Picnic at Veillon

We took note of the weather forecast and packed up a picnic to enjoy at the beautiful Plage du Veillon, near to Port Bourgenay. Sadly the winter weather has about halved the size of the dunes there but there is still a massive expanse of sands.

Behind the dunes is the Payré river, winding its way into the sea. There are lots of oyster beds in the distance for fans of this delicacy!

Quite a lot of sand has gone from the north end of the beach, uncovering this stone wall

I'm wondering if these are to measure changes on the beach. Any ideas?

Meanwhile Alfie's first picnic was a success, although he preferred milk to the roast gammon and brie sandwiches!

However he loved the sunlight playing through the leaves

Nadine & Alfie come to visit

The shock of coming back from our holidays in Thailand was eased by the knowledge that Nadine & Alfie were flying in for a week's visit a couple of days later. Not only that, but we were treated to a couple of very warm days, far more manageable than those in Thailand!

(Warning: some of these images contain clues to the ongoing project in the garden!)

Alfie & Matt proving that the pool safety cover works!

'Ainsi font, font, font les petites marionnettes'

Chub watch

Look at the new super-wide slipway by the jetty...

...and my favourite girls, with Alfie of course.

Mmmmm, this sea air just makes me want to sleep...

...except when with Tonton at the Starfish...

...or Mamie...

...or in the buggy that Eliott kindly lent me!

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Floods

We were beginning to think it would never stop raining but thankfully we've recently had a lovely few days' mild and sunny weather.

The vegetable patch (doesn't look like one at the moment!) has been completely inundated...

...and on the other side, near the shed.

The River Lay at Port la Claye has also broken its banks with the recent rainfall...

...flooding the fields...

...and Le Communale at Lairoux (a local bird sanctuary), now an internal sea!

Meanwhile the storks' nest awaits their arrival

A few bits & pieces

On our way back from Belle Île we stopped a couple of nights chez She Who Shall Not Be Mentioned and after being treated to a lovely lunch we took the aforementioned and Mum Betty to Port Navalo to enjoy a spot of sunshine.

It's hard to imagine a couple of years ago we were here with Guy & Isabelle at the beginning of October bathing in the sea!

This photo was cropped to satisfy the camera-shy!

We called in at the beautiful abbey at Saint-Gildas de Rhuys, where we watched a young boy having a lesson on the church organ

Back in La Tranche, fun times with Shan & Dave, firstly in the Starfish...

...and at L'étage, Tine still using her chalkboard skills!

It's been the season of rainbows, this shot taken at the Baie d'Aunis campsite

Evidence of high tides and strong winds: here is the dune footpath between the boating lake and 'our' beach'...

...and the bench at the end!

All our beaches have been closed recently as there have been many oil deposits. This photo taken where Pedro's bar is in summer.

But looking forward, the mimosa is well on its way...

...and the 'Shrek' plants too!