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Monday 25 April 2016

MoHo trip Sarzeau Part 2

Our third and last day dawned bright and sunny and we had already decided to go and check out the marshland around the Chateau de Suscinio which was not far from where we were camping; indeed we had had a glimpse of it on our wet and bracing walk the day before.

Very handily in the car park for the chateau there were motorhome spaces, so we nabbed one of them and set off past the chateau to the marshes which surround it. Had to take a few photos along the way, of course. 



We passed a few gardens and could see how far advanced spring was here - this was the first week of April yet bearded irises were already flowering. Mine are still only showing some buds all these weeks later!


This plant fascinated me and I don't have a clue what it is. Unless it is a stubby looking allium? It was beautiful, whatever it was.


We had been given a fairly decent map by the campsite owner which had the paths marked on it, so off we set on one of these around the back of the marshes. The track turned a bit damp and we only had our trainers on, having stupidly chosen not to wear our hiking boots, so we were glad to discover a boardwalk. That little butterfly is a Holly Blue; it's a very zoomed in pic but I wanted to get a record of it. The other pic is a bumble bee on willow catkins and you can see it properly if you click on it if you are on a computer with a reasonable sized screen. Otherwise you'll just have to take my word for it!


So much for that path! In one place the boardwalk had rotted and about five foot of planks were missing, but there was one loose plank so we managed to get over it with K helping me. When we got to the end there was a fork in the path with a signpost, one track leading to a hamlet and the other to the beach. We decided to head to the beach but it wasn't to be, a few minutes later and we discovered the path was under water! It is obviously a seasonal path to be used only when the water level is lower. So we had to retrace our steps via the dodgy boardwalk. 

Back through the little hamlet we passed these cutesy cottages.


Then we took another path round the back of the marais (that's the French word for marsh), only to find it rather wet and boggy. This is when we really rued having not put on our hiking boots, although wellies would have been far more suitable footwear! It was the kind of path where in places you are standing on grass then look down and realise you are slowly sinking into water which is coming over your shoes..... by this time there was no point in returning and finally we made it to the beach area on the far side of the marsh.

Here it was completely different habitat. We hadn't seen any interesting birds along our walk but to be honest we were mostly looking at our feet! We did hear loads though, including the ubiquitous Cetti's Warbler, which we hear so often but very rarely see. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were singing away everywhere where there were trees or bushes.


This grassy area beside the beach was fascinating, already full of flowers, many of which were tiny. I can imagine it full of butterflies later on. There were lots of these orchids but I don't know anything about orchids so can't tell you which one.


Here though there were birds galore. We kept disturbing Skylarks which had been standing in this grassy area - not sure if they would have been nesting here as it was not part of any fenced off bit. One flew onto the fence post and sang its face off for us. This first photo is mine with my Lumix which has a 400mm zoom.


And this is Keith's with a Canon SX40, which zooms in a lot further. I got fed up with changing cameras as I had my SX50 in my backpack, but as there were so many lovely landscapes here I kept on using my Lumix.


A view of the beach here - we'd walked as far as that point the day before.


Looking the other way - later in the afternoon we visited the area in the distance with the church.


I did manage this distant shot of a female Stonechat. There were loads of Stonechats and Linnets flitting about on low bushes.


Well as you can see, the sky was somewhat changeable and it was to become true April showery weather later on. We walked back to the MoHo via the middle path, the sensible dry one which we'll know another time to take! We had lunch in the van looking out over another lake beside the castle. We had originally thought we might visit it but after one long walk, and knowing it would be full of staircases, we decided to give it a miss until a time when I am fitter. Even K didn't fancy it saying that he too was knackered as walking uses different muscles from cycling!


The last photo sums up the afternoon weather! This little chapel, Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Côte, is on a fairly flat promontory called la Pointe de Penvins. We'd been told by one of the guys working at the reserve at Sene that it was good for sea bird watching. It was sunny when we set out to walk here, and indeed we did see flocks of a wader that we haven't managed to ID, and Turnstones. However before we could get many photos the weather changed, it started to bucket down and we rushed back to the van! Wet jackets yet again to go with the already trashed trainers (and hair do).

We had a cup of tea and waited until the sun came out again. This time we decided to put our hiking boots on; however by the time I had done so K pointed to the sky behind us. Beautiful sunshine and blue sky looking out to sea, but looking like in the photo and worse, looking inland. Sighing, we took our boots off again and sheltered back inside the van. We watched with amusement a party of school kids with their teachers setting off with enthusiasm towards the chapel.... wondering if any of them would look back. Yes, somebody must have as suddenly the whole lot of them started dashing back to the sanctuary of their coach and then the heavens opened yet again.

At this point, we decided to call it a day and head home!


So that was our first MoHo adventure and very successful it was too. We loved the whole experience, despite being drenched twice! We learned lots about our van; it certainly is a squeeze at times with two people and we wonder how whole families cope in vans not much bigger than ours, especially when it comes to preparing meals. But when warmer weather comes we will have outside space to utilise so that will make it seem roomier. And by the way - what depression? It suddenly disappears when Mary MoHo is around! Brilliant therapy. :-)

18 comments:

  1. Great photos Mandy, looks really nice were you went.

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  2. Lvoely shots, I've loved watching singing skylarks this year.

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    1. Thanks Simon, I have never seen one singing before!

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  3. A lovely look around Sarzeau with so much to see. The chateau is very impressive, it does seem to dominate the area. I love the skylark and stonechat and all the views. The last photo with the dramatic sky is superb. That is just how the skies are right now.
    It is great to hear that you enjoyed your trip there.

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    1. Thanks very much Wendy. I would like to visit the chateau but not after a long walk, however it will always be the marshes and the birds/butterflies/flowers which interest me more! :-)

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  4. Really enjoyed reading part 2 Mandy and the best bit was "And by the way - what depression? It suddenly disappears when Mary MoHo is around! Brilliant therapy. :-)"
    So lovely to read that.

    Philippa xx


    Posted by Millymollymandy at 19:26

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    1. Thanks so much Philippa. I felt the same this second trip, maybe even more happy. I am feeling a bit more cheerful now since then. :-) xx

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  5. Glad to hear that you are getting some therapy via MoHo trips Mandy. What its doing is giving you something completely different to think about and look forward to. Long may it last.
    Yes a dramatic as well as unpleasant looking last image.
    The Orchid could be a Green-winged Orchid.
    Orchids a b.....s to ID because they tend to Hybridize which doesn't help.

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    1. Thank Roy - what you say is very true. Haven't any more MoHo trips lined up because we're off to England in nearly two weeks, but I'm looking forward to that as we have lots of nice things planned. My doc said to try to force myself to get out (away from the house) and do things like going for walks. However I've still got to try to get this garden in order, and the house!! and it's quite hard sometimes to get the motivation to do so. I'll get there in the end though.

      I haven't ever really looked at orchid ID, so am clueless!

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  6. What a wonderful place and photos, the buildings are great, so nice to see. Would have love to spend a afternoon sat amongst the grass next to the beach looking at the flowers and watching the birds.
    So glad both of you are enjoying the fresh air.
    Amanda xx

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    1. Thanks Amanda. If it was warmer I would have loved to spend time there too (though the sitting might have been difficult, haha!). I hope we get a chance to get back here, even if we come in the car for the day. xx

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  7. A wonderful post and photos Mandy and so good to hear that MoHo is providing such good therapy and making you feel so much happier.

    The chateau is very impressive - some superb photos and I so enjoyed all the birds, views and flowers.

    Thanks so much for information re: the camera you used in last post photos. Had to smile at you carrying 2 cameras as I've thought of doing the same myself for church visits - I prefer the Olympus for general photography but the Canon is so much better with the zoom for stained glass and things high up like gargoyles. In fact, I have thought of taking both cameras to nature reserves but the Olympus with the zoom is heavy and I also have binoculars round my neck so not a good idea!!

    Hope you enjoy your trip over here - perhaps when you return you will find the time to walk more and go on more MoHo trips :)

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    1. Thanks again Caroline! I too have binocs and I usually have camera around neck and binocs over shoulder..... It's a nuisance changing over cameras but it was ok in the hides as I wanted the SX50 then. I am using a new backpack which is super comfy and it didn't bother me at all on our walks (thank goodness for that!), although it might be worse when it gets warmer.

      We've lots planned for when in England but of course a lot will be weather dependant! I just hope May is warmer than April cos this has been a very cool month.

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  8. So glad to hear that you're feeling so much better Mandy. Great photos, especially the last one. I love the chateau and the little cottages.xx

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    1. Thank you Deb, I've not felt too bad since we got back actually and the last two days felt much more like myself and motivated with more energy. Maybe the pills are working! xx

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  9. Nice set of photos Mandy. My next challenge is to get near a Lark. Never have yet - with camera in hand. [ not that I'm jealous of course :) ]
    xx

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    1. It's a first for me too, Nick, although I've seen Crested Larks in Spain and Greece, but never seen a Skylark out of the sky before! Cheers my dear xx

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