La Guittière

It's now the beginning of February and a bright, sunny day tempts us out on a walk to La Guittière using the Visorando website/app (highly recommended, folks).

We parked up at the port and began the trail, firstly looking out to sea and la Plage de Veillon (which I covered a couple of posts ago) in the distance

Same position, but looking back along le Payré river to La Guittière

There's a bit of a clue here on what the port is known for

There are beautiful views across the marshes and reclaimed land

We weren't sure what this hut was for but it was very impressive...

...perhaps not for these goats though.

This building once stored salt harvested from the sea...

...but is now a visitors' centre in summer months.

There were some beautiful old cottages in the village...

...Tine's photo showing more detail of the old stone steps.

Perhaps the hut by the water was for eel-catchers...

...but the main product of La Guittière is oysters...

...for sale at several places but not available to eat in situ in present times.

Info for inquisitive souls

Those who know me well will know I'll leave oysters AND eels to others, merci beaucoup!

Here and there

Yes, another assortment for your delectation.

I saw this old postcard of 'le vieux moulin'...

...and couldn't resist getting a photo of it today. All the fields have gone and the windmill is now almost hidden by houses.

In Sheffield some of Philippe's student neighbours have been very busy (and creative) in recent heavy snow...

...whereas we get sand-drifts not snow-drifts!

We missed Betty's 3rd birthday but joined in the fun via WhatsApp video

Full marks to Nadine's cake-making genius!

Sacha introduced us to his Mirogolo game

Think Pictionary but the harder the clue, the thicker the glasses!

Even Papy got in on the act

Yes, apéritifs outside in January: a sign of days to come. Tchin tchin!

La Plage du Veillon & le Plan d’Eau de La Chapelle

It's now mid-January and the sky is less heavy. Let's go for a walk, wrapped up well though!

La Plage du Veillon is our first stop, the once enormous dunes have almost totally disappeared in recent years...

...but your faithful blogger and Madame still enjoy a walk there.

Here's where le Payré river meets the sea...

...and once again, with dramatic clouds.

Further inland lies Talmont-Saint-Hilaire and this time we decided to walk around le Plan d'Eau de la Chapelle

There's la Chapelle to the right of the background, and a silhouette of the castle in the centre. More photos of there once the scaffolding comes down!

It's a lovely walk around the man-made lake...

...Tine not at all tempted to jump in from the jetty...

...but the ducks seem happy enough.

La Rochelle

Tine had a meeting in Aytré so her personal chauffeur dropped her off, parked up and followed his nose into La Rochelle.

Took this photo for Sacha & Alfie, pirates both!

There's one area between the aquarium and 'le vieux port' where graffiti artists have been very prolific

An ideal spot for a game of boules too

This one dedicated to the 'memory of our homeboy Terence'

On to the old port itself and la Tour Saint-Nicolas with la Tour de la Chaine on the other side of the water

The waterfront is still picturesque even on a dull (and cold) day...

...but La Rochelle is never this quiet.

That's better: people buying coffees from an enterprising bistrot

The impressive Tour de l'Horloge, again so quiet

Back to find Madame, and more graffiti on the way.

I hope you notice most people are wearing masks. We're pretty serious over here.

Back to the old rocks

It's not so long since ‘Er from Brittany and I visited some of these ancient stones but Tine & were happy to accompany Guy, Isabel & Maryse one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago.

Firstly the three Dolmens de Savatole

Next, the Dolmen de la Frébouchère, outside...

...and in...

...and nearby, an unnamed menhir on private land.

These two photos are just to show how cold it was...

...the ice barely melted.

Now the two Menhirs du Plessis...

...the third (no longer to be seen) completed an equilateral triangle.

The Dolmen des Pierres Folles is where we saw a family of wild boar some years ago...

...and I've even dug a photo out from 2008!

Finally as you can see by the early evening light...

...the Dolmen da la Cour de Breuil

Return to car in the village of Bernard and back home to warm up!