New job & new stairs

Young Matt has got himself a job repping for a micro-brewery in Luçon and we had to visit him, of course.
It's only a 4-person business (extra in the summer, I believe).

To think each of these contains over 2000 litres of beer!

A selection of the hops used, some grown in the field next door.

Although only a small business there's a large selection of beers. Since Matt started working there we see Smeele beers in many local hostelries.

We have new stairs in the 'East Wing' as we call it (the former garage with its extra floor).

Just before we left for our latest trip (spoiler alert) our good friend Harri removed the rickety old staircase...

...and delivered the new one, like a lego set. That's Harri with mate Lambert outside.

The following photos were sent whilst we were away...

...and we couldn't wait to see the work for real.

As you can see they now have a turn at the bottom and are less steep...

...and the oak is beautiful! Photo taken today.

Exploring near la Pointe de l'Aiguillon (2)

We drove by one of our favourite ruins on our return from the airmen's memorial.

This time we stopped to explore a little.

Once again a little research on Google informed me that the building ('La Maison du Génie') used to house engineers when the seawall was constructed in Napoleonic times.

It's probably beyond repair...

...now that nature has taken over...

...and graffiti artists!

A couple of postcards showing the building in its prime.

Nearby is l'Île de la Dive, which was once an island in the bay.

One of Monique's cousins has a house above the cliffs with an amazing view of the bay over to l'Île de Ré

At the other end of l'Île de la Dive you can see the quarry where stone for la Maison du Génie was cut and transported on a 60 gauge railway track (no longer in existence).

Exploring near la Pointe de l'Aiguillon (1)

I read online about a war memorial for British airmen near the road to la Pointe de l'Aiguillon-sur-Mer and we could't resist a bit of exploring.

La Pointe de l'Aiguillon is to the south of La Tranche. You can make out the port zone of La Rochelle over the bay.

Evidence of the power of the sea...

...Tine resisting, of course.

We also found many oyster shells!

The jetty used by local fishermen.

Here's the memorial at La Grande Jetée, dedicated to the seven British airmen on the Halifax bomber which came down at La Pointe. Two Frenchmen who helped the the surviving parachutists later payed for their kindness with their lives.

Wet, wet, wet

No, not the group from the 80s & 90s, but the weather earlier this year.
Matt is currently renovating a house between Angles and Longeville, so one day we decided to explore the area.

Parking up near le Gruzeau...

...we walked alongside le Canal de la Ceinture...

...flooded into nearby fields.

It's just a reminder that this area of Vendée is reclaimed land and was once the sea bed.

Walking along this lane we came across an impressive home, and later bumped into a local artisan that we know walking his dog with the family.

Another day and another walk nearer home. Matt's new house is by one of these wind turbines.

The fields were flooded here too...

...and also the footpath. Guess who had to do an about turn!

Same place on a drier day.

Even in town there were floods. Two photos of the workers' car park at Super U.

Thankfully the weather has improved but we're still getting frequent rain showers.

More beach walks

Being protected by l'Île de Ré we don't often see big waves in La Tranche. For them you need to go a little further up the coast.

So when the sea is a little agitated it's good to make the most of it.

The first two photos taken by le Pavillon.

Around the corner there's la Plage des Génerelles...

...with plenty of foam drifting in the wind.

Not bad for the end of January!

Back on 'our' beach a surfer prepares to join his mate by the jetty.

High seas often create temporary lakes...

...just below the vulnerable dune pathway.

Impressive natural art?

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?