Blue skies plus wind and rain at Camping Manjastre

I feel windblown and dishevelled.  After five days of strong blustery winds, I am definitely more wind burnt than sun burnt.    And my tinted blond hair has a dry sun bleached surfie look rather than an elegant and expensive, been to a good hairdresser, look.  

But I must not complain, at least the sun has been shining, most of the time.   Which was something people have reminded me of, that is, those people that have recently arrived from up north.

Our new sun canopy, has stood up to the elements brilliantly.   We bought a canopy that was easy and light to put up and would also keep the sun and rain off our cooking and preparation area.   It was not intended to be used for us to sit underneath it.   Not when we have trees and shade cloth to sit under.  But we have had to shelter under it and luckily there was enough room.     

All our bits and pieces, which did not fit under the sun canopy, waiting for us to buy a cover.   But unfortunately they got absolutely soaked in the thunderstorm and heavy rain that occurred last Saturday.   The first rain in five months.

Just when I hung out the washing, the torrential rain started.   Well these clothes certainly received an extra rinse.

The view from the front window of the caravan.

The ground, which was very hard, became a river and then a lake.

It was so cold on Saturday night, we considered going to bed with our clothes on.   Winter time.

The next morning we woke to brilliant sunshine.   Great we thought, the storm was over.  

A view towards the three campsites in front of us.   We used to like the one at the end of this row.

The breeze was a little cool, so we sat in the sun awning.

But it started blowing again on Sunday, with strong gusts.   But we managed to go to the La Londe market, and purchase some food for dinner that night.    The swimming pool at the campsite looked most unappealing.    The sun was shining, but the white caps on the water informed us, and everyone else, that swimming was going to be a cold and miserable affair.

On Monday we decided to travel to St Clair to have lunch in our current favourite restaurant.   The photo below makes it all look very serene, but I can assure you the wind was blowing strongly.

Inside, under cover, and sheltered from the wind, all was serene.   Moules Mariniere for me, and pizza for Walter.   Delicious food.

A few people on the beach, braving the strong wind.  

We drove back to Le Lavandou, where we ate ice creams in what seemed to be a roaring gale.   However, one would never know, when looking at the seemingly calm scene in the photograph below.

Early on Tuesday morning we went for a walk along the fire track in the valley, not far from the campsite.   All was quiet.   No wind there.  We noticed that after one rainfall the small plants had started to revive and were turning green again.

A beautiful rock formation in the creek, not enough rain yet to make the water flow again.

Wind or no wind, there was a need to get out of the house, or in this case the campsite.   We made a visit to La Faviere, where it was protected a little, so less of a gale.

The wind did not deter the people from playing boules.

We walked around the marina, first time in years, and could not believe how many large boats were moored there, or how large the marina was now.

A perfect line of sailing boats.   Whoever managed the marina certainly liked everything to be ordered into straight rows.

Last night the wind reached fever pitch, and the caravan groaned and moaned, and our new sun canopy flapped around.    At 2 am I went outside and checked on it, and it appeared to be holding up well so I did the most sensible thing, and went back to sleep again.   Luckily Walter was sleeping soundly and did not hear a thing.   It was enough for one of us to lie there and worry.

We got up the next morning, and went for our morning walk in bright sunshine and only a little wind.   Did I imagine it all, or not.

One awning blew down, but otherwise there was little damage on the campsite.   However all our neighbours looked a little bleary eyed, and it was not due to too much wine the night before either.   Sleep evaded most people, I think.

The view from our sun canopy this morning.  Our bright green shade cloth, tied around the tree to stop it blowing away is now back in its bag and stored under the seat in the caravan.

Tonight all was calm, and altogether the day had been reasonable too.  Just a slight breeze blowing.

I had decided that after six days, it was time to venture forth, and try the beach and the swimming pool.   After all we are in the Cote D'Azur and September is usually the best time to visit here, warm weather and no crowds.

I have a new beach mat, with a raised back and I was keen to try it out.    My view from my spot on the beach at La Faviere, looking across the sand and water with the marina in the background.   There were a number of people soaking up the sunshine, but no one in the water.  

Then when I got back here I went for a swim, a plunge into the icy cold water of the swimming pool.  It quite took my breath away.

The prediction is that the strong winds will return, but at the moment there is calmness.

No grape picking for me this year, as they harvested the grapes early,  during the week before we arrived, due to a very hot and dry summer.