Silver tops still wandering

I love this small town on the banks of the Lot. Puy means old volcanic hill, which bears out, seeing as our much loved friends live at the top of it, and the stuff of villages, i.e.shops, swimming pools, tabacs etc, are all downhill there and uphill back!

They do provide some shelter for doing the walking though. Last week saw temperatures well into the thirties so the colourful umbrellas offered some well needed shade.

And so with a bit of a plan, we left and travelled North West to Saint Nazaire. We should know by now that western travelling induces a shift in climate and we arrived again to mist and sea fret, drizzle and a sudden drop in the temperature and accompanying UV index!

Iconic bridge over the estuary, showed itself just long enough for me to get a quick photograph!

We made this a stopping off point as the ‘Mister’ wanted to see the submarine pens built here during WWll. History is not my strong suit, but I did find the whole experience interesting and we were able to walk around these intimidating structures which are pretty much indestructible with re enforced concrete roofs over thirty feet thick.

Viewed from the lock access points

We were very surprised to find we could simply walk into these and look around some of the pens.

Complete with the old railway lines still visible.

So to the inevitable beach, to find a rathere bizarre bit of ‘art’.

The sea serpent of Saint Nazaire. An aluminium structure that reveals itself as the tide goes out. The creator writes that it will eventually become lived in and on by the local fauna and sea creatures. Personally, even if I was a sea faring crab, I would be giving it a very wide berth! Quite a scary thing. Glad the tide was out and we got to see it, and ever so pleased it wasn’t half submerged as I would have had some sort of hissy fit I think.

Mrs Russell was as ever not one bit perturbed. Thought it was rather a silly thing and went for the obligatory roll.

Found a whole series of these wonderful posters dotted around Saint Nazaire. No idea why. I thought Tin Tin and Snowy and his crew were from Belgium. Maybe the ship buliding link. So much still to learn.

Next stop Honfleur…