Windy

So far, today has stayed dry, but it has been very very windy. And this morning that wind was extremely chilly. My fingers were cold and a wooly hat would have felt good. In fact when I was on the cliffs above Arromanches, the wind was so strong and so noisy, I felt completely battered and wobbly and I surrendered. Everything was difficult because things flew out of your hand.

I slept much better, probably because H was not at all restless and she had been a bit fidgety the night before. I may have been worrying that she needed to do a wee. But yesterday she had decent exercise and had not been shut in the car for hours. And hours. And the room was familiar. She was still all night.

Today I wanted to see the Mulberry Harbours out at sea. So I headed towards Asnelles and Saint-Come-de-Fresne. I was also informed that these beaches were dog friendly all year.
It was the latter where we ended up in the morning and, again later in the afternoon.
The tide was high and the wind so strong that I could barely open the car door.
Despite the high tide there was plenty of beach for H to run on and explore.

I fell over a heap of seaweed with a crash onto my delicate knees. My watch went bonkers, notifying someone I had had a fall. I think I stopped it from actually making contact.

I’ve felt quite tender, and internally shaken all day as a result of my clumsiness.
We hung around the beach until the cold killed any pleasure and then headed towards Arromanches. They have removed the little car park from the centre of town and everywhere to park was full as far as I could see.

So I decided not to waste any more time and visit the views from the cliffs above the town instead. Coaches, motorhomes, cars , you name the nationality, they were all there. But the wind was there too in such great intensity, that trying to do something as simple as use a parking app to pay for the car was nearly impossible.
You see the wind kept poking around inside my handbag trying to relieve it of its contents. My glasses were in danger of blowing away. I had to take them off in order to see what I was doing with the parking app.

All very frustrating.

We went off to Port en Bessin for lunch since Arromanches declared itself to have had enough visitors. This is a thriving fishing port, and we enjoyed a platter of seafood and accompaniments beside the port, very good too.

Then we returned to the beach at Saint-Come-de-Fresne to discover it had vastly expanded since earlier in the morning. The sea was way out now, the sun was slightly out and the wind was still buffeting everything. But it was brighter and the sea a more attractive colour.

Groups, rather than individuals, were out with their toys. Toys that whisk you off on wheels or under a kite when it is windy. Otherwise this vast beach was empty. And the mulberry harbours were fully revealed once more. H had more fun and we sunned ourselves on a bench until the wind spoilt that.

To get to these places from Ouistreham you are treated to a drive along country lanes bordering fields of crops and wild flowers, winding alleys in washed ochre / bleached apricot villages and along faster, newer roads.

We returned to Ouistreham for a little downtime before a final walk this evening somewhere more local. My heart sank as a coach pulled into the hotel car park. I don’t like coach parties because they tend to dominate, but they probably won’t be up at 06.30 when H and I take breakfast.

Some photos from Saint-Come-le-Fresne at high and then low tide.

This afternoon when the tide was low .

The cliff top above Arromanches in soon after high tide .

Port en Bessin

Another satisfying day. That beach at St-Come-le-Fresne must be wonderful in summer ( like now is summer!) when more people visit. It is so vast, but access and parking might be tricky.

We pottered back to the restaurant of yesterday evening and I had a light meal. I think I may try and go there before we sail on Friday. Or la Glycine possibly in Benouville.

We also had a last short walk on Ouistreham beach. But the wind made sure it was short.

I have really enjoyed the last few days here with Heidi. I almost wish I was staying up here but I need to put all those happy years at Le But to bed!

Thought for the Day

How true is that? The bit about the half billion species? He has said a few I retesting things.
Here are one or two…