On the way to Giverny

We went through Mayenne. What a pretty town. Mind you with all the late summer flowers in bloom, nearly every town in this area looks beautiful.

However on the way out we just happened to pass by this amazing sculpture park. It houses the striking sculptures of Robert Tatin in the gardens and museum dedicated to his work at Cossé-le-Vivien.We trespassed and DM got these shots - without being shot himself. Which is pretty amazing, given the Francais predilection for getting the gun out and shooting small furry things all weekend. Not easily confused with DM who, thank heaven, is large and furry.

All the sculptures are made of concrete and are HUGE 

An amphitheatre in the middle of it all

The organ grinder

We took the wiggly waggly way down through Brittany to the village where I used to live on weekends when I was in boarding school in Morlaix as a teenager.

They say you should never go back – they were right.

However we went through quaint little villages which made the detour worth it

The stand out of this leg on the way through Brittany was stumbling upon Jean- Jean. What a treat.

Jean-Jean himself

His art in the garden

His house, in to which he kindly invited us. It is not normally open to the public

A small part of his collection

He has been there for 35 years and has painted and decorated everything that doesn’t move – and quite a few things that do, including his mechanical music box – a wind up organ with books of music that pass through it, making the great ‘Organ Grinders’ music. He plays for the old and infirm and does fairs all over Brittany. He is quite famous in the area. Lovely man.

We pressed on past Rennes and actually got to Giverny at 9:30 at night.

Sad to leave Jersey

Well – it’s been a long time since the last post. Leaving Jersey was a wrench – we had such a good time there with relatives, friends and neighbours – and of course the wonderful island itself. DM feels it to be a little small. Well, you would if you came from a property in Western Queensland that was actually larger than the island itself. However he had a great time – enjoyed every minute. As, needless to say, did I.

One last look before the summer is over...

St Malo and the Pink Granite Coast of Brittany

We took the Condor Wavepiercer (made in Hobart) to St Malo. Smooth ride up the sharp end in Club Class with coffee and croissants, after the early start.

We stayed the night right on the esplanade with the waves crashing on the sea wall, just outside the ramparts of the town and wandered through the walled town, gathering our thoughts after the departure from Jersey.

These are pylons driven in to the sand along the sea wall at St Malo

Looks like a tortoise hiding in one of the pylons

Visited my favourite shop there 'La Maison'. 

There is a wonderful fish stall in the middle of town

Then along the North coast of the Cotes D’Armor through little fishing villages like Binic to St Quai-Portrieux.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=st+quay+portrieux&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=tyxDUu_9NcaL7AbnyIGICA&sqi=2&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=858&bih=621&dpr=1 

The bridge over the tiny port of Binic

The harbour at St Quai-Portrieux

One side for the wealthy... and the other for the not so