Grun-Bordas to Figeac

We love this journey, deliberately not taking the motorways (plus no tolls to pay: I lived in Yorkshire for too long)!

You can do your own Google research!

Troglodyte houses at Laugerie Basse

Onto Les Eyzies, quiet at this time of year...

...but apparently welcoming up to a million visitors each year!

Chez AAA

It's nearly two years since our last visit to the South-West so it was high time for a catch-up with our old neighbours Anil, Anita & Arun (not forgetting the dogs, and yes their names also begin with A).

The house is still not finished but the mezzanine is really impressive...

...and the huge drop-down home cinema screen beneath (yes,we were watching The Greatest Showman)!

Old buddies catching up!

Next day, a walk around their extensive land...

...and I fell for this old tractor being devoured by nature.

They've chopped a few trees down from around the pond, making plenty of logs for future winters.

Plus they've purchased the house next door...

...complete with huge barn...

...and above-ground swimming pool. 

Yet more work for them. Hopefully it won't be too long before our next visit.

Changes 2019

It's still not finished, as Sacha keeps reminding us...

...but the new apartment block is beginning to look great, and not quite as out of character as I thought.

The accompanying swimming pool looks tiny though!

The town has decided to improve the slope down to the beach at the side of le Pavillon...

...and very smart it looks too (shame about the graffiti).

L'Avenue de la Plage is also under major reconstruction and promises to be of top quality, judging by the curb-stones!

In town there has been demolition, and rumour had it that this iconic building was to follow. Fingers crossed that's not the case!

This photo doesn't exactly go with the rest but for a third year the town has these rubbish bins at strategic spots for rubbish washed up on the beach. We're always amazed (and pleased) how clean our beaches are.

La Baie de Cayola & a walk at dusk

The best thing about medical appointments in Les Sables d'Olonne is that later you can visit places you haven't seen in a while. This is how we found ourselves at La Baie de Cayola, between Les Sables and Port Bourgenay.

Cayola is a pebble beach, similar to but much smaller than Chesil Beach in Dorset. 

The road was destroyed in Storm Xynthia in 2010 but has since been rebuilt with an excellent footpath alongside

Gigantic Tine...

...but where's Makka Pakka?

Apparently these are the remaining struts of an ancient jetty

16:19 and the sun's getting ready for bed

An hour later and back in La Tranche I went for a walk to le Plage des Génerelles to make up my steps

The light was amazing!

Now for the real sunset...

...and fascinating clouds on my walk back home. 

Out & about again

The weather's been mostly dull recently but we've still managed to get out and about.

We finally visited the church at Angles, complete with the bear-like statue on its roof, which is said to have eaten latecomers to services!

L'Octroi built on the Bourrasses Canal

It's still being debated whether it was built to collect taxes from passers-by, or to keep a watch on canal construction.

Better weather on the main beach opposite the Baie d'Aunis campsite...

...but you can see how much sand has been removed by heavy seas.

Your faithful blogger's shadow, just to show how much sand has gone!

Another day and a lone 'pêcheur à pied' on his way to see what seafood he can find on foot

There are strict rules for what you can & can't collect, in order to preserve stocks

Isn't nature wonderful?!

C'mon, Nicole, tell me what birds have been flying overhead recently. They've certainly been very impressive! (Geese, the expert tells me!!)

Now I'd say these are some kind of duck

In the garden we had a surprise visitor one day on the bird feed

Meanwhile the sweet scent of the mimosa trees tells us spring is on its way