I've been having strong desire to go to the beach, see and feel the sea, and we realized that the kids had never visited the seaside before, I also feel that very soon, we might get into a new lockdown with the 5th wave, so we all woke up early on Sunday, and took advantage of a day off, for travelling.
It was a relatively long drive, 3 hours roughly, but I also knew that the payoff would something special.
Do you remember the first few times you saw the see? The feeling in the air, the smell, the sudden sight of a wall of sea, the size of a mountain, and the endlessness, almost a counterpart to the universe itself.
Something that we always find amazing when travelling in France, it's the diversity of subcultures, architectures, dialects, accents depending on which region you are in.
We were heading toward "Les Landes", a very unique landscape, with the largest forest in France. The department was created during the French revolution, and paradoxically the land was particularly badly drained,
and feeding cattle, and we walking on gigantic sticks called "echasses", I don't know where I am going with this story, I guess the land was wet, now it ain't.
That's how shepherds were chilling in Les Landes
We still crossed some wet lands, up until we reached the biggest forest we've ever seen before. @lionmom completely fell in love with the area, and asked me if should buy a house here instead. 😁
I understand where she comes from, to live the perfect life off the grid, there are few things that you will need, wood is one of the main resource that can help you build and warm yourself up.
I guess if you can find a forest, a river, and good soil, you pretty much sorted for life. At least, we talked a lot about what our dream house would look like, that's what travelling does, it opens your mind.
We bumped into the largest flock of bird ever seen to date.
Largest forests, means largest lumber factories (or at least that was our guess).
I found these "walls of forest" rather unsettling, almost making feel claustrophobic at times, especially the land is flat for miles and miles (speaking to a US audience ahaha), with gigantic pine trees that you can see behind me.
From time to time, you could notice a road, leading to a farmhouse surrounded by trees, these farms look like the perfect hideout when SHTF.
The only con I could think off, is the frequent fires in the area, or storms that can lay down these giants in a few seconds, your house under it.
When there were nowhere else to drive to anymore, that's when you know you've arrived to "Le Cap de L'Homy". This boat is waiting for your at the entrance
Quite frankly, I am ashamed to admit that we haven't been visiting the sea for at least 8 years. I don't know why exactly, I guess when we were in South Africa we rarely travelled, which is a pity. Of course here in France, we have a car, which makes things much easier, and I also have a duty to show my tribe all the different areas of France, I would like them to see Paris very soon, before Christmas maybe, even for a few days.
How the kids felt about it the sea?
Well, it was quite something to witness! The Atlantic ocean has a certain violence to it, the waves can crash with intensity, even the small ones. On a windy day, you can feel the brutality of the ocean, and I could see in my son's eye, a mix of fear and respect.
It's good that he fears the ocean, I must admit that my first thought, I of course did not share it with him, but my first thought was that many people lost their lives in this very majestic, deep blue crystal.
He dipped his feet where the froth meets the sand, and lost balance at the contact of the wave. Swooosh!
We will have to go back on a warmer day, the sea today is angry and beautiful.
While we were there, I had to record a song, so I will probably release it on Friday. I brought my home studio out there, but the wind was strong, and my microphone is way too sensitive, we ended up recording a video using the mic of the phone, a song that will fit the tone: Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers.
The area is a known surfing spot, at the moment the beach isn't under surveillance since end of September, so you won't see any surfers, the currents are so strong anyway, it would be madness to go in there.
We didn't take the dogs, because Charlie gets a little bit anxious during long trip. We have a SUV, but I would like to travel with a van or RV if we take the dogs, as the dogs can get antsy in the boot, Jack the husky sometimes try to jump over the seat, madness breaks out haha.
So, nope, no dog this time around, but next time, now that we know what to expect, I wouldn't mind taking them with us.
We stay a little bit longer to enjoy the sunset, smoke a blunt, before driving back home. The kids were out the entire trip back and told us it was the best day ever, I concur...Best day ever! You can lock me down now, bucket list item number 4 ticked! ✔️
Kids first time at the beach and ocean, that's awesome. That would be a great experience.
I get the part about the dogs for sure. We have to bring the dog every time we go anywhere and he's always super anxious. He wines for like 50% of the car ride.
I look forward to the song on the beach! Awesome location for a video.
I was about to say that sounds like my wife but she might read this haha 😁 and plus it's not true, she wines like 10%, which is acceptable.
Don't build up your expectations up, there were a lot of winds, but I guess it has a charm.
I just realized, my 3 last songs, I included 3 elements. Fire, Water (with a river sound), and now wind.
Next one should be earth, which is easy as it's silent and all around us haha.
10% is acceptable. My wife usually sleeps.
You could set up in a giant mud puddle. 🤔
The pictures are amazing what a wonderful day for the family. So happy about that. Thank you for sharing!
THanks for your lovely comment! You also have some great trips, I just saw!
Thank you so much 😊
It's been a while that I saw the sea. Glad you took the fam to that lil Roadtrip...and us ;). Since Corona hit I have not left the area I live in, which sucks BIIIIIIIIG times. WANDERLUST 😩
Anna you disobeyed once during lockdown with your friends, went on a road trip, I am sure you can do it again 😄
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Beautiful family!🤩 The Atlantic Ocean looks so much colder than the Méditerranée. I'm freezing just remembering the winter Sea in Marseille😨 I too get clausterphobic with so many trees around. Why I never went back out East in the U.S. Rather know where I am😅 Camargue around St Marie de la Mer is beautiful with sandy beaches and Aigues Mortes is a village surrounded by a fortresse. Your kiddos and wife would love it for a future trip. Lovely pics😍
I checcked how far is Aigues Mortes from us, and it's a 4 hours drive. I am down for it, would you mind if I do a post about it? 😁
It looks freaking mind blowing, I hope you don't need a pass!
Not to go into the village, but to climb up into the fortress yes🤮 For 12 years old and 2 months and up🤮🤮🤮 Just when are these dumb fucks gonna wake up😖 I went 2 years ago and didn't even know you could go up and into the towers🤷♀️ Then we went on to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer where you get the impression you're in Spain. My pics got lost in my dead phone lol🤣🤪 So if you do go, post away! It's beautiful and your fam would love it even if you don't climb up💞
Yeah I think the family would love it, I am still making sur it's worth a 4h drive. They keep on talking about the mountains on and on since the tops are full of snow!
Ok I will climb up straight up to the fortress, if it's not full closed to people without the pass.
Hey, congratulations! You got first place on Pinmapple's travel digest!👏👏👏🥇🏆 Great job!😎
Wow! That's so cool I didn't even see!
Puff puff pass.
That's really cool you just shared your kids' first beach experience with us. I miss cool days on the beach in pants and hoodie. Soon.
Did I miss the part about sand castles? I must've missed it.
Very nice my man, that was cool.
That a factory? They're generating power there too, either that or it's a power plant. Those smaller stacks on the right with steam are the cooling towers.
👊🏼
puff puff pass back brother
Oh man I forgot that you were literally living on the beach (not literally haha).
Yeah we did few sand castles, but bro, it was cold, like really cold, so we didn't stay for long on the sand maybe an hour or two. Was it worth the drive you might ask? Yep!
OOOoh that was the second guess, so how does the cooling tower work?
Since you asked.
The pictured ones look steam generated, let's assume they are. Steam generation: boil a pot of water right? Huge pot, huge boilers yata yata same concept.
Boil water, steam rises and turns a turbine, it spins and generates energy. But the excess steam that didn't get used gets recirculated back to those cooling towers. Big fans and vents to keep the return lines cold or chilled. The steam passes through the now chilled lines and turns back into liquid form. Send the liquid back to the boiler.
Rinse... repeat.
Cooling tower.
OK ok thanks brother, highly interesting! So it's like a locomotive?
Funny. Never really thought about but yeah, iguess a locomotive is basically a cooling tower in motion. That's funny.
Nice day with the family. Good for you. The oceans are mighty, I respect and love them. So wonderful to share with your little ones.
Hello dear @farm-mom good to see you around!
Yeah, it was a special experience, and I've learnt a few things about myself along the way also, and about my kids!
Thanks for the comment once again!
It looks really cold there already but the Atlantic Ocean on the Western Cape coast is too cold for swimming even in summertime. You'll have to visit SA again sometime and must come to Durban! Your kids must have found their introduction to the ocean quite awe-inspiring! Lovely blog @edprivat🤗
My wife had a house in Durban, and I also did some concerts there, it was by far one of the most pleasant weather in South Africa, although it takes time to acclimate to the humidity.
The kids are still talking about the ocean a few days later haha, it shows how much they loved it. Thanks for your comment and hope all is well. 🤗
Très belles photos. Merci et bonne année 2022.
Merci beaucoup! Bonne année!
Very nice post of a happy family going to an underestimated place in France 😉 Congrats for your first place on #haveyoubeenhere.
Wow I didn't even notice! Thanks so much, truly appreciated! Je viens de voir ton post, very cool!
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Merci de nous partager ces photos bien sympas. La France est décidément bien belle. A+