Blood Moon and Basque Tarts

Blood Moon

I was a bit concerned that Colin (or maybe even Nia) would turn in to a werewolf last night, with the supermoon eclipse but all is well this morning…I have checked N’s palms for hair… no more than usual.

Lunar Eclipse

This is the later phase of the eclipse….the moon is just about completely out of the earth’s shadow.

Aire at Navarosse

We are at an aire at Navarrosse, close to Biscarrosse, on a big lake called the ‘Etang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet’. It is a good canoeing lake and I can launch the blue bateau about 5 metres from where we are parked. Thanks to our friends Brian and Kathy for recommending the aire.

Pontoons

Pontoons packed with small boats extend out just beyond the aire.

At Sea

The harbour is protected by a sandbar which you paddle round to get to the lake proper.

View from the Front Window

The Krays

You have to turf the torpid terriers off the canoe before you can launch.

French chopper

I was buzzed by the Free French Air Force on the first trip out. There is a big military exercise area just to the west of the lake.

Mavis from the Lake

Meet and Greet Committee

I got a jolly welcome back from the Krays…they are always a bit concerned to lose sight of me …almost certainly because I feed them each morning. No one likes to lose their meal ticket.

Dawn over the lake

The second day dawned bright and clear…the weather just gets better and better.

Cycle Track to Port Maguide

I cycled 4 miles to Port Maguide looking for a boulangerie…no luck but by the time I got back the campsite next door to the aire had opened and I got the breakfast baguette there. Sadly it was their last day of the season so no more luscious French breakfast bread for a day or two.

Cycle Track to Port Maguide

Fishing

There were a lot of early morning pecheurs (if that is the correct French for fishermen) on the lake.

Canal to Biscarosse

Later that day we cycled along the piste cyclable to Biscarrosse and visited the superU (french supermarket) for a few bits for a slap up picnic by the lake later on. For much of its extent the path is next to a canal; the Krays went in for a dip and a bit of a tussle over a stick, as they do.

Flying Boat History

Flying Boat Roundabout

Biscarrosse used to be a flying boat base and I’m guessing the long haul aircraft took off from here for the French colonies in Africa, in the 20’s and 30’s.

Cinema in Biscarosse

Mustang Rally

We passed a vintage Mustang rally. These boys are a long way from their roots.

Cycle to Sanguinet

Yesterday we cycled to Sanguinet which is a small town 10 km away along the lake. The cycle paths hereabouts are brilliant…wide and smoothly tarmac’d.

Cycle Path.

Trackside Flora

Sanguinet Marina

The track passes by Sanguinet marina, a km or so before the town.

Fishing Police

A Fishing Policeman? Must be one of life’s better jobs.

Beach at Sanguinet

Chez Karine and Kiki

We passed this cafe on the road to Sanguinet. Well actually we couldn’t pass it and slipped in for a three course blow out washed down with a very nice bottle of the local vin blanc…

Catamaran Cafe

The wine taster.

Basque Tart

How could you refuse a pudding entitled a ‘Basque Tart’? Nia googled it in search of the recipe but all the links, perhaps unsurprisingly, were to the Ann Summers shops…We had to ask the waiter; apparently it is frangipane on a thin pastry base, with a central seam of mango pureé. Nia plans to copy it when we get back to the UK.

Cycling home

We wobbled back slowly for a kip in the sun by Mavis. Tomorrow is washing day, then we will move on to Mimizan Plage, a few miles south on the Atlantic coast.

About Peter and Nia

Rambling about Europe with the Kray Twins (Colin and Penny).