Walk, Tharon-Plage, France

 Walk, Tharon-Plage from Les Pierres Couchees, France, Approximately 6.7 mile or 10.8 kilometres.

We headed left out of the campsite and down to the beach and set off in a southerly direction. We started the walk along the edge of the woodland on the opposite side of the nature reserve to the beach but eventually we took one of the paths through to the shore.

We stuck to the beach and walked along the long golden sand towards a line of Pêche au carrelet fishing towers.

We could not decide what the tide was was doing, so just before the rocky out crop we walked up some wooden steps to take a short detour through Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef an urban area before we could get back down to the sea.  At the top of the steps is a walk along the sand dunes that leads to Route de la SourceRoute.

At the end of the road through the houses, is a promenade and as the tide was still too high for a continuous walk on the beach, we continued along the promenade. We did eventually come down from the promenade to a small marina at Tharon-Plage, where we had a walk along and a sit on the pier there (and a cold beer that just happened to be in my bag).

After a rest (and using the toilets at the marina) we continue along the promenade, quite a long way, passed hotels and bars, all very quiet at this time of year.  When the got to Avenue Ernest Chevrier, that we assumed must be the centre, we headed inland into the town, to find a cash machine (ATM) and after that sat outside a bar for a couple of refreshing Grimbergans.

Then it was back to the seafront for a sit in the sun, admiring the views and had another beer from our bag. Sat there we noticed people going up and down the steps to the beach, carrying bottles of all shapes and sizes, glass or plastic. So when they have all gone we have have to go and investigate, at the bottom of the steps is a row of water outlets into a blue tilled trough, it looked like it was for washing sand from your feet, except there was a notice telling you not to. So the locals had been filling up with fresh water here, Dot had a drink but not me.

Many, many, of the fishing contraptions on the shoreline along the way, I did lots of photos of them last year, so I tried to resist this year but it is so hard, as they look so good.

The tide was now down, so we walked all the way back along the beach, we passed a group of school children learning how to use sail buggies, it looked like fun and a lot more than we ever did at school. A year later we passed another group of school children and they were learning how to sail.

The tide was now out, so we walked all the way back along the beach, I do not know why but it seems to be quicker walking that way.