V peaceful out on the deck at seven thirty. One heavily togged up person out treasure hunting. I think it’s a bloke. He’s moved further on down the beach where I can’t see him but he did find a coin in front of the hotel. Another guy on a sitontop kayak or similar fishing about 100m off from the beach. Drifting along with the breeze. The breeze is not cold. Warm enough for me to sit out here in my pyjamas. All v calm.
I made us some tea. We picked up some fresh milk from the bar yesterday and bring our own teabags on these trips.
The hotel internet access system is totes pants. I now appear to be online but it takes more steps than it needs to be and you don’t actually know when you are online. There seems to be a significant delay between clicking to go online and actually getting there. Also it’s totes unsecured so NordVPN has come in handy.
A fishing boat has set off out of Concarneau and is already almost half way across the bay.
08:20 a swimmer has entered the water. She is now ploughing her way in parallel to the beach at about a cricket square’s length offshore. Fairplay. Kayaking fisherman has already returned to base. His craft was powered by pedals. A man walking up to his waist in the sea goes in the opposite direction to the slimmer and they have just crossed in front of me. He has a turquoise top with dark blue sides to it. She has now come out of the water. No visible signs of shivering in the breeze but a reasonably purposeful stride, considering the stones on the sand, back to her towel. She is staying at the hotel.
3 blokes walking in the water have stopped for a chat. There is a woman 100m away on here own. Then the meeting bloke up and two set off for the woman and stopped for a chat with here. A v socialbla activity walking in the sea before breakast.
Beach cleaner strolled by. Not much to pick up fair play and he didn’t seem to be covering much of the sand on his route.
Breakfast was good quality with prawns and oysters on offer. Never seen that on a breakfast buffet before. THG had some prawns. Better brekkie than the La Rochelle gaff.
We have identified Ty Cosy as a place for dinner ce soir. They don’t appear to have a website and you have to call to book. We might well be passing this morning on our route around Concarneau so will pop in.
A couple or three hundred metres out there are now some people doing what I can only describe as saiol boarding. They are on pafddleboards or simlar and carry their own sail. They don’t seem to be that good at it. Not sure I see the point.
Anyway all is well here in Les Sables Blancs. We are setting off for the walled town in around thirty mins.
…
Walled town was great. In fact Concarneau is great. We walked there along the scenic coastal route and round into the harbour. There was a big open air market on the go. THG and I both bought Breton fishermen shirts for ten euros each. Unlikely to be cotton but for a tenner… Then I bought some artisanal tee shirt that went with my flowery jacket linen and had a haircut for fifteen bucks by a barber under a gazebo. Bookeda table for We strolled across to the walled town. V atmospheric and reserved a table for 7pm at Ty Cosy, a fish restaurant on the quay.
Back at the hotel by 2pm as it looked as if it was going to rain. I’ve moved the car from the carpark to just in front of the hotel. It wasn’t so much the distance that was an issue. 200m is not ideal but not the end of the world. It’s the fact that you needed ropes and crampons to get down to it even and definitely a sherpa to get back up.
I asked the hotel to get me a taxi there and back this evening. They quoted 90 Euros. Totes taking the piss. It’s 1.6 miles. The issue is whether it will be raining or not. Neither of us have brought any wet weather gear. We are in a heatwave for goodness sake. I checked uber and it is currently 14 Euros there so I guess we will take a skeet at the options at around 6pm and take it from there. If it is chucking it down we might need a plan B which might be to eat in the hotel again. Was pretty good fair play. THG mentioned the umbrella in the car. Will see innit. We have discovered the awning over the deck so will be able to sit out watching the rain when it comes. Checked the price of reserving an uber and it rises to thirty quid one way. Good business being a taxi driver round ere.
So a relaxing afternoon at the hotel in prospect. Except the buggers have just called to ask us to close the awning. Because of the weather. The weather is the only reason we’ve extended it. I dunno. The hotel is in position A fair play though the staff seem to be mostly students recruited for the season. That’s the impression I get.
Cruise ship has slipped silently into Concarneau waters. Anchored in the bay. Too big to fit into one of the yacht births in the marina I assume. Or they didn’t want to pay the extortionate mooring fees. It’s swinging on its anchor. Earlier it was side on but now I have a view of the stern.
After being quoted 90 euros return for a 1.6 mile cab journey we got an uber for £14. Uber driver said there were no taxis in Concarneau. They all had to come from Quimpere. Huh. anyway he got us there with an hour to spare so we did a couple of pubs. Second was great. Had mostly locals. Le Cabistan. We had booked a table at Ty Cosy for 7pm. We were first in and got the best spot. Soon filled up. It’s v highly rated on the Advisor of Trips and very much lived up to its billing. I had huitres, pate foie gras and moules rocquefort avec frites (obvs). Squeezed an extra starter in cos they all looked good.
Failed to hail an uber on the way back. Although Ubers showed one nearby they were obviously bullshitting as we had no takers over several attempts. Waled in the end. It’s 1.6 miles so roughly 30 mins for me. THG would have been much faster on here own. Anyway back on our deck now enjoying a bottle of water and the dulcet sounds of the waves on the beach. Reminds me a little of the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz. No seals though and no surfers. The tide is right out now. A few walkers on the beach and the murmurs of people from the bar terrace below. It’s happy hour in 5 mins – 10 till 11 but I suspect we will be happy to hit the hay. On to Granville tomorrow. We’ve enjoyed Concarneau. Oh btw the lady in charge of Ty Cosy complimented me on my French accent. What’s not to like?