New Côté Plage restaurant

There's been quite a rumble in La Tranche recently with the appearance of a new structure for le Côté Plage bar/restaurant.

There's activity on the main car park mid-January...

...a huge crane and portacabins.

A few weeks later they've covered the ugly portacabins with wooden cladding...

...and painted the ventilation chimney black.

From the beach it's far from ugly...

...and they serve a good rosé.

So, why has the new construction caused problems? Well, this time it's permanent and built directly on the dunes and people wonder how planning permission was given when elsewhere it is so strict. Local politics, eh?

Le Port de l'Aiguillon & back to 'our' beach

I often do the 'big shop' at Super U in l'Aiguillon just down the coast, rather than face the current bedlam at our local store. Plus it gives me an excuse to wander around the port there.

I'm not sure how sea-worthy this boat is!

It's a very peaceful spot.

Back in La Tranche and the jetty with disappearing sea-mist...

...but look what recent heavy seas have left behind.

I was practically on my own to capture this beautiful sunset...

...and the moon rising over La Grière.

Another bits & pieces

No apologies! All photos from the latter part of 2025.

Mid-October we had a stick insect visitor on our covered pool

Halloween is becoming more popular in France, as you can see at the town butchers...

...and in the sky!

There's always time for a drink at le Benèze, outdoors under blue skies...

...and indoors with Big Dave.

I'm not sure if this rock found on the beach at Le Rocher was left over from Halloween or an extra from X-Files!

Wild boar (sangliers) have become a real problem in the area. Look at the mess on the cycle path near Super U!

To finish, a great photo of the 3 Clegglets with young Sacha at my mate Jim's tree at the West Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Developments at Super U

It's hard to realise that the fire at our Super U occurred in September 2022. There has been much talk and deliberation since, with one possible site rejected on conservation grounds. So back to the drawing board and the new store is now being constructed on the old site.

20th September 2025

Fencing marking out the plot of the new store.

16th November

The last demolition (for now)...

...and tearing up the old car park.

At last, an idea of how it will look, the new store will be nearer to the road to Longeville, the car park (covered by solar panels) where the present temporary store is.

March 2026. Next step, the big boys move in...

...drilling very deep for the foundations...

...and working in atrocious conditions.

April 2026 and we have a New York skyline...

...the building's structure taking form.

In all this access to the store has been a nightmare. I dread to think what it will be like in the summer!

More in a future post.

La Chaume & les Puits d'Enfer

 We still get around once all the tourists have gone home.

La Chaume is on the other side of the waterway to the port at Les Sables d'Olonne...

...and we love the 'trompe l'oeils' up by the church.

Looking back on Les Sables...

...where the single-handed round the world boat race (Vendée Globe) begins and ends every four years.

There were waves going over the sea defences, but that didn't stop some people.

Moving onto Les Puits d'Enfer, always spectacular when there are good waves...

...particularly when it's nearly sunset.

A short video to show the power of the sea.