of the church. From now on you will stay there for eternity, he said, and you will feed on the beauty of the young girls from Angles and thus turned him into stone.

From that day onwards when going to church young girls entered the the church via the side door avoiding the monster's gaze trying to recover some of their charm!

Continuing our local sightseeing we drove towards Les Conches

Just at the side of the road there's a memorial to seven young British airmen...

...shot down on 24th July 1941. Five were killed and two taken prisoner.

We've stopped here before and the memorial is always looked after. A 'merci' from locals.

Return to the beach

Warmer days are on their way and it's back to the daily grind: walking along the beach. Someone's got to do it!

Out of season youngsters make the most of the waves by the jetty...

...whereas I just take photos...

...no matter what time of day.

There's a new staircase at Parc Eden Roc between La Grière and la Belle Henriette

And a view from the top!

Good use of an ugly concrete post...

...near here, the beach before La Belle Henriette.

Can you spot the bouchots where mussels are farmed?

Lots of people making the most of seafood finds on a very low tide

Opening of our temporary Super U

My final catch-up (well at least until we get our brand new store in 2025).

By 13th December demolition was complete and the land flattened. But what's this huge plastic sheeting?

By 17th January the sheeting has been tarmacked over and a framework is being constructed

The first two sections are up as seen from the mini roundabout...

...and three out of five by 10th February.

7th March and there's no exit to the Longeville Road

18th March and the exit is back in use, and there's brand new parking.

Same day and the store is ready to open in a few days

23rd March and our first visit

They've done a fantastic job in such a short time

Bravo!

Meanwhile in an old campsite not far away there is initial activity for the brand new store

Happy Easter

Not often the gang is all together these days so a special Easter treat for us!

Left to right: Sacha (8), Alfie (9), Simon, Nadine, Matthieu with Betty (5), Tine, Philippe & your faithful blogger

Thanks to Cynthia, our photographer