Grey skies and cold weather at Camping Manjastre

We were not expecting so much cool weather, grey skies and wind, and realised today that it cannot always be sunshine, warmth and outdoor living in September.   The idea of two weeks of swimming and sunbathing was perhaps unrealistic. 

Today was overcast, all day, with a few spots of rain, and a little chilly towards the end of the afternoon.

We did, however, get up at 7 a.m. for our early morning walk, which was delightful.   One of the plants, in abundance down here, releases a strong but very pleasant perfume.   I must ask someone to identify the bush.     

A view along the dry creek bed.

 I complete a circular walk, which takes me into the bush above the campsite, and then back along the road.  Walter meets me on this road, as his knee does not cope with the rough path on the track.

Yesterday we did a tumble together, as we were walking back to the campsite.  Walter caught his foot on the edge of the road, tripped and fell, and I tripped on his leg, and fell on top of him.   Poor man, I am no light weight.  Neither of us was hurt, except for the pride.   We must have looked a sight, lying there on the side of the road together.   And then I could not get up, from a sitting position, and Walter had to haul me back onto my feet.  We did have a laugh.   Luckily the road was deserted.  

 What does one do, on a campsite, when the weather is overcast and grey.   After doing the housework, which consists of emptying the toilet, filling the water tank up, doing the dishes, making the bed, and sweeping up all the dust and leaves brought in via the wind, and finally drinking our morning coffee, there is basically nothing to do.    Oh joy, all the people who have to work, will say, I know.   A rough life.

I also might add that we fill in quite a bit of time talking to neighbours and friends.   And reading our books.    And when one has nothing to do, watching caravans being either taken from a site or being put on a site, also fills in a bit of time.   Unfortunately there is no fun watching some hapless person trying to reverse their caravan onto a site.   The owners use their tractor to tow the caravan to the site.  Too hilly.

Today, shopping seemed a good idea.   A bit of retail therapy is always a good idea on a grey and overcast day.

We did a lot of looking, and not too much buying, thank goodness.    I always love looking at the piles of mussels, all ready for the pot,

 and the enormous array of fish, looking very tempting, on the ice.

After lunch it was rest and relaxation time.    Reading time.     So easy to do all day really.

A gloomy view out over the empty pitch in front of us.   The campsite is actually nearly full of caravans and motor homes, but not right in front of us.   There are a lot of touring vans around at the moment.   But no children.    They are back at school.    Grownup time.

                                     
 Walter dressed in his fleece top, and tracksuit trousers.    Warm clothes are definitely needed.   I made a pasta bake for dinner.   Great comfort food.   Then we went for a walk, and drank coffee in our friends' warm caravan.  

 Yesterday, the day was perfect, blue skies and no wind.   Glorious.   So I guess one must take the good with the bad.

I went to Le Lavandou beach, for an hour, and basked in the sunshine.   No worries about kicking sand in someone's face here, hardly anyone on the beach.    Walter sat in the bar on the other side of the road, and drank coffee.

 And no one swimming either.   Strange, I thought.   But then an announcement came over the loudspeaker, to say that people could not swim due to bacteria in the water.   I did wonder why the police boat was going past every five minutes or so.   They stopped two people from swimming in the water.   I guess the bacteria was due to the first heavy downpour last weekend, which would have emptied the storm water drains into the sea.   A beautiful beach and no swimming.  

And I am hopeful that tomorrow the weather will be fine enough again for at least a little sunbathing.

I have been for two swims in the swimming pool.   Bracing.