Trotting Along the Normandy Coast

The last few days in Normandy before we head back have been filled with beaches, bars and a birthday. Villers-sur-Mer was a lovely spot to enjoy a fabulous birthday lunch and a stroll along a sandy beach admiring the stunning houses along the coast. The town is not far from Deauville which is well known for its horse racing so that explained the horses being ridden through the water along the beach in the morning - a most idyllic scene that we weren’t quick enough to get a photo of.

Not a bad pad

Hugo was loving the sand

Yesterday we went on to another ‘Sur Mer’, this time Veulettes, which was a beach but this time a rocky one - Hugo was not so impressed and made a show of the stones causing much discomfort to his little paws. The sheer cliffs at either end made it a dramatic site and it seemed very popular with tourists. We found the last restaurant to be open and scoffed on moules mariniere before heading to the van to await the rain.

A few gannets nested in the cliff face

Quite a lot of wartime history here too

Rocks ahoy

It’s raining once again as we sit in the van at Le Crotoy before we make our way to Calais over the next three days. This is a regular stop as we love the seafood restaurants here so much. On our walk around the town today we discovered that Jules Verne was a regular visitor and started writing Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea here, and Joan of Arc was imprisoned somewhere in the town before she was taken to Rouen for trial. Guerlain also had a house here. An interesting place that is more than just good seafood.

A fairytale house in Le Crotoy 

I need prawns!!

The fog is now coming in across the water making the atmosphere quite spooky. Tomorrow we head to Montreuil Sur Mer for Hugo’s vet visit to have his paperwork signed before we take Wednesday’s Shuttle back to England.

Festive Food and a Flat Bird

Monday evening. As we strolled through the town of Le Crotoy, which is full of restaurants, all we saw were closed shutters and signs saying ‘FERME’. Our spirits dipped and we thought we’d end up going back to the van for cheese and a baguette until, joy of joys, at the very end of the high street we saw flashing lights and a very welcoming ‘OUVERT’ sign.

We’d eaten at Le Mascaret a few years ago and knew the food was fabulous - they happily let Hugo in and he didn’t even attack the waiter. Seafood beckoned. Scallops, prawns, and a couple of french desserts hit the spot. On the way back to the van we marvelled at the stylish (of course) French Christmas lights by the harbour.

It’s looking at me

We walked Hugo down to the bay this morning and were greeted by a very flat penguin. I stupidly thought it had been run over before I realised it was a cardboard cutout of an oyster catcher. I must work on my bird identification skills.

Flat out

Late but Lovely

 As always, we managed to arrive at our next destination just as the restaurants were closing after lunch. Note to self - get up earlier tomorrow.

On the waterfront - a tad chilly

Le Crotoy is a place we’ve come back to many times. We park by the bay and it’s a short walk into town to the many seafood restaurants that serve local seafood (when they’re open). We’re hoping to get a meal out tonight but it is Monday - in France - near Christmas. There’s a fallback cassoulet in a can if everything is closed.

A bit weathered

An elfin Graham

There is a decaying boat on the shoreline which we photograph each year to note its decline. Its condition has worsened a bit but it makes for an interesting photo. And I found the water-management architecture rather interesting.

Attractive sluice gate control