Behold The Mediterranean Sea

Yesterday did turn in to a very lazy day for me.  I caught up on lots of computer stuff and read an old magazine, while Rodney cycled all the way down to the coast at Portiragnes Plage. He wants to know how many London plane trees there are along the full length of the Canal du Midi and also all over France; it seems to be the most predominant tree around here.  But we do wonder if they’re renamed as ‘Paris plane trees’ in France.

 

When he got back we had another swim in the pool and lazed around on the sun loungers.   We cooked up a storm at dinner time with all four rings on the cooker going at the same time, might not do that again as the pans only just stayed on top by holding the frying pan near the edge.  However, the end result of steak in a mushroom and onion cream sauce served with pan fried crushed potatoes, creamed spinach and steamed carrots was delicious.

A late shower before bedtime provided the evening’s entertainment.  The restaurant next door had a band playing live music which rather clashed with the piped music that was playing in the amenities block, it was all a bit conflicting…..!

This morning we packed up and set off to see a bit of Beziers and spent some of the time watching boats travelling through the nine locks on the Canal du Midi.  Rodney helped grab a rope at one point, when a boat in the top lock went a bit adrift with the rush of water entering.  He tried to explain that they needed to put a couple of turns around the bollard, I think the sign language worked….?

 

At lunch time we pulled in to La Tamarissiere and strolled along the breakwater up to the entrance to the harbour.  Then we had a picnic of pate with bread that was fresh out of the oven, while sitting beside the estuary.  We’re now wondering how many, of the 30 million plus baguettes cooked each day in France, actually arrive at their destination intact; we’d nibbled nearly half of ours before we got back to the fridge for the pate.  Over the nine weeks here, we have noticed numerous people walking around with the knobs of their baguettes missing……it has to be done!

Mid-afternoon we pulled in to Camping Le Paradou at Marseillan Plage and parked just 10 metres from the sand dunes and the beach.  The electricity worked, the wi-fi is free (that’s a new first!!!), the amenities block is quite swish and the sun is shining.  We set everything up; gas on, electricity on, fan working, vents opened, groundsheet pinned out, awning opened and secured, washing line set up, sarong over the door to keep any mozzies and flies out, fridge switched to outside power, oh, and seats pushed forwards to create our new space that we have christened as our study area.  It’s strange, but it was only when we were in Biarritz that we came up with the idea of pushing both seats as far forward as they will go (rather than just rotating the passenger seat.  The table top then fits behind one seat and you can sit on the flap behind the other, it’s brilliant and gives us more space to manoeuvre inside. It also provides Rodney with a bedside table at night.

 

Finally, at 4:30pm we donned the swimmers and walked over the little sand dune to the beach.  It was very exciting to think that we were now on the Mediterranean and the sea was a beautiful greeny blue.  Unfortunately, when we went in for a swim, the water was surprisingly rather chilly, so yet again, I failed to fully dunk myself, but the brave Rodney did.  I’ve promised him I will tomorrow….