Five years of blogging today! It's hard to believe! I would like to thank all my followers over the years for their interest and so many kind comments; especially those of you who have become personal friends. Some of whom I have already met and others who I am hoping to meet. There are plans already made for one big meeting this year, but that is for future posts.
This blog is about a trip we did last year and which I have not yet posted here. South-west of the Charente department where we live, Biscarrosse is a commune in the Landes department, about an hour south-west of the main city of Bordeaux. It is 10 km (6.2 mi) inland from the seaside resort of Biscarrosse-Plage on the Atlantic coast. We arrived towards the end of June, hoping to avoid most of the crowds of holidaymakers, who were just starting to arrive for the July/August peak French holiday season. After a week's stay, we made our escape without a moment to lose, as by the time we left, camper vans were bumper to bumper everywhere and there wasn't a parking spot to be had!
There are two large fresh water lakes close to Biscarrosse, which you can see on the map above, and many kilometres of cycle tracks. Just to the north is the tidal Bay of Arcachon, where zillions of oysters and mussels are farmed.
On the balcony of our hotel next to one of the lakes.
The sparrows were so tame at the hotel that they would land on your hand to take crumbs!
Kite surfing at the Biscarrosse Plage (beach).
Dune de Pilat is the tallest sand dune in Europe, at about 300 feet high and a very popular tourist attraction. It is located between Arcachon Bay and Biscarosse.
The view from the dune top. It's quite a climb, but there are a few steps set on the sand on its land-facing side for those less energetic souls!
Eglise Saint-Martin in Biscarrosse.
Black winged stilt.
A visit to the Teich bird sanctuary is a must if you like bird watching.
Young white storks in an area of pine woods, reed beds, meadows, saltmarsh and water, hosting a great number of bird species.
Our favourite oyster restaurant....
So delicious.
This well-stocked boulangerie was perfect for getting ingredients for picnic lunches.
and the best beach we could find, which was nice and quiet, just as we like it.
Having a picnic under the trees at the back of the beach.
Stopping off at Biscarosse-Plage for an ice cream on the way back to the hotel.
