Île d’Yeu (4)

 Our last day on the island.

Tine raring to go (exploring or for breakfast, I'm not sure)!

We took the bus to La Plage des Vieilles and found these three old ladies

The beach is to the south-east of the island and pretty idyllic

Arnaud Kasper's highly original statue looks away from the spot where 198 Senegalese drowned when the boat they were sailing in hit an underwater mine in 1917

The clifftop pathway in this SE corner has magnificent views

The lighthouse at La Pointe des Corbeaux (the Headland of Crows)

The eastern coast is less rugged with beautiful beaches...

...sandy snow-ball art...

...and some Tranchais having a paddle...

...before a relaxez-vous.

Back to Port-Joinville...

...with yet more beers...

...this one called La Débauche, a slang way of saying finishing work.

On the ferry, all masked up and ready to go. (Fake news: this was on the way over, but who's to know?!)

Île d'Yeu (3)

Carrying on our cycling efforts to the west and south of the island we came across an amazing castle (yes, a proper castle not a 'château').

But first, how about this for a collection of rubbish found on the beach, all sorted for a scientific project

Onto the château (aptly named Vieux-Château)...

...dating back to the Middle Ages.

I had to watch out for modern-day pirates though

Back to La Plage de Sabias for a very welcome picnic...

...with an uninvited guest for lunch, patiently waiting for left-overs

A cycle ride to l'Église Saint-Sauveur at (you guessed it) Saint-Sauveur...

...and back to Port-Joinville for the sunset, drinks and a meal.

Our favourite bar (in the old days when we could buy a drink)...

...and my favourite road sign on the quayside: careful, waiters/waitresses crossing.

Île d'Yeu (2)

On the Saturday we hired bikes for the day

Famous Six Go Exploring?

The island has very many ancient stones, these forming le Dolmen des Petits Fradets; Yves, Guy & Isabel showing great interest

Martine gets in on the action at la Planche à Puare Dolmen overlooking the sea

La Pointe du But marks the western extremity of the island and the beginning of the rocky coast 

No, it's not a chapel. This building housed the fog-horn...

...and 'le semaphore' (a lighthouse without a light) marked dangerous rocks off the coast.

La Plage de Belle Maison with its almost orange sand...

...and surfers in the distance.

Île d'Yeu (1)

Writing this in 'le confinement deux' (lockdown two) it's hard to realise that just a few weeks ago we had a great long weekend on l'Île d'Yeu, an island to the north of Vendée. 

This was our chez nous for the weekend: hidden down this passageway, three individual gîtes.

Taking the local bus we visited Port de la Meule on the southern side of the island...

...and were impressed by these individual fishermen's huts.

Tine, Isabel & Maryse going incognito obviously...

...and here joined by Yves and Guy (who's playing hide & seek being Isabel).

What a difference a tide makes!

Back to Port Joinville and a view over the fishing vessels...

...accompanied by a little refreshment of course.