A few days with AAA (I)

Yes, our ex-neighbours from B-Town came to stay for a few days this week and we forced Anil out on a trip up the coast to Les Sables, then back via old favourites, Le Puits d'Enfer and Bourgenay (plus a stop at Talmont - see next post)!

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So a big thank you to Anil for these super photographs, Photo 1 on the beach at Les Sables where I was paparazzied. The rest were taken at Le Puits d'Enfer and I particularly love Photo 2. Not sure what I'm looking for in Photo 4 (a gun to shoot Paparazzi Man?), but look at Arun - hasn't he grown, as aged uncles and aunties say?!!

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Great time, lovely memories.

Exploring the coast

For the first time this year I managed to sit out in the deliciously warm sunshine last Friday whilst Tine was hard at work at one of her lessons. (I did do some gardening later, I should add!)

So next day we decided to pack a picnic and venture to explore the Vendée coast just south of Noirmoutier and very impressed we were. We ended up at Sion-sur-l'Océan where the coast is more rugged with jagged cliffs, caves and rockpools. The first three photos were taken here, the second showing three of 'Les Cinq Pineaux', a remarkable series of stacks.

We drove on to St Jean de Monts for a satisfying coffee on the seafront. Despite its beautiful beach I'm afraid St Jean has a very unattractive high-rise promenade and not my 'tasse de thé'. The statue was obviously modeled on Tine though!

We sauntered back to La Tranche, stopping off at La Sauzaie for more rocks and rockpools (photos 5 & 6) and La Baie de Cayola (photos 7 & 8) where the grey clouds were amassing after such a lovely day.

Perhaps spring really IS on its way...

Developments for 2010

Well I was right about the wood some of which has now been positioned at the edge of the beach in readiness for the new promenade. Photo One was taken 10 days ago and nothing has been done since - no comment!

However there has been activity by the car park nearest town where beds have been cut into the pavement. Photos Two and Three were taken three days ago, and the next two today when returning from my afternoon walk. It will be good to have some foliage to counter-balance all the tarmac.

Finally these mysterious sand pyramids are sitting pretty alongside the dunes by the CNT. Perhaps they're the equivalent of our crop circles and an alien invasion is to be expected. More likely the sand is to be relocated to the beach towards La Grière where the winter tides have eaten away at the dunes. I'll keep you posted.

Surfers and seabirds

A few photos here of us doing our usual walk along the beach from Pedro's bar (well, where it is in the summer) to le Pavillon and beyond where we spotted all these seabirds. There must have been something very tasty in the water. You can just make out the Ile de Ré across the bay in a couple of the photos.

When we passed the jetty there were quite a number of surfers trying their luck. The ever-changing sky is in full evidence in these photos.

P is for ...

... project?

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2008 brought you the new jetty, 2009 the new carpark. Is 2010 the year of the new promenade? Actually the answer is yes but it was still a surprise to see early markings on the beach of where the new wooden promenade is to be positioned.

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There was also this delivery of prepared hardwood just by the CNT. Whether it's for the new promenade (a bit of a distance away) or preparations for the various commerces which spring up on the way to the jetty each year, we'll have to wait and see.

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Let's hope they clean off all the graffiti and tidy up the derelict buildings which spoil the sea-front on the main beach.

Poiroux

We decided to make the most of Sunday's fair weather by visiting a local village that we hadn't been to before, Poiroux not too far from Talmont. The village itself was very quiet (as most villages in the area seem to be) but we did encounter several other groups of people on our walk around Le Lac de Finfarine.

We also spotted a heron on the other side of the lake - it took flight shortly after my photo.

Just over the wooden bridge there is a centre called La Folie de Finfarine, a nature reserve with particular interest in trees and bees. We haven't visited it yet, and their website is under maintenance at the moment so I can't tell you any more!

Saturday afternoon walk

The weather has been so miserable lately that it seems ages since we went out for a walk, but yesterday we managed it, even enjoying a spot of sunshine. As I type I can see a beautiful blue sky out there with the heavy frost disappearing as the sun rises. Come on, spring, we're waiting!

The first photo shows our neighbour's mimosa buds. The question is: will these buds develop into proper blossom? Last year the frosts affected many mimosas in the area.

We have a new cinema/theatre under construction in the town (going out towards La Terrière for those in the know) and hopefully it will be completed by the end of February. If you look carefully you might be able to spot the turf roof - very environmental! We went to see 'Invictus' at the cinema in Luçon last week, even before its release in the UK. Highly recommended!

And finally several beach shots, including a fully dressed sunbather.

We had a lovely time and finished the day off by being invited to eat with JP&C. After a very quiet few weeks perhaps our social life is picking up again.