Cote d'Azure

Here we are in the sun, but it's not shining much. The Cote d'Azure subjected to chill easterlies, thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain.
This exotic coast has been described as a playground and it is. Our little grandson can enjoy it much to our delight. Safe gated sea front climbing frames are found in the shape of a pirate ship or a steam train, and the slides are all slippery stainless steel.

Sanaray sur Mer is currently having works undertaken at the marina where the beautiful yachts rest in their lazy berths.
We marvel at the operation. An environment so carefully considered, where water is being pumped from deep diggings into a tethered filtration bay so as not to discolour the remainder marina.
A similar scheme of improvement was mooted at home where mud was to be removed from Topsham waterfront. However, tests revealed that the mud was just a little too toxic to risk disturbance and so the entire project was shelved.
The Sanaray harbour is protected by rock breakwaters, the sort that would solve our threatened railway nearer home, if only such defences were deployed at Dawlish. This week our main line trains through there were cancelled for a while, as large waves were set to batter the coastline. Opened in 1841 linking Cornwall to London, but now unreliable through neglect - our "home guard" bureaucratic lunatics stand idly by. 

Watercolouring is flavour of the month as the drizzle falls.  A harbour scene not to be rushed.
With paints in hand and knees akimbo, I have nibbled my way through a handful of pickled garlic,  anchovy pizza and olives.

Castellet is perched on an enormous pile of fossil rich limestone. The castle from which the village derives its name is almost 1,000 years old but far younger than what remains below. Densly packed sea creatures frozen solid and thrust up from the deeps.  From here is seen the A50  leading towards Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer.  I am not exactly pleased by my watercolour but at least it shows the lay of the land.  The colour green is too far into lemon and my efforts are in vain. With watercolour less is more and more is more than the viewer requires to enjoy the work.